Alabama state waters, out to 3 miles
AL MRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Two-day possession allowance for for-hire trips does not apply to cobia.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Atlantic sharpnose sharkCobia has no shark tail; swims flat and slow. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Alabama state record
Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Broad flat head, dark lateral stripe, no true dorsal spines — often mistaken for a shark at boatside. More on the cobia page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for cobia in Alabama?
36 in fork length minimum. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many cobia can you keep in Alabama?
1 per person, max 2 per vessel.
When is cobia season in Alabama?
Open year-round.
What is the Alabama record cobia?
117 lb 7 oz (1995).
How current is this Alabama cobia rule?
Source: AL MRD 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
In the appPoint the camera at a cobia in Alabama and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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