Alabama state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeHarvest prohibited
BagZeroCounts toward the Prohibited Species aggregate
SeasonClosed year-round
AL MRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Sandbar sharkMuch taller, forward-set first dorsal. Tell them apartSizeHarvest prohibited
BagZero
SeasonClosed year-round
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Low, sloping first dorsal set behind the pectorals; slender body; faint ridge between dorsals. More on the dusky shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask2
Can you keep dusky shark in Alabama?
No. Harvest is prohibited in Alabama. Release it in the water where you can.
How current is this Alabama dusky shark 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.
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