Alabama state waters, out to 3 miles
No oversized fish may be kept.
AL MRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Harvest and possession prohibited in Gulf federal waters; state rules apply inside state waters.
NOAA SERO 2026 / Gulf Council 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Black drumHas chin barbels, no tail spot. Tell them apartNot listed by Alabama: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Alabama state record
Outdoor Alabama Saltwater State Records · checked 2026-08-23
How to tell it
Black spot (sometimes several) at the tail base, coppery-bronze back, no chin barbels. More on the red drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for red drum in Alabama?
16-26 in total length slot. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many red drum can you keep in Alabama?
3 per person, slot only.
When is red drum season in Alabama?
Open year-round.
What is the Alabama record red drum?
45 lb 9 oz (2013).
How current is this Alabama red drum 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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