Alabama state waters, out to 3 miles
AL MRD 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels. Tell them apartNot listed by Alabama: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth. 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
Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sheepshead in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for sheepshead in Alabama?
12 in fork length minimum. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many sheepshead can you keep in Alabama?
8 per person.
When is sheepshead season in Alabama?
Open year-round.
What is the Alabama record sheepshead?
16 lb 6.6 oz (2022).
How current is this Alabama sheepshead 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 sheepshead in Alabama and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app