1. (1) Season on Sharks for Commercial Purposes: During such period of time that the federal waters adjacent to Alabama waters are open to the commercial harvest of a shark species as defined by federal law or regulation, the Alabama waters of Mobile Bay, Bon Secour Bay, Mississippi Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico south of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and west of Little Lagoon Pass( 87º 44.4’ W longitude) shall be open to the harvest of such sharks for commercial purposes from 12:01 AM each Monday through 11:59 PM each Friday (no weekends), except that commercial harvesting of sharks shall be prohibited from 12:01 AM through 11:59 PM on each of the following holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. When federal waters adjacent to Alabama waters are closed to the commercial harvest of a shark species, it shall be unlawful to take, harvest, or possess, or attempt to take, harvest, or possess, for commercial purposes, such sharks from the waters of the state of Alabama.

2. (2) Closed Season and Zero Possession Limit on Certain Species for Commercial Purposes: No person shall take, possess, or attempt to take or possess, from the waters of the state of Alabama, for commercial purposes, any of the following species:

   1. (a) Basking shark – Cetorhinus maximus
   2. (b) White shark – Carcharodon carcharias
   3. (c) Bigeye sand tiger – Odontaspis noronhai
   4. (d) Bigeye sixgill shark – Hexanchus nakamurai
   5. (e) Bigeye thresher shark – Alopias superciliosus
   6. (f) Sand tiger – Odontaspis taurus
   7. (g) Whale shark – Rhincodon typus
   8. (h) Dusky shark – Carcharhinus obscurus
   9. (i) Smalltooth sawfish – Pristis pectinata
   10. (j) Largetooth sawfish – Pristis pristis
   11. (k) Atlantic angel shark – Squatina dumeril
   12. (l) Bignose shark – Carcharhinus altimus
   13. (m) Caribbean reef shark – Carcharhinus perezii
   14. (n) Caribbean sharpnose shark – Rhizoprionodon porosus
   15. (o) Galapagos shark – Carcharinus galapagensis
   16. (p) Longfin mako shark – Isurus paucus
   17. (q) Shortfin mako shark – Isurus oxyrinchus
   18. (r) Narrowtooth shark – Carcharhinus brachyurus
   19. (s) Night shark – Carcharhinus signatus
   20. (t) Smalltail shark – Carcharhinus porosus
   21. (u) Sixgill shark– Hexanchus griseus
   22. (v) Sevengill shark – Heptranchias perlo
   23. (w) Silky Shark– Carcharhinus falciformis (unless aboard a  vessel with a NOAA Fisheries Shark Directed or Shark Incidental commercial vessel permit).
   24. (x) Sandbar shark – Carcharhinus plumbeus (unless the fisherman possesses a NOAA Fisheries sandbar shark research permit).
3. (3) Bycatch Provision on Sharks for Commercial Purposes: Regardless of the open or closed status of federal and Alabama waters regarding the directed harvest of sharks, gill net fishermen targeting other fish shall be allowed to keep, for commercial purposes, an incidental bycatch of dressed weight of sharks (carcasses and fins) (except those species listed in (2) above) totaling no more than ten (10) percent by weight of other fish taken.
4. (4) Hook Requirement: Anglers fishing for, retaining, possessing, or landing sharks must use a minimum 15/0 non-offset non-stainless steel circle hooks when using natural bait.

5. (5) Longline fishing and gear requirements:

   1. (a) Only one longline shall be in use at any time, with a maximum of 2,400 feet of line and no more than 50 hooks attached.
   2. (b) The longline shall be marked at each terminal end with a bullet style buoy with a minimum diameter of six inches and minimum length of fifteen inches.
   3. (c) Each buoy shall bear a number issued by the Marine Resources Division with a minimum height of four inches per character and contrasting to the buoy.
   4. (d) The longline shall be anchored to the bottom, shall be constantly attended, and shall not be deployed longer than one hour before recovery. The deployment time begins when the last hook enters the water.
   5. (e) Squid shall be prohibited for use as bait.

Author: Christopher M. Blankenship

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§9-2-4, 9-2-7, 9-2-8, 9-2-12.

Penalty: As provided by law.

History: New Rule: Filed August 23, 1996; effective August 23, 1996. Amended (PE): Filed August 10, 1998; effective August 10, 1998. Amended (PE): Filed July 11, 2000; effective July 11, 2000. Amended (PE): Filed July 31, 2013; effective July 31, 2013. Amended: Filed June 17, 2019; effective August 1, 2019. Amended: Published August 29, 2025; effective October 13, 2025.