Alabama Administrative Code
Title 220 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Chapter 220-2 - GAME AND FISH DIVISION
Section 220-2-.39 - Legal Methods Of Taking Minnows, Shad, And Suckers For Bait And Mullet In Freshwater
It is hereby made lawful to take minnows, shad, the following species of suckers: spotted sucker, Minytrema melanos; black redhorse, Moxostoma duquesnei; golden redhorse, Moxostoma erythrurum; and the blacktail redhorse, Moxostoma poecilurum; by the use of a cast net, minnow jug, minnow basket, not to exceed 24 inches in length, 12 inches in diameter, with funnel entrance not more than one inch in diameter, or dip net or seine, commonly known as a minnow seine, the length of which shall not exceed 25 feet and the width or depth of which shall not exceed 4 feet for the purpose of taking shad, minnows, or the sucker species identified above for the exclusive use as fish bait. However, no seines may be used in un-impounded tributary streams and creeks. Seines are legal gear only in man-made impoundments and in major rivers to include the Alabama, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Tombigbee, Black Warrior, Mobile, Tensaw and Tennessee Rivers. It is illegal to transport suckers caught in the Tennessee River watershed for bait to waters outside the Tennessee River watershed. Further, no suckers caught for bait outside the Tennessee River watershed shall be transported for bait into the Tennessee River watershed. The use of any seine of larger proportions than herein provided is illegal, and the possession of a seine of larger proportions than herein provided in any public freshwater or on the bank of any such waters shall be prima facie evidence that such net is being used illegally. It is further made lawful to take mullet by cast net in freshwater. The daily creel and possession limit for mullet taken with a cast net will be the same as permitted under Marine Resources Regulation 220-3-.03. All game fish and all commercial or non-game fish, except mullet, as listed under Rules 220-2-.34 and 220-2-.45 taken by nets or seines as allowed under this regulation shall be immediately returned to the water from whence they came with the least possible injury.
Author: James D. Martin
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 9-2-7, 9-2-8, 9-2-12.
PENALTY: As provided by law.