Gulf Coast fishing alert: Catch limits for saltwater fish could change, state officials say

Potential changes to saltwater fishing limits for several species will be up for discussion this week as state officials begin a series of public meetings along the coast.

The Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) plans a series of three public meetings in November and December. The first takes place 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Spanish Fort Community Center, 7361 Spanish Fort Blvd.

The second meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf, 4671 Orange Beach Parkway. The third is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Tillman’s Corner Community Center, 5055 Carol Plantation Road.

A meeting announcement from the Marine Resources Division says generally that the meetings will concern “potential regulation changes and the status of several saltwater species.”

Expected topics listed by the announcement:

  • Retention of bag limits by captain and crew of Alabama commercial party boats
  • Remove allowance for oversized red drum
  • Tripletail and sheepshead status
  • Creating bag and size limit for common snook
  • Creating bag limit for skates and stingrays
  • Commercial flounder limits
  • Commercial shark fishing in Alabama waters
  • Red snapper status

According to the meeting announcement, the sessions will be streamed at https://aldcnr.webex.com/meet/scott.bannon.