Places to go fishing in Alabama
The state of Alabama is an absolute gem when it comes to places to fish, both in freshwater and saltwater (coastal) areas. Whether you’re a die-hard angler that goes fishing every spare second you can or just getting started in the great activity of fishing, Alabama is a perfect place to go for your next fishing adventure. All anglers 16 and older do need a fishing license to fish in Alabama.
The locations below are listed alphabetically and just a sampling of the many places to go fishing and some of the species you can catch in Alabama.
Freshwater Places To Go Fishing In Alabama
Escambia County PFL (Leon Brooks Hines): This south Alabama public lake is 184 acres and is managed by Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to ensure the best possible experience for anglers of any level.
Popular Fish To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Crappie
Guntersville Lake: This lake is located in northern Alabama and is the largest lake in Arkansas coming in at about 69,000 acres. Free boat ramps and private marinas surround the lake.
Popular Fish To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish, Crappie, Sauger
Lake Eufaula: This lake is 45,181 acres and is located on the Chattahoochee River. It hugs the borders of southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama. It is owned and operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Popular Fish To Catch: Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, White Catfish, Black Crappie, Giant Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass
Lay Lake: This lake, or reservoir, is about 12,000 acres in size and sits roughly 35 minutes south of Birmingham off I-65. It borders the counties of St. Clair, Talladega, Shelby, Coosa, and Chilton. There are 7 access points to the lake for both bank and boat access.
Popular Fish To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Crappie, Bream, Striped Bass, Catfish, Bluegill
(Lewis) Smith Lake: This lake is roughly 21,200 acres and is very deep (down to 200 ft), clear and blue with about 500 miles of shoreline. It is within about an hour’s drive from Birmingham, off I-65. Or, just south of Huntsville.
Popular Fish To Catch: Striped Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Speckled Trout, Crappie
Pickwick Lake (reservoir): This lake is located in northwest Alabama, sitting on the Tennessee River. It is approximately 50 miles long and boasts an impressive 47,500 acres, stretching from Pickwick Landing Dam in Tennessee to Wilson Dam. Pickwick lake is known as a top-four pick in Alabama for best “Average Bass Weight”, “Pounds per Angler-Day” and “Hours per Bass Larger than 5 pounds”, according to OutdoorAlabama.com.
Popular Fish To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Crappie, Black Crappie, Striped Bass, Giant Flathead Catfish
Wheeler Lake (Reservoir): This reservoir is located in north-central Alabama and comes in at about 67,100 acres, making it Alabama’s second largest reservoir. It stretches a full 60 miles, connecting the Guntersville Dam to Wheeler Dam near Rogersville.
Popular Fish To Catch: Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish, Bream, Crappie, Sauger, White Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass
Saltwater (Coastal) Places To Go Fishing In Alabama
Gulf State Park Pier: This pier has 2,448 feet of space to fish and located on E. Beach Blvd, between State Park Road 135 and Highway 59.
Popular Fish To Catch: King Mackerel, Tarpon, Cobia, Speckled Trout, Flounder
To see the full list of Alabama fishing licenses and prices, please visit our Alabama Fishing License page.
Many more locations to come. If you have any favorite spots or bodies of water that you think should definitely be on this page, please send us a note.
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