Someone please explain the "no shark fishing" please

I am coming in a month and have heard I cannot catch shark from the beach.I have been told to "read the regs" or "go look at so and so,this question has been asked frequently" etc. but I don't find an explanation.I am looking to stay in the rules but wanna know from some locals as the exact rules and if you can't surf shark fish,why not?I want to paddle a Kayake out and drop bait.If you can't shark fish,what happens if you accidentally catch one?Sorry for all the questions but I know this is what this forum is for.I am very grateful for it just looking for some insight.Thanks!-Joe

Also,is it legal to fish at night from the surf at gulf shores?

The shark fishing prohibition is for the State Park areas.

Alabama State Parks

"*Absolutely NO fishing for sharks or use of any shark fishing gear on any Gulf State Park Public Beach OR Gulf State Park Saltwater Fishing Pier. It is unlawful to attempt to land any shark."

If you hook one by accident you cannot "attempt to land" it.

Night fishing would depend on whether or not an area is open for use at night if in the park. Private beach is governed by the owner as far as I know.

If there are city or county regs I do not know of them, hopefully someone else can enlighten us.

Shark Baiting Regulation in Effect

Quote:

---

“It shall be unlawful, on or adjacent to the waters of Alabama under the jurisdiction of the Marine Resources Division as provided by Rule 220-2-.42, for any person to surf fish for sharks, bow fish for sharks, or fish for or target sharks by any other means from any pier or beach in such a manner that presents an unsafe condition to any beach goers, sun bathers, swimmers, or any other person.”

---

The the rule is written it comes across as if if there are swimmers around or if you chum then it is illegal.Soley based on the way it is written,if you were to fish for shark at night while noone is swimming and you are using general cut bait then it is ok?I obviously want to shark fish but don't want to get a $1,000 fine on vacation with my kids.Am I reading it wrong?Do they enforce it from the surf?(provided I reading it wrong)

Just an FYI about whether or not they're watching...I was down Ft. Morgan, mobile street, earlier this year and had walked at least half a mile down the beach away from the boardwalk, this was about 6am, and a Marine Police Officer walked up on me from the dunes, about scared the you know what out of me. Not to scare you, but yea, they'll be checking.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Godsavedme

The the rule is written it comes across as if if there are swimmers around or if you chum then it is illegal.Soley based on the way it is written,if you were to fish for shark at night while noone is swimming and you are using general cut bait then it is ok?I obviously want to shark fish but don't want to get a $1,000 fine on vacation with my kids.Am I reading it wrong?Do they enforce it from the surf?(provided I reading it wrong)

---

I read it the way you do, the prohibition is for chumming and blood baiting, it does not use the specific prohibition for landing or attempting to land a shark that is in the State Park regs. Probably would be wise to call for confirmation - (251) 968-7576.

If you use a big heavy hook and leader (shark sized) that might create a problem.

My buddy goes shark fishing all the time, and he works at Marine Resources. He fishes at night just as you described, with the yak setup and NO ONE SWIMMING near you

Just called a Marine officer in Gulf shores and he said what I described is ok.Its when you start chumming and throwing blood bait at at 2pm with people on the beach it becomes a problem.Thabks for the feedback fellas!

hmmmm

This opens up some new plans for my trip in October.

Yes you can not chum or or throw blood bait in any coastal waters of alabama. In gulf shores and orange beach, you CAN NOT shark fish or land a shark. Outside of gulf shores and orange beach say down fort morgan rd. you can shark fish and land them but you can not chum for them. When are you coming down?

What did he say regarding beaching the shark or otherwise dealing with him when you get him into the shallow water?

In gulf shores and orange beach you can not land, attempt to land, or beach a shark. Cut the line would be the my choice if you had a shark on . Outside of gulf shores orange beach its ok

No shark fishing is allowed in the GSP or cities of GS and OB.
You need to be outside Gulf Shores jurisdiction, which ends a mile or two west of Mobile Street.
There are very few public access points along Fort Morgan Rd.
Bag and Length Limits for Alabama Saltwater Fish

I think common sense should guide you. It's illegal to deck or beach them in the park or GS city limits.

If you want to try to read between the lines and interpret the fine print, or lack thereof, and the intent of the writers, or the lack thereof, then the old adage

Mess with the bull.....get the horns

becomes a very real possibility

just no kayaks or long lines off the pier, some guys were doing this one night at anna maria city pier this summer when i was on my destination wedding/trip and you couldnt cast thirty feet in front of you because the tide was taking his line downstream across me, he was also drunk and very rude/didnt care about others and after hooking his line for the 8TH time and losing a nice mango in the process I asked nicely for him to do something about it and he whined and complained to his friends that people dont know how to cast. i almost decided to push him off the no railing pier and into the bay i was so irritated. luckily he left before my wife had to witness anything...the nerve of some people. i really wanted to cut his line originally and get ready for his reaction but i didnt want the trash in the water

Look you can go into Florida and fish for sharks. Check some of the other Boards Pensacolafishingforum.com and join one of those guys.

I'm here in Mobile and fish it all regularly.

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach... No sharking.
Against the law to chum or otherwise attract sharks, and fishing for is attracting.

Back in 2008 this was put into effect, AONmagazine.com - Shoreline Shark Fishing Banned - Alabama Outdoor News
I do not know if it was ever rescinded, so technically it could be still against the law... I don't know for sure.

Quote:

---

Shoreline Shark Fishing Banned

By Nick Carter
Posted Wednesday May 21 2008, 2:14 PM

A temporary emergency regulation banning shark fishing, chumming and “unsafe” fishing within 300 feet of the shoreline on the Alabama coast was implemented the first week of May. Signed by DCNR Commissioner Barnett Lawley, the regulation targets shore-bound fishermen and is intended to make beaches safer for swimmers, but Lawley said the regulation’s language needs some fine tuning before it becomes permanent.

Shark fishing, chumming or bloodbaiting within 300 feet of the shoreline or from a pier is prohibited under the emergency regulation, which also makes it unlawful to “surf fish, bow fish or fish by any other means from any pier or beach in a manner that presents an unsafe condition to any beach goers.
” Determination of “unsafe conditions” is left to the discretion of law enforcement.

Chumming is defined under the regulation “as the throwing of bait or fish parts into the water to attract fish.”
Bloodbaiting is defined under the regulation “as the use of blood, chemical or synthetic attractants, fish parts, chicken parts or other animal parts to attract fish or sharks.”

There is no exemption made for anglers hooking a bait and throwing it into the surf to attract other species.

---

Don't even set up to surf fish where there are tourist/swimmers.
If they show up after you, LE will make you leave.
That said, there is plenty of beach in AL good for sharking... Just don't chum, you'll get a ticket... Period!

They frown heavily on scaring the touristas.
You can shark AKA surf fish at most public beaches if you're smart about it, i.e. not doing it next to a busy swimming beach, in front of Hotels/Condos and/or making a huge stinking chum slick.
Common sense and decency go a long ways to not being bothered.

Miles of open beaches with little activity, especially in areas where access is limited or unknown except to the locals.
Again, common sense and being subtle, not much difference between heavy duty surf gear and shark gear.
"Officer I'm fishing for Bull Reds or whatever else will take my cut bait."
It would probably be hard to pull this off when fishing with 80-130# rods and 9/0-12/0 reels, and baits requiring a yak.
Stick to castable rigs/baits.

Fort Morgan... Technically no... But we do it all the time.
Ft. Morgan Point is a great sharking spot in the spring/summer.
Huge drop off on the Bay side of the point, 10-20 yards out it drops from 3-5' to 15-20'.
We use beach/pier carts, wagons and what not to haul gear out, drag or paddle the yak to where ever.
We break out the yaks & big gear in broad daylight, we've had uniforms come through & never say a word to us.
Here is a memorable day, http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...0-2013-a-6720/

Florida is right next door, plenty of great sharking and little to no pesky regs/laws about sharking.
I've been making a few multi-day trips to Pensacola, FL to shark.
We've another trip planned for Sept 21-24.

Baits, everything!
I love whole fish, live or dead, Mullet, Hardtails, Blues, dinner plate sized rays and any large fish carcass/head.

Its all about respecting swimmers, not scaring the tourists, common sense & good manners and being low key.

Dang Chile, where ya been? I was counting on you to be first to respond to this thread!

This little fella was caught at a public access area down around Morgan Town couple years ago
http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1666768b.jpg

Hey Chile, if I am off one of those days you are over here I will meet up with you.

No chum required either. Just one 50w, a 8lb bonita, and a unlucky sole to kayak the bait out two hundred yards.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FinChaser

Dang Chile, where ya been? I was counting on you to be first to respond to this thread!

This little fella was caught at a public access area down around Morgan Town couple years ago
http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1666768b.jpg

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FinChaser

Dang Chile, where ya been? I was counting on you to be first to respond to this thread!

---

I've been lurking it, too lazy & distracted playing World of Tanks & hanging out on alantani.com to respond.
Finally got off my arse & cut/paste a copy of my usual reply.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rockinchef88

Hey Chile, if I am off one of those days you are over here I will meet up with you.

---

I should be there at least for three days, we'll be fishing day & night at various spots between the pier & Ft. Pickens.
Be great to have ya, or anybody else. Last time I extended a open invitation, it'll apply again.

It would be my luck that I work all three days. Maybe I will get lucky.