2026 regulation year
Alabama Crappie (white + black) 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules
Pomoxis annularis / Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Last updated
Weiss Lake on the AL/GA border bills itself as the 'Crappie Capital of the World' — 30,200-acre Coosa River impoundment with a 10-inch minimum + 30-fish daily bag that holds the white + black crappie fishery in trophy management. Aliceville Lake on the Tombigbee adds a second 10-inch-minimum crappie reservoir. Tennessee River impoundments (Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, Pickwick) and most Coosa reservoirs hold strong year-round crappie populations under a 30-fish daily bag without statewide minimum.
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Season
Open year-round Open year-round.
Bag & possession
- Daily bag
- 30 / day
- Possession
- 30 in possession
Size, slot, trophy rules
- Size
- 10 in min Weiss Lake + Aliceville Lake + listed reservoirs; no statewide minimum elsewhere
Gear restrictions
- Hook-and-line + jigging poles permitted; no more than 3 lines per angler in most waters
- Trotline + jugline crappie harvest restricted on most public reservoirs
- Weiss Lake: 10 in min, 30 / day — Crappie Capital management
Named water-body overrides
Where statewide rules differ on specific Alabama waters:
Weiss Lake
10 in min, 30 / day; 'Crappie Capital of the World'
Aliceville Lake
10 in min, 30 / day; Tombigbee River impoundment
Lake Guntersville
No statewide minimum, 30 / day
Wheeler Lake
No statewide minimum, 30 / day
Demopolis Lake
No statewide minimum, 30 / day
Official source
Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division publishes the authoritative 2026 Alabamafishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.
The crappie (white + black) rules on this page are sourced from Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division's official crappie (white + black) regulation page.
Visit official Alabama fishing regulations →
Emergency-order channel
Crappie (white + black) closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division's emergency-order feed — check it before any Alabama trip during the active season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is crappie (white + black) season in Alabama?
- Alabama keeps crappie (white + black) open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
- What is the Alabama bag limit for crappie (white + black)?
- The Alabama daily bag limit for crappie (white + black) is 30 / day. The possession limit is 30 in possession. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
- What size crappie (white + black) can you keep in Alabama?
- The Alabama size rule for crappie (white + black) is 10 in min Weiss Lake + Aliceville Lake + listed reservoirs; no statewide minimum elsewhere.
- Do you need a license to fish for crappie (white + black) in Alabama?
- Yes. Alabama requires a valid fishing license to fish for crappie (white + black), with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Alabama license — compare resident and non-resident Alabama fees on the state regulations page below.
- Are there gear restrictions for crappie (white + black) in Alabama?
- Yes. In Alabama, crappie (white + black) fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line + jigging poles permitted; no more than 3 lines per angler in most waters; Trotline + jugline crappie harvest restricted on most public reservoirs; Weiss Lake: 10 in min, 30 / day — Crappie Capital management.
- Do specific Alabama waters have different crappie (white + black) rules?
- Yes. 5 named Alabama waters carry rules that override the statewide crappie (white + black) regulation, including Weiss Lake, Aliceville Lake, Lake Guntersville, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.