Saltwater Anglers Set Records

Alabama’s saltwater anglers have been on a record-setting pace with 11 fish entering the record books from October 2021 to October 2022, and two of those records remained on the books for only months, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced. ADCNR Marine Resources Division Director Scott Bannon said the only year that compares with the recent spate of record fish is 2006, when 13 records were set. “When I looked at the number of records, what was interesting was that two of them were broken twice,” Bannon said of the sheepshead and permit categories. “That’s kind of unique over our history. I think several things contribute to that. If you look at the number of license sales and boat sales, there are more people taking advantage of the fishing opportunities we have in Alabama. That means more people on the water, more trips on the water, so there are more opportunities to break these state records….. I think this is great news for Alabama. I think it shows the benefits of having such a great saltwater fishery, both inshore species and offshore species.”