Violations of Pier Rules and Alabama Fishing Regulations

Greetings all,

I know we have gone over this issue ad nauseum here and elsewhere, but I'm bringing it up once again with some hopefully positive news. After witnessing more violations than I care to count, from undersize fish, tourist contempt for fishing license requirements, to over limit creels, or even simple pier rule violations, I finally escalated a report to the Marine Resources Division about blatant abuses of our fishery by various individuals. I was visited today by state park security and the district supervisor for marine resources enforcement.

Now, they assure me that they are checking licenses on the pier daily, and making regular enforcement visits to the pier. Okay, that hasn't been my experience, but the point is they have this on the radar now. They say they do need our help however. If you witness any violation, report it to the pier house and/or call the marine resources enforcement hotline:

24-Hour Contact Numbers:
Mobile Co. Enforcement - (251) 476-1256Baldwin Co. Enforcement - (251) 968-7576

Give them as much specific information as you can about the violations and/or violators, or they are unlikely to be able to address it specifically. I hear over and over from y'all about things that go on, and I also hear that calling the powers that be is a waste of time because they never come out. While in my experience I have to agree with that assessment, I have been assured that any reports will be dealt with either by park security or enforcement officers right away.

Take it or leave it as you will, I had to at least try do something after the things I've seen and heard about over and over again, and especially recently.

Keep your eyes open, and let them know what's happening. If you don't feel comfortable doing that directly, you can make an anonymous report or just let me know, and I will pass on the information.

Let's protect our resource from the people who think the rules don't apply to them.

Thanks,
Gary

I fish there frequently and I very rarely see under size or over limit. However I see pier rules broken constantly by regulars and tourist mainly the rule of only using 1 rod and reel at a time. But my questions are. How would you know that someone doesn't have a licence? Which pier rules do you see being violated that would warrant calling the pier house to report it?

GBergmann---You did the right thing by contacting the Powers That Be and not just bitching about it on the forum. It may or may not do any good, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so if we keep contacting them, something may be done. It's not our job to enforce the rules, but we can bug the ones who are responsible. Thank you.

I agree with Mr. Bearden...what kinds of things might we be keeping an eye out for? I don't want to sound stupid, but it would help to know what the most common violations are...trashing the place, illegal sabikis, two rods at a time, things like that?

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Originally Posted by snakeeater

I don't want to sound stupid, but it would help to know what the most common violations are...trashing the place, illegal sabikis, two rods at a time, things like that?

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What is an illegal sabiki?

I've seen quite a few illegal fish/over limit creels mainly pomps(undersized and over creel), some young men snatching the "pet trout" in the shallows, and the purposeful torture/hooking of them grey suits.

Mr. C, New pier rule last year of no more than 5 hook sabikis.

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Originally Posted by fshntime

Mr. C, New pier rule last year of no more than 5 hook sabikis.

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ok. gotcha! Ty fshntime! :) I normally cut mine down to 4 or 5 anyway because they are just to long for my liking.

I certainly think we should all obey the laws and rules but I suggest you rethink who In forces them. Do they not have DNR on the pier. I have been a member of this site since 2011 and 5 or 6 years ago some people were so zealous I never took my family back until two weeks ago. Please don't go there again. Seems the pier could afford to hire private cops with the fees being charged. If DNR banned the poachers for life time that might help but to jump on visitors for breaking rules not laws is pretty lame. Looking forward to joining u guys in a couple of weeks. God bless

I don't know how the 5 hook sabiki rule got put into place but I think the intent was to cut out the use of the 12 hook rig that some people were using to catch hard tails and anything else it was an accident waiting to happen.

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Originally Posted by Robert(Tato)Piteo

I don't know how the 5 hook sabiki rule got put into place but I think the intent was to cut out the use of the 12 hook rig that some people were using to catch hard tails and anything else it was an accident waiting to happen.

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I pretty much stopped fishing past the tee due to the danger of being hooked or hit with a chunk of lead. SOME, not ALL of the people using the long sabiki rigs never bothered to look back when slinging the rig behind them to cast.