(a) All waters of this state are hereby declared to be public waters if such waters are natural bodies of water such as rivers, creeks, brooks, lakes, bayous, bays, channels, canals or lagoons or are dug, dredged or blasted canals and if these waters traverse, bound, flow upon or through or touch lands title to which is held by more than one person, firm or corporation. Any water impounded by the construction of any lock or dam or other impounding device placed across the channel of a navigable stream is declared a public water. All waters caused to be impounded or owned or leased by any municipality, county or other governmental unit are also declared to be public waters; likewise, all impoundments owned or operated by public utilities when such impoundments touch or bound lands title to which is held by more than one person, firm or corporation are declared to be public waters; provided, that before any person may go or be upon the posted lands of another for the purpose of fishing he shall procure the consent of the landowner or his agent.
(b) Private waters are defined as any body of water wholly on lands held in fee or in trust or under lease by any one person, firm, corporation or club and include impoundments that are wholly on lands held in fee or in trust, or under lease by any one person, firm, corporation or club, and regardless of the extent of the impounded stream, provided such stream is nonnavigable.
Structure Code of Alabama
Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.
Chapter 11 - Fish, Game and Wildlife.
Section 9-11-80 - Public and Private Waters Defined.
Section 9-11-81 - Title to Freshwater Fish Vested in State.
Section 9-11-82 - Game Fish Designated.
Section 9-11-83 - Commercial or Nongame Fish Designated.
Section 9-11-84 - Sale, Transportation, etc., of Game Fish Taken From Public or Private Waters.
Section 9-11-86 - Limitation on Transportation, etc., of Game Fish Beyond Boundaries of State.
Section 9-11-87 - Means of Catching Game Fish Generally.
Section 9-11-88 - Catching Game or Nongame Fish by Use of Gill, Trammel, etc., Nets.
Section 9-11-89 - Use of Game Fish for Bait - Generally.
Section 9-11-90 - Use of Game Fish for Bait - Use of Sunfish.
Section 9-11-91 - Catching, etc., of Fish in Private Ponds, Lakes, Pools, or Reservoirs.
Section 9-11-91.1 - Unauthorized Fishing From or Near Fish Farm.
Section 9-11-92 - Preventing Passage of Fish Up Rivers or Creeks.
Section 9-11-93 - Catching, Killing, etc., of Fish by Use of Poisons or Explosives.
Section 9-11-94 - Catching, Killing, etc., of Game or Nongame Fish by Means Not Expressly Allowed.
Section 9-11-94.1 - Purchase of Tags Required for Each Tarpon Taken, Killed, or Harvested.