This week on the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report, host Butch Thierry is joined by co-host Dylan Kean to cover inshore, offshore, and east side of the bay action. Reports come in from Captain Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing, Captain Cody Broughton of Smokin’ Reels, and Captain Lyons of Fairhope Charters. From speckled trout on the beaches and flounder staging in new areas, to tuna and swordfish offshore, it’s a detailed look at what’s happening right now across Alabama’s coastal waters.
Conditions Recap
Salinity levels across the bay have risen dramatically, creating classic early fall conditions. Captain Rutland noted that parts of the Delta are already registering 25 ppt salinity, with shrimp and mullet thick throughout the system. The lower bay and island waters are some of the clearest they’ve been all year, with tide lines setting up ideal conditions for triple tail. Offshore, water clarity has improved, bringing blue water close to the rigs and drawing pelagics into range. Weather has shifted toward drier days with slightly cooler mornings, which should stabilize patterns heading into September.
Inshore Report – Trout, Drum, and Flounder
Captain Richard Rutland reported strong action on black drum and speckled trout in the lower bay. Schools of drum were responding to slow presentations with paddle tails, while speckled trout and redfish were following large movements of shrimp and mullet. Rutland shared valuable insight on identifying and fishing slicks, noting that fresh slicks with that classic “melon” smell are reliable indicators of feeding activity. Speckled trout continue to hold strong along the beaches, and needlefish proved to be a surprising big-trout bait when paired with live croakers. Flounder catches remain inconsistent, likely impacted by spring runoff, though expectations are high for a strong fall push.
Gear Highlight: Pure Flats Slick Lures remain a top choice for trout and redfish. Rutland also stressed the importance of reading slicks and using paddle tails with slow retrieves to tempt finicky drum.
Offshore Report – Tuna and Swordfish
Captain Cody Broughton shared that tuna fishing has been productive when anglers match the hatch. Larger baits like greenbacks and hornbellies were ignored in favor of tiny hardtails and goggle eyes, which made the difference between frustration and success. Once the right bait was found, multiple tuna were landed even under bright mid-day sun. Swordfishing has been excellent as well, with quick bites on both Bonita bellies and squid. Two swords were landed on recent trips, with reports of larger fish over 200 pounds in the same areas. Water clarity offshore is excellent, and blue water is pushing close to the rigs. Anglers also reported marlin sightings, while wahoo action has been quiet.
Gear Highlight: Mustad J-hooks and Bonita belly strips remain dependable swordfish rigs, though many captains are experimenting with circle hooks on buoy rods. Matching bait size to what tuna are actively feeding on is critical.
Eastern Shore and ICW Report
Captain Lyons described tough early conditions on the ICW rocks, which quickly flipped into a red-hot bite three hours before high tide. Live shrimp and finger mullet under popping corks produced redfish, puppy drum, flounder, and white trout in quick succession. Lyons noted the importance of using a split shot five inches above the bait when fishing rocks, keeping finger mullet in the flounder strike zone. Baitfish and pogies have finally shown up in force from Weeks Bay to the ICW, marking a shift into the fall feeding pattern.
Gear Highlight: The Fairhope Rattle paired with live shrimp remains one of the most effective ICW rigs. Adjusting leader depth and split-shot placement made the difference between flounder and redfish hookups.
