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Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report for September 26 – October 2, 2025

September 26, 2025

This week, host Butch Thierry checks in with Blakely Ellis from CCA Alabama, Capt. Spencer Kight with DI Reef Monster, and Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing LLC. The show also shares a special segment from Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters in the Northwest Florida area. Topics range from reef-building projects and local conservation events, to offshore amberjack and grouper tactics, to inshore trout and flounder action, and even kayak anglers tangling with sailfish and tuna right off the beach.

Conditions Recap

Early fall conditions have settled in, with many calm, slick days providing opportunities to get offshore. Water clarity has ranged from green and clear inside Mobile Bay to strikingly blue offshore near Sand Island and the rigs. Bait is abundant, with pogies and shrimp plentiful from Fort Morgan to the Causeway. Salinity has fluctuated, particularly in the upper Bay, where a recent influx of freshwater has pushed down readings and slowed redfish activity. Offshore, salinity remains high, contributing to an outstanding pelagic bite from Navarre to Panama City.

CCA Alabama Update with Blakely Ellis

Blakely Ellis of CCA Alabama joined Butch to talk about a special memorial reef project. In August, CCA deployed over 300 tons of concrete pipe and culverts to create “Benny’s Reef” in the CCA Alabama Reef Zone south of Fort Morgan. This marks the group’s first artificial reef project since 2015 and stands as a meaningful legacy to honor supporter Benny LaSalle. Coordinates will be released soon so anglers can visit the new structure.

Blakely also previewed the upcoming Eastern Shore Fall Banquet at Oak Hollow Farm on October 2. The event features sold-out sponsorships, live music, auctions, and raffle items ranging from guided fishing trips to original artwork. Tickets are still available through CCA Alabama and event partners.

Offshore Report with Capt. Spencer Kight

Capt. Spencer Kight of DI Reef Monster checked in after a busy stretch of trips offshore. With red snapper season behind, his crew has been running eight-hour trips to deeper natural bottom for amberjack, vermilion snapper, and grouper. He reported excellent amberjack action, including fish pushing 70 pounds, often caught trolling deep-diving plugs like Nomads and X-Raps. This trolling technique also produces bonus hookups with kings, wahoo, and tuna.

Grouper catches have included scamp and red grouper, mostly coming on electric reels while deep dropping. Spencer noted some signs of a rebound in grouper numbers compared to the past couple of years. Clearer water offshore has also made it easier to spot sharks versus big AJs, helping anglers decide when to fight or break off.

Inshore Report with Capt. Patric Garmeson

Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing LLC described a wide variety of opportunities from nearshore to the rivers. Red snapper are still accessible just offshore, and inside the Bay anglers are finding black drum, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, spadefish, and mangroves mixed around structure. Patric emphasized the importance of bleeding fish for table quality and highlighted spadefish as excellent eating, comparable to pompano.

Speckled trout have been consistent in the middle Bay, while the upper Bay has seen a dip in redfish and shrimp availability due to reduced salinity. Flounder action is improving across the system, with good results on artificial lures such as the Slick Jr. in Ice Candy and Z-Man paddle tails. Patric reminded anglers about the ongoing Doormat Classic Flounder Tournament, which runs through early October with both virtual and live weigh-in events.

Kayak & Land-Based Report with Brandon Barton

Brandon Barton of Emerald Waters Kayak Charters shared an exciting update from the Pensacola/Navarre area. September is prime time for “September Sails,” with sailfish showing up within a mile of the beach. Multiple kayak anglers have already landed sailfish this month, and the piers are reporting daily catches. Mahi, king mackerel, blackfin tuna, and even wahoo have been mixed in close to shore.

Brandon recommends trolling live cigar minnows on either a wire duster rig (for kings and wahoo insurance) or a fluorocarbon leader and circle hook for sailfish. He stressed the importance of having a pitch bait ready for sighted sailfish and using proper revival techniques after the fight. Tuna are hitting smaller-profile deep divers like white Rapala X-Raps, while mahi and kings are being caught around bait schools and reefs in 50–60 feet of water.