This week’s Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is hosted by Capt. Tanner Deas and Dylan Kiene, better known as “Dr. Doormat”, and features an in-depth, two-part inshore breakdown from Capt. Branden Collier of Capt. Collier’s Charters and Capt. Matthew Sviggum (“Salty Swiggs”). The onshore segment comes from Clifton Davis, aka “Mr. Hit ’Em With a Hook”, who shares detailed tactics for targeting sheepshead, puppy drum, and slot reds from shore. With offshore trips largely sidelined by wind and rain, this episode delivers one of the most detailed inshore and onshore discussions of the season, highlighted by tournament-winning trout patterns and highly specific rigging adjustments.
Conditions Recap
Persistent rain, elevated river flow, and frequent wind kept most offshore boats at the dock this week. Inshore and nearshore systems experienced a noticeable freshwater influx, creating layered water columns with saltier water holding deeper in many rivers and bayous. Water clarity ranged from lightly stained to muddy, depending on location, with productive areas often showing a slight green or “dirty-clear” tint rather than fully clear water.
Low wind periods and minimal tidal movement reduced water mixing, making bait presence, depth, and subtle changes in salinity key factors. Feeding windows closely aligned with moon minors and majors, and many quality trout bites occurred in short, intense windows tied directly to those periods.
Onshore Report – Clifton Davis (“Mr. Hit ’Em With a Hook”)
Clifton focused primarily on sheepshead fishing along structure, adjusting his rigs to match current strength and bottom composition. Instead of his usual heavier setups, he downsized to a ¼-ounce egg weight Carolina rig, which allowed the bait to move more naturally with the current and reduced hang-ups in rocks.
He prefers circle hooks, specifically Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks, letting the fish load the rod rather than setting the hook aggressively. Leader length was shortened to roughly 12–15 inches, further limiting snags and improving bite detection.
Live shrimp remained his top producer, often outperforming crabs. Larger shrimp were pinned through the midsection or split in half to prevent bait theft, while smaller shrimp were hooked through multiple segments for durability. Clifton emphasized that even very small pieces of shrimp can produce big fish when presented correctly.
Crab selection depended heavily on bottom type. Marsh or muddy bottoms favored local marsh crabs (“square backs”), while sandy or shell bottoms responded better to fiddler crabs. Live shrimp proved to be the most consistent option across mixed structure.
Low tides produced better redfish action, particularly slot reds, while water clarity played a major role in sheepshead success. Clear water slowed the bite significantly, while lightly stained water consistently produced fish.
Inshore Report – Tournament Trout Roundtable
The inshore segment centered around the Battle of the Grubs (BOG) tournament, an invite-only, artificial-only trout series that consistently showcases the best winter trout anglers in the region. Despite heavy rain leading up to the event, fish held in predictable areas where bait and deeper saltwater remained present.
Successful teams relied heavily on downsized profiles and precise depth control. The standout lure of the weekend was the Pure Flats Slick Jr., particularly in subtle, high-contrast colors such as sandlapper and pearl-based patterns. Many of the biggest fish came from deeper water, often 10–15 feet, with slow presentations near the bottom.
An ⅛-ounce jig head paired with a Slick Jr. allowed for a slow fall and extended time in the strike zone. Bites were often subtle, with large trout appearing lethargic and staying deep, especially during cold mornings and following freshwater influx.
Color contrast proved critical. Both dark profiles and bright, high-contrast patterns produced fish, while mid-tone colors were largely ignored. Several anglers emphasized checking lure opacity by holding baits up to the light, ensuring enough silhouette for fish feeding in stained water.
Moon phases dictated feeding windows. Many teams filled or upgraded bags almost exclusively during minors and majors, with bites shutting down quickly outside those windows. Winning and placing teams often caught only a handful of legal fish, but the average size was significantly larger than in previous years.
Fishery Observations & Trends
Multiple anglers noted a clear improvement in trout size and overall fishery health compared to prior seasons. Recent regulation changes, improved bait populations, and a cultural shift toward releasing larger fish are all contributing to heavier tournament bags and more frequent encounters with trophy-class trout. Several teams reported catching trout exceeding 26 inches, reinforcing the idea that selective harvest and stewardship are paying dividends across multiple systems.
Final Takeaway
This week’s Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report reinforced a consistent theme across onshore and inshore fishing: adaptability wins. Whether it was lightening terminal tackle for sheepshead, downsizing trout lures, or timing bites around moon phases, anglers who adjusted quickly to conditions found success. With improving fish stocks and strong winter patterns emerging, the coming weeks should continue to offer some of the best inshore fishing of the season.
