Capt. Tanner Deas filled in this week while Butch was at hunting camp, and the episode covered a little bit of everything: a legit bluewater box built on smart decision-making, a winter inshore bite that’s been frustratingly inconsistent day-to-day, and that familiar late-winter temptation where it feels like spring even though the fish are still acting like it’s February.
Conditions Recap
A warm stretch has everybody thinking “spring patterns,” but both reports pointed out that winter is still in control. The days are getting longer and the weather has been pleasant, yet the fish haven’t made a full seasonal shift. One of the biggest variables right now is how dry it has been locally. With less rain, Mobile Bay and the nearby tidal rivers have stayed saltier and clearer than normal in spots, especially down toward the south end. That has created some odd positioning and movement compared to a typical winter and it has made the bite feel unpredictable. Several times in the conversation, the guys came back to the same theme: you can hit a system one day and feel like it’s loaded, then return with similar conditions and struggle to put a solid bite together.
They also talked about how slick-calm conditions can be a problem. Nobody wants a gale, but when the water is mirror-flat, fish seem to get more cautious and it can be harder to get committed bites. A little wind or current can help break up the surface and make things more “fishy,” especially in shallow water.
Offshore Report with Capt. Chris Vecsey
Chris broke down a strong example of why offshore anglers need multiple game plans. The crew’s original goal was run-and-gun tuna, but they were getting a later start than they wanted and the tuna bite has been best early, tapering off fast by mid-morning. Instead of forcing the plan, Chris shifted them toward a temperature break he’d been watching, where warmer blended blue water was pushing through and creating a significant edge. With the strong current offshore, that break was moving, but once they found it, it set up perfectly for winter wahoo.
They kept the trolling program simple and effective, pulling deep divers like Nomad DTX style baits and an X-Rap Magnum. Chris emphasized not overthinking colors and instead covering basic contrasts while paying attention to profile. They put a natural mullet-style pattern in the spread, paired it with a brighter option, and focused on being in the right water. That approach produced three quality wahoo, including one in the 45–50 pound class and two more in the 20–25 range.
A really useful part of Chris’s report was his explanation of how he trolls plugs for winter wahoo. He likes around 7 to 7.5 knots with plugs and he staggers the spread in a clean “inline” approach so baits stay separated and hook-ups don’t turn into chaos. His mindset was clear: he would rather land two fish than hook three or four and burn off or tangle up. He also mentioned that when he changes, he often changes profile before he obsesses over the shade of pink versus orange, especially if the forage suggests a bigger meal.
Chris also shared a “pocket tactic” for when you’re marking fish or suspecting they’re down deep but trolling slows: dropping heavy spoons or sinking baits and then using the boat to rip those lures up through the water column to trigger reaction strikes, then letting them sink back down and repeating. He compared it to salmon-style “mooching” and framed it as a way to keep pressure on deep fish instead of assuming they simply quit biting.
After the wahoo, they shifted into swordfish mode. Chris explained how much electronics matter, even on a 1 kW setup, if you’re willing to take the time to dial them in. His preference is to find proof of life—bait and big marks—before committing to a drift. On this trip, it came together quickly. They marked bait, marked what he believed to be a swordfish at depth, set up up-current, and got tight fast. They boated a swordfish in that sweet spot around 100 pounds, which he called his favorite class of fish for the balance of meat and practicality. They had additional sword encounters after that, but like a lot of bluewater windows, it eventually flipped off, and the bite and marking activity shut down.
The best takeaway from Chris’s segment was that their success came from staying flexible and being prepared. They didn’t just bring “tuna stuff.” They brought the gear and the mindset to pivot—wahoo, swords, deep dropping, and whatever else the day gave them.
Inshore Report with Capt. Richard Rutland
Richard’s report focused on how strange and inconsistent this winter has felt. The lack of local rain has kept water surprisingly clear in places, and Mobile Bay has stayed salty enough that fish aren’t behaving exactly how many anglers expect. There was some discussion about trout seemingly lingering farther up-system than usual and about fish showing up in open bay areas as well, which can happen when salinity stays high and conditions stay stable.
The conversation also touched on tournament pressure and how hard it’s been to turn a good pre-fish into a tournament bag. One of the more telling observations was how “specific” fish have been this year. Instead of a normal winter where multiple presentations will get bit at some point during the day, it has often felt like one profile, one cadence, one narrow lane of success—especially for better-class fish.
That led directly into the most actionable inshore theme of the episode: small profiles and light jigheads. Both guys talked about how the Slick Jr. style bait has been producing, even if they don’t love having to lean on a grub profile so much. Richard’s setup has been geared toward subtlety. He’s been fishing light jigheads, often around an eighth ounce, using straight fluorocarbon, and letting the bait get down naturally before slow-rolling it with minimal rod action. The retrieve is more reel-driven than twitch-driven, with subtle little movements rather than aggressive hops.
Richard also explained the trade-off with fluorocarbon—less direct feel and more stretch—then gave the practical adjustments he’s made to compensate. He’s leaned into slightly faster and stronger rods to improve hooksets, and he’s disciplined about keeping the rod out in front instead of high-sticking, which helps manage slack and stretch when a fish loads up.
They also compared color confidence in clear water. Tanner mentioned he’s been seeing a lot of success in lighter, opaque bait families—croaker-type and similar tones—while Richard noted he’s had good bites on both natural colors and loud “draw power” colors like Swamp Thing, plus dependable clear-water tones like Cool Beans and darker options like Goblin in certain rivers. The message was basically: don’t let your brain talk you out of what’s working, even if the color looks “wrong” in your hand.
A fun side note from Richard was how good the bull redfish action has been on the south end of Mobile Bay earlier than many people associate with that bite. He mentioned big schools, lots of movement, and plenty of bait around them, with fish not necessarily sitting on the same classic spots every day.
What Did You Learn
This episode was a strong reminder that success right now is coming from anglers who stay flexible and pay attention. Offshore, Chris built a great day by reading conditions, finding an edge, keeping the spread clean, and pivoting when the tuna plan didn’t fit the timing. Inshore, Richard described a winter where fish are around but moody, and where small profile baits, light heads, and subtle retrieves are often the difference between scratching out a bite and actually putting a trip together. Most importantly, both guys echoed the same warning: enjoy the warm weather, but don’t get fooled—until the warming trend becomes consistent, it’s still winter and the fish are still going to act like it.
