The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo is here, and anglers across the coast are getting dialed in. This week, host Butch Thierry checks in with Capt. Tanner Deas, Capt. Richard Rutland, and Capt. Cody Broughton for in-depth updates covering inshore, offshore, and surf action. Whether you’re chasing a trophy trout or bottom fishing for the leaderboard, this report will help you make the most of it.
Conditions Recap:
Anglers saw light to moderate winds with mostly clear skies and high temps in the upper 80s to low 90s. Water clarity was good throughout most of the bays and along the beaches, with a slight tannic stain up in the rivers. Tidal movement was moderate leading into the weekend, setting up well for morning and evening bites.
Land-Based and Surf Fishing Report – Capt. Tanner Deas
Tanner Deas of Dauphin Island Fishing Charters has been running surf charters and guide-for-hire trips around Dauphin Island with strong results. Speckled trout are feeding heavily in the early mornings on topwaters, then transitioning to subsurface baits as the sun rises.
Key tactics and baits:
- Topwaters at first light, then switching to Coastal Brew, Slick Lures, Matrix Shads, and Z-Man soft plastics.
- Carolina rigs and popping corks with live shrimp or live croakers for multi-species action, including trout, redfish, flounder, and ground mullet.
- Focus on foam lines, depth changes, and bait presence. Small features in the surf (like rips or color shifts) often hold fish.
Tanner also emphasized the importance of catch-and-release, especially during the rodeo, noting that this year’s trout fishing has been some of the best in a decade.
Product highlights mentioned:
- Slick Lures (OG Slick, Slick Jr.)
- Coastal Brew Baits
- Matrix Shad (3-inch paddle tails)
- Fairhope Rattle popping corks
- Eye Strike jigheads
- Owner Beast Hooks
- Fishbites Dirty Boxers
His tackle selections are now available at the “Bait Wall” inside Pirate’s Treasure Chest gift shop next to Pirate’s Bar & Grill on Dauphin Island.
Inshore Report – Capt. Richard Rutland
Capt. Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing reports great fishing from Dauphin Island up to the Mobile River. He’s seeing a mix of trout, redfish, flounder, and triple tail.
Hot bites and patterns:
- Trout are still in shallow water, despite high temps. Live shrimp under a popping cork has been key.
- Catching his own croakers on Fishbites with small bream hooks around reefs has paid off.
- For triple tail, he’s cutting the tails off live croakers to slow them down and make an easier meal.
- Tarpon have been active on the beach in 15–20 feet of water, responding to slow-rolled swim baits like Hoagie Eels.
Product highlights mentioned:
- Hogy Slowtail Twins and Eels
- Owner SSW live bait hooks
- AFTCO gear for sun protection
Offshore Bottom Report – Capt. Cody Broughton
Capt. Cody Broughton of Smok’n Reelz on Dauphin Island is running six-hour bottom trips that are turning up red snapper, vermilion snapper (beeliners), mangrove snapper, and the occasional cobia.
Tactics for rodeo-sized fish:
- Cruise just off main structure and look for marks on the bottom. This is where the larger red and mangrove snapper have been holding.
- Use a mix of live pogies, croakers, and pinfish. Croakers have been especially productive for mangroves.
- Keep a cobia spinner rigged at all times—many are showing up near snapper spots.
Product highlights mentioned:
- Small knocker rigs for cobia
- Longer, lighter leaders for mangrove snapper
- Live croakers and pogies
Featured Sponsors
- AFTCO – Offering sun protection apparel, including hooded shirts with built-in face buffs. Text ALSFR to 779-345-2918 to receive a free camo sunglasses cleaning cloth with any purchase.
- SeaTow – Unlimited towing, fuel delivery, jump starts, and more.
- Fishbites – Scented artificial baits for surf and inshore species.
- KillerDock – Marine-grade aluminum fish cleaning stations.
- Shoreline Plastics – Makers of the EcoPile and SnapJacket composite dock materials.
- Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works – Your metal roofing headquarters.
- Admiral Shellfish – Farm-raised Gulf oysters available to the public.
- Hilton’s Real-Time Navigator – High-resolution satellite data for offshore fishing.
- Southeastern Pond Management – Pond and lake services for landowners.
- CCA Alabama – Supporting hatchery and habitat work through license plate sales.
Be safe out there and good luck to all competing in the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.
