This week, host Butch Thierry brings listeners another action-packed edition of the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report, presented by Angelo DePaola, The Coastal Connection with eXp Realty. Butch first chats with Capt. Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing, who recaps his big win at the 2025 Doormat Classic and breaks down everything flounder—bait, rigging, and where to find them right now. Then, Butch welcomes seasoned pier angler Clifton Davis, who shares a detailed look at the newly reopened Cedar Point Pier, offering insight into current conditions, best baits, and techniques for bull reds, black drum, and speckled trout.
Conditions Recap
Cooler weather has moved in, making for excellent fall fishing conditions across coastal Alabama. Water clarity has fluctuated with recent wind and rain, but overall, the bite remains strong. The north winds have helped set up some great opportunities in the rivers and marshes, and a touch of stained water has improved feeding activity for redfish, drum, and flounder. With shrimp still plentiful, both artificial and live-bait presentations continue to produce. Anglers are seeing early signs of the bull red and triple tail transitions typical of mid to late October.
Inshore Report with Capt. Richard Rutland – Cold Blooded Fishing
Capt. Richard Rutland joined Butch to talk about his big weekend at the Doormat Classic, where he and teammate Dylan Kiene, also known as “Dr. Doormat,” claimed the championship title despite challenging weather. The key to their success was switching from plastics to live finger mullet, which outperformed artificial lures by a wide margin. Rutland shared that locating bait was half the battle, emphasizing that finger mullet are often found near rocky shorelines and sandy stretches—prime zones to scout before tournament day.
For catching bait, Rutland prefers an 8-foot Bait Buster cast net with ¼-inch mesh and uses a heavier 12-footer offshore. His go-to flounder rig this time of year is a Carolina setup with a short 12-inch leader, a ¾-ounce sinker, and a 3/0 Owner SSW or 2/0 Kale hook. He adds a split shot above the sinker to pin the bait to the bottom, keeping it in the strike zone longer. “Flounder want that mullet pinned tight to the bottom,” he said. “Hook them through the top of the back so they swim naturally away from the weight.”
Rutland also discussed current flounder trends, noting a noticeable push of fish from the Gulf into the marshes of Mississippi Sound. Although the overall population seems down, some larger fish are beginning to show. He expects more consistent action leading up to late October before the first cold fronts push them offshore.
Speckled trout are in transition, with smaller fish already entering the rivers and keeper-size trout holding just outside. Rutland reported good catches on popping corks with artificial shrimp and MirrOlure Lil Johns in “opening night” and “purple” color patterns. Bird activity over shrimp is increasing, and anglers shouldn’t dismiss these schools—some hold quality 18- to 20-inch trout.
Triple tail remain in play, especially around channel markers and structure south of Gilliard Island. Rutland recommends switching from shrimp to pogies or small croakers as shrimp move out. He noted that many late-season fish feed primarily on finfish and small crabs.
As for bull reds, acoustic tagging data shows they’ll soon arrive right on schedule near Dixie Bar and the Dauphin Island passes. “They show up almost to the day every year,” Rutland said. Anglers can expect that bite to peak through mid-November.
Land-Based Report with Clifton Davis – Cedar Point Pier
Longtime pier angler Clifton Davis joined the show with an exciting update: the Cedar Point Pier is officially reopened, and the bite has been outstanding. Davis reported steady catches of bull reds, black drum, and flounder, along with white trout and the occasional speckled trout showing under the lights at night. Renovations have improved access, though he noted that lights being off during construction briefly affected nighttime bait concentrations.
Davis shared that the recent windy, choppy conditions actually helped the bite by stirring up the water. “A little murk in the water always gets the reds and drum chewing better,” he said. He favors an east or north wind, finding the bite most productive when fishing the front of the pier during strong winds.
His setup includes two heavy rods spooled with 50- to 80-pound main line and 60- to 130-pound leaders, paired with 8/0 circle hooks for big reds and drum. For smaller game, he uses 20- to 30-pound tackle with a 30-pound leader. His go-to bait? Fresh blue crab, either halved or whole, trimmed so scent disperses without being stripped too quickly by baitfish. “Even when they’re hollowed out, the big ones will still hit,” Davis said.
For speckled trout and slot reds, live shrimp under a popping cork remains unbeatable, followed by 3- to 5-inch finger mullet. Davis adjusts his leader length based on depth and tide, using 3- to 3½-foot leaders when targeting trout. He prefers a falling tide for flounder and sheepshead and recommends casting to the edge of the pier’s light line at night—no need to throw far.
According to Davis, Cedar Point’s water averages around eight feet deep at high tide, with prime flounder areas as shallow as two to three feet. He encourages anglers to adapt to wind and current by shortening casts when the tide runs strong, using weights from 5 to 6 ounces to maintain bottom contact.
“The key is time on the pier,” Davis said. “You can’t catch them from the sofa.”
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