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Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report for October 16 – 22, 2026

October 19, 2026

In this week’s Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report, host Butch Thierry checks in with Capt. Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle, Clark Newsome and Andy Pipkin of Make Wake Marine, Joe Baya and Tom Hilton of Hilton’s Realtime Navigator, and Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing. After the recent storm, anglers are seeing cooler inshore water, heavy bait concentrations, excellent opportunities for bull redfish and jack crevalle along the beaches, and promising blue water within reach of Gulf Coast ports.

Chris explains how to target beach fish, flounder, mangrove snapper and migrating tarpon; the Make Wake Marine team discusses fall outboard maintenance, winter storage and practical boat upgrades; Joe and Tom break down satellite imagery and trip planning for fall wahoo; and Patric shares how he is adjusting to a scattered Mobile Bay and Delta bite with live pogies, soft plastics and an eye for changing bait activity.

Conditions Recap

The Alabama Gulf Coast avoided the worst of the recent storm, but the weather still accelerated the fall fishing transition. Capt. Chris Vecsey says inshore water that had been running roughly 82 to 84 degrees before the storm had dropped into the upper 70s afterward, with his warmest readings around 77 degrees during the report. Along the beaches from Perdido Key toward Dauphin Island, schools of bait, jack crevalle and bull redfish have made for exciting surface action. Eastbound tarpon are also passing through, although many are moving too quickly to feed readily.

Inside Mobile Bay and the Delta, Capt. Patric Garmeson reports that the storm temporarily pulled water out of shallow areas and rearranged the bait. Small pogies remain abundant along the rivers and Causeway, but the shrimp activity he had been seeing before the storm has been much harder to find. The redfish bite is still producing respectable fish, and flounder are showing up during mixed-species trips, but speckled trout have been less dependable. Patric is concentrating on water four feet deep or less, looking for birds, bait, shorelines and small stretches of cover rather than assuming last week’s productive spots still hold fish.

Offshore, the changes have been encouraging. Tom Hilton says the storm helped push cleaner blue water much closer to the coast. Satellite imagery showed color changes, temperature breaks and useful current edges along the shelf south of the nearshore fish-aggregating devices (FADs), giving anglers several promising starting points for wahoo and other pelagic species. Conditions are changing quickly, so the most useful approach is to check recent imagery, match it with structure, and build a realistic trip plan before leaving the dock.

Beach, Pass and Nearshore Fishing Report – Capt. Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle

Capt. Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle says the days leading up to the storm produced some of the best mixed-species fishing he has seen recently. Beaches and inlets around Perdido Pass, West Pass and Fort Morgan were loaded with small LYs, pinfish and other bait. Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, mangrove snapper and unusually large croakers were feeding aggressively, with live bait especially effective. Chris also had a good topwater bite before the storm and believes both the falling pressure and increased bait movement helped turn the fish on.

The cooler water has brought a different kind of excitement along the open beaches. Chris reports large schools of jack crevalle and bull redfish from the Perdido Key area toward Dauphin Island, particularly during calm mornings. Anglers willing to look for surface commotion can find fish crashing bait and chasing topwater plugs. Spanish mackerel, sharks and even jumping spinner sharks are part of the activity. Chris also saw manta rays near the mouth of Mobile Bay before the storm, making it worthwhile to watch for cobia around those rays when conditions allow.

Topwater Tackle for Jack Crevalle and Bull Reds

Chris likes large, stable poppers that cast well and stand up to hard-fighting fish. His first choice is the Yo-Zuri Mag Popper, followed by the heavy-duty poppers from Madd Mantis. He values lures that track properly on the retrieve instead of tumbling, and he pays close attention to the hooks and split rings. The Madd Mantis poppers he discussed come with heavy-duty hardware, including VMC 6X trebles, reducing the need to immediately upgrade components before targeting powerful fish.

For the rod and reel, Chris recommends a heavy inshore spinning rod approximately seven to eight feet long, a 4000- to 6000-size reel with a dependable drag, and generally 30- to 40-pound braided line. Some situations justify heavier braid. Because these fish are not especially leader-shy, he prefers a stout 50- to 60-pound leader rather than sacrificing tackle to abrasion or breakoffs. Lures may weigh from around one ounce to more than three ounces, so the rod must be able to cast them effectively. Adequate tackle also allows anglers to shorten the fight and release exhausted jack crevalle and large redfish more quickly.

Chris sometimes removes the hooks from a teaser popper or stickbait and uses it to draw fish toward a fly angler. Aggressive jacks and reds may follow that lure from 50 to 70 yards away, giving someone with a fly rod a much better chance to present a fly within casting range.

Flounder, Mangrove Snapper and Redfish Around the Passes

Anglers fishing from the beach should pay close attention to washouts, troughs, current breaks and pockets with a little more depth. Chris says flounder are plentiful in these areas right now, especially where the current runs through a deeper trough or sweeps past a small piece of structure. He recommends fishing a likely stretch thoroughly, then walking to the next washout or trough if the fish do not respond. The same pattern can be repeated along the beach rather than spending the entire day in one unproductive location.

October is also a good month for live-bait fishing around Perdido Pass, West Pass and Fort Morgan. Chris likes small live baitfish on a Carolina rig for mangrove snapper, redfish and flounder, especially around inlet structure and the protected creeks and grass-lined water nearby. For the larger bull reds around Fort Morgan, he also recommends soaking a substantial chunk of dead mullet as the fall run develops.

Chris reminds anglers that Alabama’s flounder harvest season closes for the entire month of November. With October providing good beach opportunities, it is worth checking the current regulations and making the most of the open season.

Eastbound Tarpon During the Fall Migration

Chris is still seeing tarpon moving east along the beaches, but these fish are much harder to tempt than the slower-moving pods that show up during the spring and early summer. Many appear intent on moving ahead of colder weather rather than stopping to feed. His best advice is to look for smaller groups traveling slowly, rolling or tailing on the surface. Get ahead of those fish and make a careful presentation with live bait, an artificial lure or a fly. Fast-moving tarpon may offer an impressive show without giving anglers a realistic shot at a hookup.

Fall Boat Maintenance and Winter Preparation – Clark Newsome and Andy Pipkin of Make Wake Marine

With the summer boating rush winding down and fall fishing getting started, Butch talks with Clark Newsome and Andy Pipkin of Make Wake Marine in Fairhope about keeping a boat dependable through the cooler months. Clark, the service advisor, says the shop is seeing the wear that builds up after months of hard use: aging bilge and livewell pumps, corroded connections, worn switches and the occasional maintenance item an owner has been putting off. Fall can also be a practical time to plan a larger rewiring, electronics installation or other boat upgrade without sacrificing prime summer boating days.

Preventing Saltwater Corrosion and Expensive Repairs

Clark says some of the best maintenance does not require a major service appointment. Wash the boat thoroughly, clean the bilge, inspect the batteries, open hatches so damp compartments can dry, and make sure wet life jackets and other equipment are not left packed away. He also reminds owners to check the trailer, including its hubs and winch, instead of focusing entirely on the boat itself. Saltwater can attack pumps, connectors, engine components and hardware long before the damage becomes obvious.

For the engine, he recommends checking for corrosion, monitoring the cooling system, and staying alert for signs of trouble in the steering, power tilt and trim, and lower unit. Scale inside cooling passages can interfere with heat transfer, while water contamination or a damaged seal can turn a small problem into a major repair. Fishing line trapped behind a propeller is one potential cause of lower-unit seal damage. Owners who notice unusual noises, fluid problems or other warning signs should have those items investigated rather than waiting for a breakdown.

Outboard Service Intervals and Commonly Missed Items

Clark’s general rule is to perform the recommended 100-hour service every 100 hours or once a year, whichever comes first, while following the schedule for the specific engine. He also discusses water-pump and thermostat service around the 300-hour or three-year mark on applicable engines. The important point is that low engine hours do not automatically eliminate the need for time-based maintenance. Andy adds that changing temperatures and periods of inactivity can contribute to moisture and contamination in engine oil and fuel.

For owners who handle their own maintenance, the Make Wake team recommends using manufacturer-specified parts and retaining service records and receipts. Small components such as lower-unit drain-plug gaskets, oil-drain washers and fuel-filter O-rings are easy to overlook, but they can cause leaks or allow water into places it does not belong. They also encourage boat owners to check spark plugs, fuel filters, gear lubricant and the condition of the water-pump impeller rather than treating an oil change as the entire service.

Trolling Motors, Lithium Batteries and Shallow-Water Anchors

The conversation also covers upgrades that can make fishing easier. Clark has seen more customers move toward lithium trolling-motor batteries because of the space and weight savings compared with multiple conventional batteries. He recommends choosing a reputable battery manufacturer with a reliable warranty and matching the charger to the battery’s requirements. GPS-enabled trolling motors are another major convenience, allowing anglers to hold over a fishing spot instead of constantly operating the boat to maintain position.

Proper trolling-motor shaft length and thrust are important, especially on larger bay and offshore boats. Clark also mentions the Sea Swivel trolling-motor mount, which offers different mounting and stowing positions, and the Power Pux quick-release bracket, which incorporates an electrical connection into the mount to eliminate a separate exposed power cable on deck. Shallow-water anchors are useful around docks, pilings, riverbanks and flats where anglers want to hold quietly without using a traditional anchor or constantly running a trolling motor.

Cold-Weather Storage and Fuel-System Care

Boats along the Gulf Coast may be used year-round, but Clark and Andy say that does not make freeze preparation unnecessary. Covered storage is helpful, and boats left outdoors should be cleaned, drained and protected from trapped water. Keeping an outboard trimmed down in accordance with the manufacturer’s storage instructions helps prevent water from remaining in areas vulnerable to freezing. The team also stresses draining freshwater systems, raw-water lines and the bilge as appropriate, and protecting inboard engines with the proper winterization procedure when freezing temperatures are possible.

Fuel care depends on how long the boat will sit and the engine manufacturer’s recommendations. The Make Wake team discusses fuel stabilizers, water separators and planning ahead for extended storage. They also recommend inspecting and replacing neglected fuel-water separators before corrosion or contamination causes trouble. Rather than using one winterization routine for every boat, their advice is to make a plan based on the engine, the fuel system, the storage conditions and when the boat will go back into service.

Offshore Wahoo Fishing and Blue-Water Trip Planning – Joe Baya and Tom Hilton

Joe Baya joins Tom Hilton of Hilton’s Realtime Navigator for an offshore look at the Gulf after the storm, with a particular focus on locating fall wahoo. Tom says conditions offshore have improved quickly. Cleaner blue water has moved close to the shelf, and recent chlorophyll and sea-surface-temperature imagery shows attractive edges within reach of anglers leaving Destin, Pensacola, Orange Beach and Dauphin Island.

Using Chlorophyll, Temperature and Current to Find Wahoo

Tom starts with water temperature but explains that it is not yet the main limiting factor. Wahoo can remain active in water down into approximately the upper 60s, and the offshore temperatures shown during the discussion were above that range across much of the available fishing area. Rather than hunting for one isolated warm pocket, he focuses on water color, current and places where bait is likely to collect.

One promising zone is the color and temperature break running generally east to west just south of the nearshore FADs. The FADs were sitting in greener water on the imagery, while cleaner blue water and a temperature edge were nearby. Tom also points to a current pattern moving northward and then eastward through parts of that area. Comparing the sea-surface-temperature layer with chlorophyll imagery helps reveal finer changes and likely feeding boundaries that may not be obvious from a modeled current layer alone.

Structure, Depth and Fish-Aggregating Devices

After locating the edges, Tom adds bottom contours and structure to narrow the search. For wahoo, he recommends beginning with likely structure in roughly 150 to 300 feet of water, while acknowledging that the fish can be found shallower or much deeper. Wrecks, reefs, ledges and the shelf break can all concentrate bait and predatory fish. He specifically discusses the nearshore FADs and larger wrecks such as the Oriskany and Antares as potential stops along a planned route.

Tom would not pass up the FADs just because a satellite image shows green water around them. Their job is to attract bait, and wahoo and other pelagic predators may be nearby even when the water color is not ideal. His approach would be to check selected FADs, work the color and temperature break south of them, and then investigate productive wrecks or structure within reasonable running distance. Joe notes that a boat could fast-troll toward the FADs and switch to a slower ballyhoo spread while working the more concentrated feeding areas, with chances for wahoo, sailfish, blackfin tuna and mahi-mahi along the way.

Building a Realistic Trip with Hilton’s Trip Planner

The pair then demonstrates the Trip Planner in Hilton’s Realtime Navigator. Rather than looking at attractive water in isolation, they create a practical offshore route with a starting point, a sequence of stops and a return to port. The sample route leaving the Destin area, checking nearshore FADs and working toward larger wrecks totals roughly 92 nautical miles. That gives the captain a way to evaluate how much time will be spent running versus fishing and whether the plan is reasonable for the boat and weather window.

Tom adds an important safety benefit: a saved route can also serve as part of a float plan shared with someone on shore. He recalls an incident in which a family member was able to provide a missing boat’s planned coordinates to the Coast Guard, helping rescuers locate the crew. Joe also discusses using the platform’s wind and historical weather layers to understand storm conditions and review a forecast before departure. The larger lesson is to combine good fishing intelligence with a realistic route, communications equipment and a clear plan for getting home safely.

Mobile Bay, Causeway and Delta Inshore Fishing – Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing

Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing says the post-storm inshore bite has required more searching and more adjustments than anglers might expect in October. Redfish, trout and flounder are available, but the fish have not settled into the reliable concentrations he hopes to see later in the fall. He has been finding the best opportunities by following bait activity and working shallow stretches of riverbank, rather than returning automatically to productive spots from previous trips.

Live Pogies and Chumming Tactics

Small pogies measuring roughly two to four inches have been abundant along the Causeway and throughout the tidal river systems. Patric has been cast-netting large numbers and keeping them alive in an oval livewell with continuous water circulation. Once he finds fish, he may toss several pogies into the water to trigger feeding activity. He says live bait has sometimes been essential for drawing bites when artificial lures were not getting attention.

His live-bait presentations include a popping cork with about a two-and-a-half-foot leader and a 1/0 circle hook, or a lightly weighted rig using approximately a quarter-ounce of weight to hold a pogie closer to the bottom. When redfish begin feeding aggressively, he may be able to switch back to soft plastics. Trout can be more particular; once he starts catching them on live pogies, he often needs to keep fishing that bait to maintain the bite.

Patric cautions anglers against immediately introducing live chum when fish are already eating artificial lures. The added bait can change their behavior and make them less interested in plastics. His preference is to work the artificial pattern first and save the live bait for the times when the fish are present but difficult to convince.

Finding Redfish and Trout in Shallow Water

Patric has concentrated much of his fishing in four feet of water or less. Before the storm, shrimp and feeding birds were showing him where trout were holding. Since then, he has seen far less shrimp activity and fewer gulls marking trout, making them more difficult to locate. Recent trout catches have been modest, with some of his nicer fish coming on live pogies rather than plastic. He continues to look for slicks, birds and bait movement while covering the flats with popping corks and artificial shrimp.

Redfish have been more consistent around river ledges, ditches, submerged vegetation, ribbon grass, logs and stump-filled banks. Patric describes the method as similar to bass fishing: work a bank, watch for signs of life and keep moving until something looks promising. On recent trips, bird activity and feeding jack crevalle led him to productive redfish stretches he had rarely fished before. He says herons and other shorebirds can be especially valuable clues, even when gulls are absent. A long shoreline with several birds standing in the shallows deserves a closer look.

When Patric finds a few redfish, stopping the boat with a trolling motor or shallow-water anchor can turn one or two bites into five or six fish from a small area. Recent catches have included redfish around 18 to 23 inches, with an occasional larger fish. He is also picking up flounder while working the same shallow areas with lures that make occasional bottom contact, though he has not been spending much time targeting flounder exclusively.

Soft Plastics and Lure Colors That Are Working

Patric’s most reliable artificials have included the four-inch Z-Man PaddlerZ and Pure Flats SLICK Jr. He mentions Z-Man colors such as Sexy Penny, Beer Run and Slam Shady, along with SLICK Jr colors including Copper Chartreuse, Cracked Pepper and Ozark Shiner. Other options in the rotation include paddle tails, shrimp imitations and Coastal Brew Bait Company soft plastics.

He believes lure profile and presentation often matter more than making a perfect color match, particularly when the water is relatively clear and the fish are actively feeding. One recent trout school responded successively to a popping cork, a SLICK Jr and live pogies, then stopped taking the earlier presentations. His advice is to bring several choices and change quickly if fish show themselves but refuse the first lure.

Patric also emphasizes taking advantage of short feeding windows. When someone hooks a redfish or trout, the other anglers should get another bait into the same area as soon as possible. A small group of fish may feed aggressively for only a few minutes, and multiple presentations can sometimes keep that action going. He expects the more stable fall bite to improve with additional cool weather and recommends revisiting any newly discovered productive areas as the season progresses.

Anglers looking to book an inshore trip with Capt. Patric Garmeson can visit Ugly Fishing. During the episode, Patric said his October and November dates were filled and he was booking December trips, when big winter speckled trout become a major target.