This week on the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report, host Butch Thierry teams up with Angelo DePaola of The Coastal Connection with EXP Realty to bring listeners a packed show full of inshore and offshore action. They discuss an incredible late-season bite along the Alabama coast, from redfish and flounder nearshore to Wahoo and beeliners offshore. The captains share what’s biting, what baits are working, and how changing fall weather patterns are shaping the bite across the Gulf.
Conditions Recap
Cooler air has arrived along the Gulf Coast, and anglers are celebrating comfortable weather and excellent fishing conditions. Bait is thick throughout Mobile Bay, with pogies and elwys flipping everywhere from Terry Cove to Fairhope Pier. Water clarity remains high, salinity levels are up, and temperatures are holding warmer than usual—still in the mid-80s in many areas—but that’s expected to change with the next cold front. Offshore, blue water has pushed in closer to shore, setting up a strong bite for pelagics. Nearshore, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and flounder are plentiful, and inland rivers are clean and salty, perfect for trout and redfish staging for their fall transitions.
Inshore Report – Capt. Jay O’Brien, Irish Wake Fishing
Capt. Jay O’Brien of Irish Wake Fishing reports steady inshore action from Dauphin Island through the lower and upper ends of Mobile Bay. Speckled trout, redfish, and flounder are keeping rods bent, with shrimp and pogies thick across the system. Jay notes that triple tail fishing has slowed as bait has shifted offshore, but anglers are still finding a few cooperative fish near structure. He shared concern about a noticeable drop in mid-sized triple tail numbers, emphasizing responsible harvest and stewardship as fishing pressure grows across the coast.
Trout are staging around deeper structure from Fowl River to Dog River, with the best bites coming under popping corks using live shrimp or artificials like Vudu Shrimp and Slick Lures. The water north of the bay remains exceptionally clean and salty, creating prime conditions for an excellent late fall bite—especially once temperatures dip into the low 70s. Jay advises anglers to keep an eye on bird schools and tidal movements as fish gather along the Delta’s edges in preparation for their fall migration.
Inshore Report – Capt. Ben Knight, Great Southern Fishing Charters
Capt. Ben Knight with Great Southern Fishing Charters out of Orange Beach has been busy chasing redfish, mangrove snapper, and flounder. He reports an excellent redfish bite on outgoing tides around Perdido Pass, Bear Point, and the Ono Island docks. Ben targets these fish using Carolina rigs with live croakers, spots, or bull minnows, noting that shrimp are still too easily picked off in the warm water. He fishes tight to structure, often using straight braid to muscle fish away from the docks.
Flounder fishing has fired up around the jetties, especially along the west side and near Robinson Island’s rock piles. Bull minnows on light leads are the ticket, worked slowly across the bottom for a subtle thump. Many of the fish are legal-sized Gulf flounder in the 15–18-inch range, with limits coming steadily on good days. White trout are also thick in the Intracoastal Waterway, providing fun, fast action for anglers seeking light-tackle entertainment. As Ben puts it, “It’s quick, easy, and delicious fishing—what more could you want?”
Offshore Report – Capt. Kendall Annan, Gulf Rebel Charters
Capt. Kendall Annan of Gulf Rebel Charters reports that offshore fishing is red-hot as cooler weather and clear blue water push closer to shore. His crews have been trolling for Wahoo between three and seven miles out, connecting on big fish using heavy leads and high-speed lures. Kendall recommends running at 10–12 knots with a 24-ounce lead and a long shock leader, mixing in dusters and deep baits depending on conditions. Big king mackerel are also in the mix, along with open-water blackfin tuna.
Bottom fishing remains solid, with beeliners and triggerfish biting over 100–150 feet of water. Kendall stresses the importance of moving slightly off known wrecks or reefs if the fish aren’t biting—sometimes a few hundred yards makes the difference between empty hooks and full boxes. He’s also seeing plenty of scamp grouper on shallower wrecks and anticipates upcoming discussions about future regulations for scamp and amberjack. For now, both are showing strong numbers and healthy size classes.
