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This week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report covers three timely topics for late-winter Delta anglers. Darren Shirah (Real Time Outdoors) shares a practical winter panfish approach using cane poles and handmade quill floats for bream and the early signs of perch moving shallow. Justin Dunham (Eight Mile Drifter) breaks down the local kayak tournament scene on Mobile Bay and the Delta, including how CPR (catch-photo-release) events work and how to correctly measure fish on a bump board. Captain Patric Garmeson (Ugly Fishing) closes with positive news on legislation aimed at banning open-water disposal of dredge material in Mobile Bay, plus what still needs to happen next for habitat recovery.
Conditions Recap
The Delta is settling into a late-winter pattern with stable sunshine after a brief hard freeze that dipped down around the mid-teens. Air temps have been bouncing between cold mornings and comfortable afternoons, and that swing is starting to show up in fish movement. Darren noted perch are beginning to show up shallow in the form of smaller male fish, which is often an early signal the bigger push is close if water temperatures keep creeping upward over the next couple of weeks.
Cold snaps still matter. When it’s truly cold (teens and 20s), the “wait until it warms up” strategy can burn most of your daylight, and fish bites tend to be more subtle across the board. The most consistent approach described this week was slowing down, working the water column carefully, and leaning into low-resistance presentations that let fish eat without feeling the rig.
Winter Bream and Early Perch Signals with Darren Shirah
Darren Shirah (Real Time Outdoors) has been probing the Delta for perch (and what many anglers call crappie) while mixing in winter bream trips when conditions allow. His read right now is that the perch are close to making a noticeable move shallow, especially if the warming trend continues for another week or two. He caught a couple of perch tight to the bank and took that as a clue that the “little males” are showing first and the better movement is coming.
For bream, Darren leaned into an old-school method that shines in winter: a cane pole setup with a handmade quill float. The point of the quill is simple and effective in cold water: the bite can be so light you may not even realize a fish is there, and a quill has almost no resistance compared to a standard cork. Darren builds his floats using porcupine quills, a trimmed hook shank as an eyelet, fly-tying thread for wrapping, a touch of UV epoxy to lock it in, and a small red-painted tip for visibility. He prefers a seven-inch quill because it stands up well with minimal weight and helps him read depth and bottom contact.
His winter bream pattern is about finding the right depth in the water column, not just “structure on the bottom.” He uses a 12-foot pole to work quickly and efficiently, sweeping likely stretches where fish traditionally winter and then adjusting depth until he finds the level they want that day. He also mentioned fish can slide short distances quickly; he might catch them in one spot, lose them the next day, then find them again a short move away, especially during winter transitions.
Darren also discussed Delta hog hunting as deer season winds down, with a focus on marsh edges, reed-lined banks, and timing around low water when hogs can be found on exposed flats feeding. His practical advice was to be selective with shots and recovery, because dragging a hog across deep mud can turn into a long, exhausting job fast.
Kayak Tournaments, CPR Rules, and Measuring Fish with Justin Dunham
Justin Dunham (Eight Mile Drifter) outlined two primary kayak tournament communities in the area and why they’re worth checking out even if you’re brand new. He emphasized the culture is welcoming and information-sharing is common after events, with anglers often discussing what worked, where they fished, and even handing out lures.
On the inshore side, Justin pointed to the Mobile Bay Kayak Fishing Association (MBKFA), which offers casual monthly fish-outs and a separate tournament trail that targets inshore species like redfish, flounder, and speckled trout. Those events commonly use Fishing Chaos for registration and scoring, with some tournaments run as weigh-in (weight-based) and others run as CPR (catch-photo-release, length-based).
On the bass side, Justin highlighted Mob Town Kayak Bass Fishing (often abbreviated MKBF), which runs CPR-only bass events using the TourneyX app. He described their format as best five bass over 12 inches, and noted that one of the big opportunities on their schedule is a Lake Shelby event in Gulf Shores that ties into Alabama’s Bassmaster kayak pathway, with potential to qualify for end-of-year championship levels.
Justin also broke down the CPR measuring basics that make or break a tournament entry. You need a proper measuring board, not a tape measure, and the common standard is a Ketch board (the bump-style ruler designed for tournament measuring). The mouth needs to be fully closed, the fish must be placed correctly against the bump, and photos must clearly show the entire fish and the measurement. He cautioned anglers not to cover the tail section in a way that could look like manipulating length, and recommended hands-free photos when possible. One practical trick he shared is using your net as a “sidewall” near the bump so if a fish flops, it’s more likely to end up in the net than over the side.
Mobile Bay Dredging Update and Community Win with Captain Patric Garmeson
Captain Patric Garmeson (Ugly Fishing) shared encouraging news for Mobile Bay and the fishing community. He reported that legislation to ban open-water dispersal of dredge material in Mobile Bay has made it through the House, the Senate, and committee, and is awaiting signature from Governor Ivey. Patric credited the result to wide community involvement, including anglers and residents from many backgrounds showing up, staying focused on the issue, and making it clear to elected officials that the bay’s health matters.
He also noted the work is not finished. The dredging activity itself is still expected to continue in the near term, and the timing matters. In the conversation, Patric explained that while the win is real, implementation timing means the community still needs to stay engaged, and the long-term recovery effort will require continued focus on habitat rebuilding. He specifically pointed to future emphasis on oyster reef rehabilitation and grass-bed restoration as essential steps to help Mobile Bay recover and thrive.
