Powered by RedCircle
In this week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, host Nick Williams looks at how extreme summer heat, falling river levels, stronger tides, and increasing saltwater intrusion are changing fishing throughout the Delta. The episode features Josh Gunter of Steele Creek Bait & Tackle and Mt. Vernon Bait & Tackle, who explains how anglers can either avoid the incoming salinity or use it to target freshwater and inshore species during the same trip.
The second half of the episode features Justin Dunham of Eight Mile Drifter for an in-depth discussion about practical kayak fishing in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Justin breaks down why he settled on the Jackson Kilroy, how he handles current and wind without a pedal drive, and the simple anchoring, storage, and transportation systems that help him reach bass, bream, catfish, flounder, and redfish in difficult backwater areas.
Conditions Recap
The Mobile-Tensaw Delta is settling into a hot midsummer pattern. River levels are dropping after the recent high-water period, surface temperatures are rising, and saltwater is beginning to push farther north through Mobile Bay and into the lower Delta. Strong south winds, larger incoming tides, and limited rainfall will increase that movement during the coming weeks.
Josh Gunter expects the most noticeable mixed-water conditions to extend through much of the lower Delta and potentially as far north as the Interstate 65 bridge. Salinity will not be uniform throughout that area. Salt water is heavier than fresh water and can form deeper wedges beneath a fresher surface layer, especially in channels, rivers, and deep holes. Rainfall, upstream flow, tide direction, and wind can shift those wedges quickly.
The changing salinity does not mean freshwater fishing is finished. Bass, crappie, and bream remain available, but anglers may need to move farther into spring-fed creeks, backwaters, and areas receiving a stronger freshwater inflow. At the same time, redfish, flounder, white trout, speckled trout, shrimp, blue crabs, gafftops, and other brackish-water species may move into areas normally associated with freshwater fishing.
Heat is another major concern. Anglers should fish early, carry more water than they expect to need, and keep bait containers shaded and aerated. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen, which makes live shrimp, minnows, and other bait more difficult to maintain during long summer trips.
Saltwater Intrusion, Bass, Crappie, Bream, Redfish, and Live Bait Report With Josh Gunter
Josh Gunter of Steele Creek Bait & Tackle and Mt. Vernon Bait & Tackle said saltwater intrusion should be viewed as an opportunity rather than only as a problem. As salinity increases, the Delta becomes a multispecies fishery where bass, bream, crappie, catfish, redfish, flounder, speckled trout, white trout, and other species can overlap.
The Interstate 65 bridge is a useful general reference point for the strongest seasonal saltwater influence, although individual fish and pockets of brackish water can occur farther upstream. Bull sharks and blue crabs have historically been found well into the river system, but those species tolerate freshwater better than many common inshore game fish.
The lower Delta from Gravine Island and Twelve Mile Island southward can become heavily brackish during prolonged dry weather. Strong incoming tides and south winds help move salty water farther inland, while rainfall and stronger river flow push it back toward Mobile Bay.
Using Salinity Maps and River Gauges
Josh recommended checking the Mobile Bay salinity map and comparing it with upstream river gauges before leaving the house. The salinity map provides a general picture of where salt concentrations are building and how that water is moving through Mobile Bay and the Delta.
River hydrographs add another part of the story. Josh regularly watches the Tombigbee River at Leroy and the Mobile River near Barry Steam Plant. When the Mobile River falls below roughly four feet and discharge also decreases, salt water can push farther upstream, particularly when tides and winds favor that movement.
The exact river height is not a guaranteed prediction by itself. Anglers also need to consider discharge, recent rainfall, tide direction, wind direction, and whether the gauge is showing a clear tidal rise and fall. Learning the normal range of each gauge makes those changes easier to interpret over time.
How Freshwater Anglers Can Adjust
Freshwater anglers do not have to abandon the Delta when salinity rises. Moving deeper into creeks and toward freshwater inflows can concentrate bass, crappie, and bream. Spring-fed systems and smaller tributaries may remain productive even while the mouth of the same creek holds redfish or speckled trout.
Josh used Gunnison Creek and Bayou Sara as an example. Speckled trout may school near the saltier mouth, while anglers can travel farther into spring-influenced water and catch bluegill or crappie. Rising salinity can narrow the amount of comfortable freshwater habitat and concentrate fish in predictable locations.
Some southern Delta bass are also accustomed to brackish conditions. Anglers targeting redfish and speckled trout frequently catch bass on the same shrimp, plastics, and popping-cork rigs. The overlap makes it possible to catch crappie in the morning and then travel a short distance to target redfish and trout from the same launch.
Basic Tackle for Mixed Freshwater and Inshore Fishing
Most standard bass tackle is sufficient for the redfish commonly encountered in protected Delta creeks and backwaters. Medium spinning or baitcasting outfits have enough power for most fish, although anglers may want to increase line and leader strength slightly when targeting redfish, trout, and structure.
Oversized surf rods and large spinning reels are usually unnecessary in these protected areas. The same rods used for bass can handle most of the inshore fish found north of the Causeway, while still remaining light enough for accurate casting around grass, drains, laydowns, and creek mouths.
Live shrimp is one of the simplest and most effective baits for anglers making the transition from freshwater to brackish-water fishing. Bass, redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and other predators all respond to shrimp, and the bait can be fished under a cork, free-lined, or with a small amount of added weight.
Popping Corks and Free-Lined Shrimp
Josh prefers a simple and reasonably priced cork rather than an oversized, heavily weighted model. He mentioned H&H popping corks, including newer models built around heavy monofilament instead of wire. The monofilament design is more flexible, resists permanent bends, and is less likely to wrap during a cast.
Simple cigar-style floats are among the best sellers at his stores. They are light, easy to cast, and do not wear an angler out after repeated aggressive pops. A cupped face and multiple metal beads are not always necessary, especially when fish are already concentrated in a small creek or drain.
Josh also carries Four Horsemen and Betts-style corks for anglers who prefer other designs. His larger point was that confidence and presentation matter more than buying the loudest or most expensive float.
Free-lining shrimp can be even more productive because the bait is not restricted to a fixed depth. A shrimp beneath a cork remains at the depth set by the leader, while a free-lined shrimp can move naturally through the entire water column. Adding a split shot can slow the bait and help it reach deeper fish when current or small bait-stealing fish become a problem.
The same principle applies to crappie and bluegill fishing. Small changes in weight can alter fall rate, help a bait pass smaller fish, and place it in front of larger fish holding deeper in the water column.
Keeping Live Shrimp and Minnows Alive
Josh identified oxygen, temperature, and ammonia as the three major factors in live-bait care. A quality bubbler supplies oxygen, but water temperature determines how much dissolved oxygen that water can hold. Cooler water holds more oxygen, allowing shrimp and minnows to remain healthier in a crowded container.
Frozen water bottles are an effective way to cool bait water without introducing chlorine. Loose ice made from treated tap water should not be added directly to a bait bucket because chlorine can quickly kill shrimp and minnows.
Ammonia is the less visible threat. Shrimp and fish release waste into the container, and toxic ammonia builds as the bait remains in the same water. The simplest solution is to replace approximately two-thirds of the bait water with fresh water from the area being fished, particularly during the morning and evening on extended trips.
Large and sudden temperature changes can shock bait, but keeping bait dangerously cold in an open boat during the Alabama summer is difficult. In most situations, one or two frozen bottles will reduce heat stress without creating an extreme temperature difference.
New Tackle at Steele Creek and Mt. Vernon
Josh said Steele Creek Bait & Tackle recently restocked KastKing products, including rods, reels, and tackle bags. The store also received a new supply of ACC Crappie Stix.
Urchin-style soft-plastic baits have become one of the fastest-moving products in the shop. These rounded, heavily appendaged bass lures are commonly rigged with a nail weight and treble hook, although other weighted-hook and finesse presentations can also work. Demand has been strong enough that Josh placed another substantial order only days after the latest shipment arrived.
Mt. Vernon Bait & Tackle also has urchin-style baits and the necessary treble hooks and nail weights. Anglers interested in the trend should call before making a special trip because popular colors and sizes have been selling quickly.
Mobile-Tensaw Delta Kayak Fishing With Justin Dunham of Eight Mile Drifter
Justin Dunham of Eight Mile Drifter has spent years refining a kayak system that works for the creeks, swamps, rivers, bays, and backwaters of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. His preferred boat is the Jackson Kilroy, a sit-inside fishing kayak that combines protected storage, a comfortable raised seat, speed, and the ability to slide across logs and shallow obstructions.
Why the Jackson Kilroy Works in the Delta
Justin began with a basic Old Town Otter, later moved into an Ascend sit-inside kayak, and then tried several larger sit-on-top boats, including a Jackson Cuda and a Hobie Pro Angler. The Hobie offered excellent stability and pedal propulsion, but its weight, scupper holes, and exposed Mirage Drive were less suited to stump-filled creeks and shallow Delta backwaters.
The Kilroy reminded him of the simplicity of his first kayak while adding a supportive seat, internal rod storage, better stability, and a more efficient hull. The smaller Kilroy can paddle around four-and-a-half to five miles per hour under good conditions, while the wider Kilroy HD is slower but handles rougher water and larger loads more comfortably.
Sit-on-top kayaks drain water through scupper holes, which is useful in waves and rain. Those same holes can catch cypress knees, roots, and other submerged wood in narrow creeks. The smoother bottom of a sit-inside boat can slide across many of those obstacles more easily.
Justin still uses sit-on-top kayaks when he expects steady rain because they self-bail. For most creek, swamp, and protected-water fishing, however, he prefers the speed, storage, and simplicity of the Kilroy.
Wind, Waves, and Safe Kayak Conditions
Justin considers sustained wind around 10 to 15 miles per hour near the upper end of comfortable paddling conditions. A skilled paddler may be able to travel in stronger wind, but the fishing becomes less enjoyable and returning against a headwind can be exhausting.
The larger Kilroy HD can handle moderate chop, but Justin’s rule is straightforward: if conditions are too rough for that boat, he probably would not want to launch a sit-on-top kayak either. Waves striking from the side or regularly coming over the bow are signs that the smaller Kilroy is being pushed beyond its best use.
Saltwater species do not always require crossing large open bays. Small creeks and protected backwaters throughout the lower Delta can hold redfish and flounder when salinity pushes inland. Justin often travels across a bay only to enter a narrow creek, where protected water and concentrated fish make kayak fishing more manageable.
Paddle Choice and Boat Control
Because Justin relies on paddle power rather than a pedal drive or motor, the paddle is one of the most important pieces of equipment on the kayak. A light carbon-fiber paddle reduces fatigue and allows him to cover long distances without the repeated strain created by a heavy entry-level paddle.
He does not normally miss a pedal drive during long trips because years of paddling have built the necessary endurance. A small electric motor is appealing when he sees other anglers traveling at five miles per hour without effort, but he also values the minimalism of avoiding batteries, wiring, and electrical components.
Boat control without pedals takes practice. Justin rests the paddle across his lap and uses an elbow or forearm to make small corrections while casting. Maintaining a little forward momentum gives the kayak better directional control, which is one reason he sometimes fishes faster than anglers using motors or pedals.
Simple Kayak Anchoring Systems
Justin has tried a Power-Pole Micro Anchor, but electronic connection issues led him back to simpler systems. His preferred setup is a manual anchor pole, such as a YakAttack ParkNPole, used with an anchor trolley.
An anchor trolley uses pulleys and a sliding ring along the side of the kayak. The angler places the stake-out pole or anchor line through the ring, then moves the ring toward the bow or stern to control how the kayak faces into current or wind.
Traditional anchors also work. Justin’s first system was an old cast-iron window weight connected to rope and a cleat. It was inexpensive, compact, and mechanically reliable.
Brush grabbers are another practical Delta accessory. These clamp onto a branch or exposed root and hold the kayak near a bream bed, treetop, catfish hole, or hunting location. They weigh very little and take up almost no storage space, although anglers should always check limbs for wasp nests before reaching into summer vegetation.
Justin is also considering the YakAttack DropShot Anchor Reel or an Anchor Wizard. These systems organize anchor line and allow quick deployment, although outfitting both the bow and stern can become expensive.
Kayak Storage, Rod Holders, and Transportation
Justin recommends YakAttack accessories despite their higher cost because the equipment has held up well under regular use. The BlackPak storage crate provides organized tackle storage and multiple rod holders.
Adjustable rod-holder turrets allow rods to lean backward instead of standing vertically. That angle helps rod tips slide beneath limbs rather than catching every branch while the kayak moves through narrow creeks and flooded timber.
The collapsible YakAttack kayak cart has also been dependable. Its long support rails spread the boat’s weight, and Justin has used his for roughly three years in mud, sand, and saltwater environments. A reliable cart is especially important for heavier fishing kayaks and launches that require a long carry.
Justin’s upcoming fishing plans include targeting catfish, redfish near the Alabama-Mississippi line, upper-Delta swamp bass, and summer bream. Those trips show why a versatile paddle kayak works well in this region: the same boat can move from freshwater creeks to protected brackish water without requiring a different propulsion or rigging system.
What to Expect This Week
Anglers should expect salinity to continue moving through the lower Delta if river levels remain low and south winds and incoming tides stay strong. Check the Mobile Bay salinity map, the Tombigbee River gauge at Leroy, and the Mobile River gauge near Barry Steam Plant before selecting a launch.
Freshwater anglers should focus on the backs of creeks, spring-fed tributaries, and other areas with a clear freshwater influence. Bass and bream may become concentrated in those locations as the main rivers and creek mouths grow more brackish.
Anglers willing to target inshore species should carry live shrimp, simple popping corks, split shots, and standard bass tackle. Creek mouths, drains, grass lines, and protected backwaters can hold redfish, flounder, and trout without requiring a large boat or an open-water run.
Live bait will require extra attention in the heat. Use a dependable aerator, cool the container with frozen water bottles, avoid untreated ice, and exchange part of the water during long trips to reduce ammonia. Keep the bucket shaded whenever possible.
Kayak anglers should plan routes around wind direction and avoid committing to a long return paddle into a strong afternoon headwind. A quality paddle, personal flotation device, anchor trolley, stake-out pole, brush grabber, and lightweight cart will cover most Delta situations without adding unnecessary complexity.
