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In this week’s Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report, host Nick Williams talks with Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors With Darren and Josh Gunter of Steele Creek Bait & Tackle about improving fall fishing throughout the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Darren reports that bluegill, bass, and crappie are beginning to respond to cooler temperatures, with fish moving toward points, creek mouths, shallow structure, and other areas that should become increasingly productive as fall progresses. Josh provides an update on the lower Delta, where an extraordinary abundance of shrimp and unusually high salinity have created exciting opportunities for bass, crappie, redfish, and jack crevalle.
Darren shares his preferred fall bluegill and bass presentations, including Beetle Spins, Junebug worms, and crawfish imitations, along with tips for targeting shallow crappie and catching buffalo fish with traditional baiting techniques. Josh explains how anglers can locate active schools of fish feeding on migrating shrimp, why artificial shrimp are becoming increasingly popular, and what approaching rainfall could mean for the developing fall bite.
Conditions Recap
Cooler mornings, shorter days, and falling water temperatures are beginning to improve fishing conditions throughout the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. After an unusually difficult summer for many freshwater anglers, Darren Shirah reports that bluegill are starting to gather in more predictable locations, bass are feeding more actively, and crappie are showing signs of moving into shallower water. Although water clarity remains poor across much of the interior Delta, the seasonal transition is clearly underway.
In the lower Delta, Josh Gunter says salinity levels are unusually high, with readings from shrimping operations reaching approximately 16 to 17 compared with more typical levels around 8 to 10. That increased saltwater influence has pushed large concentrations of shrimp farther into the river system, attracting everything from largemouth bass and crappie to redfish and jack crevalle.
The abundance of natural bait has been both a blessing and a challenge. Fish are feeding heavily, but anglers often have to cover water to find active schools rather than expecting consistent action from one location. Cuts, points, flats, grass edges, and lily pad fields are becoming productive areas as fish follow the shrimp and begin settling into early-fall patterns.
Rainfall remains the biggest uncertainty. The forecast at the time of recording called for several inches of rain, which could temporarily disrupt fishing and alter salinity levels. However, Josh believes the combination of unusually salty water and strong tidal movement may help the lower Delta recover relatively quickly if rainfall amounts remain manageable.
With additional cool fronts approaching and increasing numbers of baitfish moving through the system, both contributors expect fishing opportunities to continue improving throughout October. Bluegill, bass, crappie, redfish, and other species are all becoming more active, setting the stage for one of the most versatile fishing periods of the year.
Upper Delta Bluegill Fishing Report With Darren Shirah
Darren Shirah of Reel Time Outdoors With Darren says bluegill fishing is beginning to improve as the Delta transitions from summer into fall. Although he has caught plenty of fish throughout the warmer months, quality has been inconsistent, with larger bluegill becoming difficult to locate. Over the past week or two, however, he has started noticing better fish gathering in small groups around predictable structure.
Darren says bluegill are beginning to move toward points, creek mouths, and shallow drop-offs where they can take advantage of slightly cooler water and better oxygen levels. These areas do not necessarily need to be deep. In much of the Delta, a point dropping into five or six feet of water can provide enough depth variation to attract fish.
Many bluegill spent the hottest parts of summer scattered or suspended away from their traditional bedding areas. As conditions cool, Darren expects them to concentrate more heavily around structure. Locations currently producing only a few quality fish could begin holding six, eight, or even a dozen bluegill as the fall and winter patterns develop.
Creeks along the outside edges of the Delta have been particularly productive because they offer moving water and slightly cooler conditions. Darren has also started catching fish in interior Delta areas that were largely unproductive during summer, suggesting the seasonal improvement is becoming more widespread.
Best Bluegill Locations And Tactics
For anglers searching for fall bluegill, Darren recommends focusing on creek mouths, secondary points, small depth changes, and other structures where fish can gather as temperatures decline. Areas with moderate current are especially promising, although the fish do not necessarily need strong moving water to remain active.
Nick plans to target similar habitat from a kayak, using several presentations to locate fish and determine how they are feeding. One option is a small Johnson Beetle Spin or similar spinnerbait that can be cast across points and shallow cover to search for active bluegill. Darren also makes his own small spinnerbaits and frequently uses them for both bluegill and crappie.
Live crickets remain another dependable choice, especially once a concentration of fish has been located. Nick also plans to experiment with a fly rod in shallow water, where bluegill gathering around timber and vegetation can provide exciting opportunities for light-tackle anglers.
Darren expects these patterns to become increasingly productive as fall progresses. Rather than searching traditional spring bedding locations, anglers should concentrate on the transition areas where bluegill move between shallow feeding zones and slightly deeper water.
Fall Bass Fishing In The Mobile-Tensaw Delta
Darren reports that bass fishing is also improving as water temperatures decline. Although he has spent more time targeting bluegill recently, he has continued catching bass while fishing different areas throughout the Delta. One recent trip produced approximately 20 bass, although most were smaller fish weighing around a pound to a pound and a quarter.
The larger fish have been harder to locate, but Darren expects that to change as shorter days and cooler temperatures encourage bass to become more active. He believes the Delta is approaching the point where bass will begin concentrating in their fall and early-winter locations.
One interesting development is the number of redfish occasionally showing up alongside bass in the lower portions of the system. With saltwater pushing farther into the Delta, anglers targeting largemouth bass may encounter redfish in many of the same creeks, flats, and grass-lined banks.
Junebug Worms And Crawfish Imitations
Darren says his most dependable bass presentations have been dark-colored soft plastics, particularly Junebug worms and crawfish imitations. He frequently fishes a floating purple curly-tail worm and has recently been catching bass on Junebug-colored Speed Craw-style baits.
These darker colors are particularly useful in the stained water common throughout the Delta. Nick noted that visibility remained extremely limited during a recent outing, even in areas less than a foot deep. Fish, shells, and other bottom features were nearly impossible to see despite using polarized sunglasses.
Darren has experimented with shrimp imitations, including DOA Shrimp, but believes the tremendous abundance of live shrimp may be making artificial shrimp less effective in some locations. In his experience, bass will readily attack shrimp imitations when shrimp first begin entering the system, but the bite can slow once natural shrimp become available in overwhelming numbers.
When that happens, he prefers returning to his confidence baits rather than trying to compete directly with the enormous volume of natural forage. Junebug worms and crawfish imitations have continued producing even when fish are surrounded by shrimp.
Darren also recommends keeping presentations simple. He relies on a relatively small selection of proven colors and lure styles instead of carrying large quantities of tackle. Having several rods rigged with different presentations allows him to respond quickly when he encounters fish without constantly changing lures.
Water Clarity And Bass Location
Water clarity remains an important factor throughout the Delta. Darren says much of the interior system is still heavily stained, although some creeks with more consistent water movement have begun clearing.
Chickasaw Creek has offered relatively clearer conditions in certain areas, along with some smaller flowing creeks on the Baldwin County side of the system. However, Darren does not believe anglers should avoid stained water simply because visibility is limited.
For most Delta anglers, muddy and stained water is a normal part of the fishery. Bass are accustomed to feeding under those conditions, and darker soft plastics can provide a dependable presentation when visibility is poor.
Fall Crappie Fishing Report
Darren has started seeing encouraging signs that crappie are moving into their fall pattern. Although he has not spent much time specifically targeting them, he recently caught several crappie while fishing live crickets for bluegill.
After identifying those locations, Darren returned with a small Beetle Spin and caught additional crappie in the same areas. The unexpected catches suggest that fish are beginning to gather around shallow cover and may become increasingly accessible as water temperatures continue falling.
He also spoke with another angler who had recently caught crappie in only two to three feet of water, which is particularly encouraging for Darren because he prefers casting for crappie rather than fishing vertically in deep water.
Shallow Crappie Fishing Techniques
Darren’s preferred approach is to cast small spinnerbaits horizontally along banks, points, and shallow structure. A Beetle Spin allows him to cover water efficiently while locating fish that may be scattered along the shoreline.
Nick also discussed a lightweight jig presentation frequently used by Justin Dunnam of Eight Mile Drifter. The setup consists of a small 1/32-ounce jig head paired with a durable Z-Man ElaZtech soft plastic.
That lightweight combination can be allowed to fall slowly through shallow water before being retrieved with subtle movements. Nick has previously used similar presentations as search baits, casting along the bank until he encounters fish holding around a particular piece of structure.
Rather than expecting crappie to be spread evenly throughout a creek, anglers may need to cover considerable shoreline before finding one productive stump, laydown, or other piece of cover. Once a fish is caught, additional crappie may be holding in the same small area.
Nick also recommends keeping a live-bait rod available when fishing from a kayak. Crickets or other natural baits can provide an alternative when fish refuse artificials, while the small jig and spinnerbait presentations allow anglers to continue searching for active fish.
As the water continues cooling, Darren expects shallow crappie fishing to improve and become another dependable option for anglers exploring the upper and middle Delta.
Buffalo Fish, Carp And Traditional Delta Fishing Techniques
Nick and Darren also discuss an often-overlooked fishing opportunity in the Delta: targeting buffalo fish and other bottom-feeding species. Darren says buffalo are currently plentiful in some shallow creeks and backwater areas, and they can provide an enjoyable challenge for anglers willing to try something different.
Although he has not specifically targeted buffalo in many years, Darren remembers catching them regularly using simple baiting techniques. His family would locate an area where buffalo were already present, introduce a small amount of chum, and then fish with inexpensive natural baits.
Dog food, corn, and even canned green peas were among the effective options. Darren explains that buffalo frequently move along the bottom picking up food, testing it in their mouths, and sometimes rejecting it before feeding again.
Chumming For Buffalo And Other Bottom Feeders
One of Darren’s favorite traditional techniques involved soaking dry dog food until it became soft enough to sink. The food would break apart in the water, creating a small concentration of particles that attracted feeding fish.
He recommends locating buffalo before introducing chum rather than attempting to draw fish into an area where none are present. Once fish are nearby, a relatively small amount of bait can encourage them to begin feeding.
Another method used by Darren’s family involved placing dog food inside a mesh onion sack with a weight to hold it near the bottom. The sack could be secured near a pole or other structure in a relatively calm area, allowing the food particles to slowly disperse and attract fish.
They would then fish around the chum using cane poles and small gold hooks. Darren remembers using a No. 10 gold treble hook to catch mullet and other fish feeding around the suspended particles. Similar techniques could also be used with oatmeal or other inexpensive bait materials.
Nick has used related methods for channel catfish, including introducing cattle feed cubes into backwater areas and returning later to fish after the scent has attracted catfish.
The conversation highlights the value of simple fishing techniques that require little specialized equipment. Darren believes these approaches can be particularly enjoyable for families and younger anglers because they often attract several species and provide frequent opportunities to catch fish.
Preparing Buffalo Fish For The Table
Darren also shares his family’s experience harvesting and preparing buffalo fish. He says buffalo can be excellent eating, but their numerous small bones make traditional filleting difficult.
His family primarily used the cheek meat and rib sections, which contain larger bones that are easier to separate from the meat. Buffalo ribs were commonly fried, and Darren remembers them as a particularly good meal.
He also discusses the importance of making responsible use of harvested fish. Growing up, his family placed considerable value on avoiding waste, whether that meant preparing fish for the table or finding other practical uses for portions that were difficult to eat.
For anglers interested in exploring traditional Delta fishing, buffalo provide another opportunity to experience a species that receives relatively little attention compared with bass, bream, and crappie.
Lower Delta Fishing Report With Josh Gunter
Josh Gunter of Steele Creek Bait & Tackle says fishing activity is increasing throughout the lower Delta as cooler weather encourages more anglers to return to the water. After a long, hot summer, the fish are beginning to respond to changing conditions, and Josh says the overall fishing outlook is considerably better than it was just a few weeks ago.
The most noticeable development is the extraordinary abundance of shrimp throughout the river system. Josh says commercial shrimping operations have been finding shrimp in places where they are not normally expected, with unusually large numbers extending well into the Delta.
Salinity levels are also much higher than normal, creating conditions that allow saltwater forage and game fish to move farther upstream. Josh reports readings around 16 to 17 in water collected from shrimping operations, compared with more typical levels near 8 to 10.
Nick has seen similar conditions while exploring the Causeway and surrounding rivers. During one outing with his daughter, he made a handful of casts with a small cast net and encountered shrimp, mullet, shad, croakers, juvenile speckled trout, and even a small flounder.
The abundance of bait is encouraging, but Josh says it is forcing anglers to remain mobile. Instead of finding one location loaded with fish for an entire trip, anglers are having better success moving between feeding areas and locating active schools.
Bass And Crappie Feeding On Shrimp
One of the more interesting developments is how heavily freshwater species are feeding on shrimp. Largemouth bass have begun following shrimp movements into the lower Delta, while crappie are also taking advantage of the available forage.
Josh says he and Darren recently discussed how crappie respond to shrimp concentrations. Although anglers often associate crappie with minnows and other small freshwater baitfish, the fish will readily feed on shrimp when large numbers become available.
Some of the shrimp entering the system are extremely small, creating an abundant food source for a wide range of species. Josh says recent shrimp catches have included surprising numbers of juveniles, many of which are too small to be commercially useful as live bait.
That abundance makes it important to identify where feeding activity is concentrated. Josh recommends checking cuts, points, shallow flats, grass edges, and lily pad fields where shrimp are likely to move through and predators can position themselves to feed.
Anglers who locate an active school can often catch several fish in a short period, but once the activity slows, moving to the next promising location may be more productive than waiting for additional fish to arrive.
Best Baits For The Lower Delta Shrimp Bite
With shrimp dominating the lower Delta food supply, both live shrimp and artificial shrimp imitations are important options for anglers targeting bass, redfish, trout, and other species.
Josh says DOA Shrimp have been particularly popular with anglers visiting Steele Creek Bait & Tackle. Demand has been strong enough that keeping some of the most productive colors in stock has become difficult.
The best-selling colors have been relatively transparent patterns with red or gold glitter. These presentations closely imitate the small shrimp moving through the system and can be effective when worked around points, cuts, grass edges, and other areas where fish are feeding.
Josh expects other artificial shrimp presentations, including Vudu Shrimp, to become more popular as additional speckled trout move into the river system and the fall bite develops.
Live shrimp are another dependable choice, particularly when anglers encounter fish that are reluctant to strike artificials. However, anglers should remember that fishing success may depend more on locating an actively feeding school than on selecting a particular bait.
Josh recommends visiting familiar areas that typically hold fish during fall, watching for signs of shrimp movement, and remaining willing to relocate when the bite slows.
Anglers interested in using cast-netted shrimp as bait should verify current recreational shrimping rules and licensing requirements with the appropriate Alabama authorities. Josh notes that regulations can be confusing and recommends checking with a local conservation officer rather than making assumptions about where shrimp may be harvested.
Jack Crevalle Fishing In The Mobile-Tensaw Delta
Josh reports that large schools of jack crevalle have moved into portions of the river system, providing an exciting option for anglers looking for a powerful fight on conventional tackle.
The unusually high salinity and abundance of forage appear to be creating favorable conditions for these fish. Josh says anglers are encountering schools of jacks feeding aggressively near the surface, sometimes producing unmistakable explosions as multiple fish attack bait simultaneously.
Unlike the more stationary approach used for bass and crappie, targeting jack crevalle is largely a matter of locating the fish and being ready when they begin feeding.
Josh recommends keeping a topwater plug rigged and watching for large surface disturbances. When a school begins feeding, anglers can cast into the activity and work the lure aggressively enough to draw a strike.
Nick mentions the Heddon Zara Spook as a lure he plans to keep ready after seeing unexplained surface activity near the grass along the Blakely River.
Josh says large jack crevalle are exceptionally powerful and can make long, sustained runs once hooked. He also cautions that lengthy fights can leave larger fish severely exhausted, making successful release difficult. Anglers planning to release jacks should use sufficiently strong tackle to shorten the fight and handle fish carefully.
For anglers who enjoy topwater strikes and hard-fighting fish, the fall jack crevalle bite provides an exciting opportunity while saltwater remains concentrated in the lower Delta.
How Rainfall Could Affect The Fall Fishing Transition
Although fishing conditions have improved considerably, Josh says the approaching rainfall could temporarily interrupt the developing fall bite. At the time of recording, forecasts were calling for approximately three to five inches of rain in parts of the area.
Josh expects heavy rainfall to affect fishing conditions in the short term, particularly by changing water clarity, current, and salinity near the surface. However, he is cautiously optimistic that the unusually high salinity already present in the lower Delta could help minimize the long-term impact.
Because saltwater is denser than freshwater, Josh expects some of the incoming rainwater and river runoff to move across the surface while saltier water remains underneath. Strong tidal movements could also help maintain or restore salinity in portions of the lower Delta.
He notes that tidal conditions are especially favorable, with substantial movement following a period of weaker neap tides. Those stronger tides can move large volumes of water into and out of the river system, potentially helping the fishery recover after periods of rainfall.
Even if fishing slows for several days, Josh believes the system is in a good position to return to productive conditions relatively quickly if rainfall totals remain moderate.
Longer term, Josh expects October to bring increasingly strong fishing opportunities throughout the Delta. As cooler weather arrives and fishing pressure decreases with the beginning of hunting season, anglers will be able to target an exceptional variety of species in a relatively small area.
Bass, bluegill, crappie, redfish, speckled trout, flounder, and other species can all become available during the fall transition. Josh says anglers carrying a few dozen live shrimp may have opportunities to catch an assortment of freshwater and saltwater fish on the same trip.
Steele Creek Bait & Tackle
Anglers looking for live shrimp, artificial lures, and other fishing supplies can visit Steele Creek Bait & Tackle at 5761 Highway 43 in Satsuma, Alabama.
Josh Gunter recommends checking the shop’s Facebook page for updates on live shrimp availability. The store posts updates when fresh shrimp arrive and when supplies sell out, helping anglers plan their trips without having to call multiple bait shops.
With the lower Delta’s fall fishing beginning to improve, Josh encourages anglers to take advantage of the wide variety of species available throughout the river system.
