Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report

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Flounder, Snook, Tuna, and the Fall Saltwater Shift Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers the late-summer transition along the Alabama Gulf Coast, from improving surf conditions and flounder on the beach to light-tackle billfishing, snook, tuna, amberjack, and bluewater live-bait tactics. Butch Thierry opens the show with Tony Emmons of South Alabama Surf Fishing, who reports cleaner water, more manageable mornings, improving beach action, and a growing mix of surf species as fall gets closer.

Tony breaks down how he's targeting flounder from the beach with quarter-ounce jig heads, tandem rigs, new penny plastics, and long casts around the second sandbar, troughs, and points. He also talks through the return of pompano, whiting, black drum, redfish, bluefish, and other surf species, including when to fish close, when to fish behind the bar, how to read troughs and sandbar edges, and why fresh shrimp, Fishbites, small pyramid weights, and moving water can all matter.

Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle follows with an Orange Beach report covering light-tackle billfishing, gag grouper interest, blackfin tuna, mahi, wahoo, trout, redfish, snook, and inshore topwater fishing. Chris explains how he's using teasers, squid chains, dredges, pitch baits, and a light-hook spread for sailfish and other billfish, then shifts inshore to talk about snook tagging, larger snook sightings, high-current trout lights, topwaters, wake baits, grass lines, LY schools, and why bait movement is one of the biggest keys right now.

Capt. King Marchand of Capt. Mike's Fishing closes the fishing reports with a deep offshore update from the Lady Ann, including a 209-pound yellowfin tuna, more quality tuna, live chumming, crazy fish, circle hooks, fluorocarbon leader, braid, FG knots, drag management, amberjack, snapper, and whale shark fishing. King explains how he finds catchable tuna in the water column, why bigger yellowfin may need more live chum to fire up, how leader size and bait behavior change the bite, and why live bait remains so important for both tuna and amberjack. The episode also includes a sponsor spotlight with Ultra Wash Mobile, covering drone washing, soft washing, Gulf Coast salt and mildew, commercial property cleaning, and how waterfront homes, condos, marinas, and businesses can better protect their exterior surfaces.

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Best of Summer: Alabama Saltwater Fishing Highlights Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

This special episode of the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report looks back at some of the best conversations and most useful fishing intel from the summer season along the Alabama Gulf Coast. With Butch Thierry out this week, the show pulls together highlights from recent reports covering inshore, nearshore, offshore, and surf fishing, with practical tactics from captains and contributors who have been on the water through heat, dirty water, changing tides, and late-summer transitions.

The episode covers a strong mangrove snapper bite around Orange Beach structure, docks, rocks, bridges, jetties, and deeper current, including bait selection, Carolina rigs, circle hooks, reef endorsements, and why croakers, spots, LYs, and small pogies can outproduce shrimp when pinfish are thick. It also revisits tarpon movement, tide-line and triple tail fishing, how to read color changes and offshore satellite imagery, and what anglers should look for when structure, current, bait, and clean water line up.

The show also includes offshore and reef-fishing highlights, with reports on swordfish, squid and octopus baits, bait rigging, full-moon swordfish action, late-season beeliners, triggerfish, mahi, reef scouting, diving, thermoclines, oxygen changes, and how experienced captains use bottom type, bait presence, visibility, and fish quality to decide where to spend their time. Inshore and onshore segments round out the episode with eastern shore pier fishing, Fairhope Rattles, popping corks, live shrimp, flounder around pilings, Gulf Coast surf trout, pompano, redfish, beach troughs, fly fishing, and why small changes in current, bait, and structure can concentrate fish in surprisingly tight areas.

The episode closes with one of the summer's best offshore stories: Capt. Myles Colley's account of a giant blue marlin caught years ago between the Nipple and the Elbow. It is a fitting end to a summer recap built around the kind of details, stories, and hard-earned fishing lessons that make the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report valuable week after week.

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The Saltwater Finaddics Recap with Patric, Tanner, Branden, and Dylan Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is a roundtable episode with Capt. Patric Garmeson, Capt. Tanner Deas-Dauphin Island Fishing, Capt. Branden Collier - Capt. Collier's Charters , and Dr. Dylan Kiene talking tournament fishing, flounder patterns, redfish, trout, live bait, artificial lures, and the decisions that make or break a two-day inshore event. The conversation centers around the Saltwater Fanatics Inshore Championship, where different teams found success in completely different ways, from shallow-water flounder and dock-light redfish to deep ledges, heavy current, and pattern fishing across multiple systems.

Tanner and Branden break down their winning inshore slam strategy, including how they targeted redfish early, adjusted when the first plan did not feel right, found a 21-inch trout in an unexpected place, and finally landed the 22-inch flounder that helped put them over the top. Patric shares a wild tournament story involving boat trouble, a lost Yamaha screw, trolling-motor improvisation, a lead sinker turned into a temporary repair, and finally salvaging the weekend with shallow flounder, trout, and a redfish. Dylan adds the science-minded flounder perspective, explaining how he and his team abandoned their original plan, found deeper flounder patterns, caught fish on Coastal Brew and Down South plastics, and brought in a strong live-flounder total for the CCA hatchery effort.

The roundtable also digs into the details that serious inshore anglers think about during tournament season: when to leave fish, how to recognize a real pattern, why small flounder and big flounder may not always feed the same way, how live bait compares to artificials in deep water, when slip corks make sense for flounder and trout, and why jig-head weight, scent, current, boat positioning, and nighttime dock-light fishing can all matter. The episode wraps with a look ahead to the Doormat Classic and the fall flounder season, including Dylan's thoughts on why wet years may pull more big offshore-spawned flounder back into the bay systems.

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Mangrove Snapper, Wade Trout, and Offshore Reef Intel Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers the late-August transition across the Alabama Gulf Coast, from white marlin and sailfish offshore to mangrove snapper, bridge redfish, wade-fishing trout, white trout, flounder, and improving reef conditions. Butch Thierry is joined by Angelo DePaola, who opens the show with a look at Alabama's growing light-tackle billfish fishery and why September and October could be special months offshore.

Capt. Ben Knight of Great Southern Fishing Charters kicks off the reports from Orange Beach, where mangrove snapper have been one of the most consistent late-summer bites around docks, rocks, jetties, bridge structure, and deeper current. He explains why croakers, spots, LYs, and small pogies can outproduce shrimp, and how the same Carolina-rig setup can lead to bonus flounder, redfish, and jack crevalle.

Capt. Bobby Abruscato of A-Team Fishing follows with a Mississippi Sound and Dauphin Island report focused on speckled trout, wade fishing, Slick Juniors, popping corks, shrimp activity, white trout, flounder, and redfish. Bobby breaks down why hard bottom, grass, shell, bait, fish slicks, stealth, and boat positioning matter so much this time of year.

The episode also includes a sponsor spotlight with Daniel and Ed Bejrowski of Slipski, who talk with Joe Baya about aluminum dock and boat-cover systems built for Gulf Coast conditions. Capt. Kendall Annan of Gulf Rebel Charters closes the show with an offshore report covering red snapper, triggerfish, beeliners, amberjack, grouper, Spanish and king mackerel, cobia, wahoo, dolphin, and tuna prospects, along with what he learns from diving and scouting reefs late in the season.

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Why More Snook Are Showing Up on the Northern Gulf Coast Aug 20, 2026

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Want more fishing content and fewer ads? Check out asfr.supercast.com for an ad-free, extended cut of your local fishing report. New subscribers get the first 30 days free.

This special episode takes a closer look at the growing number of snook sightings and catches along the Northern Gulf Coast, from Northwest Florida to Coastal Alabama. Butch Thierry and Joe Baya are joined by Zoe Hendrickson, a PhD student at the University of South Alabama, to talk through why a fish once associated mostly with South Florida is now showing up around Pensacola, the Emerald Coast, Perdido Pass, Fowl River, and other local waters.

Zoe explains how snook have expanded northward in Florida, how their movement into places like Cedar Key may help researchers understand what is happening in Alabama and Northwest Florida, and why warmer winters, shorter cold snaps, and thermal refuge in rivers may be helping these fish survive. The conversation covers how juvenile snook use rivers and deeper pockets of stable water, how adult fish may move seasonally toward jetties, flats, oyster reefs, and other saltwater habitat, and why the recent snow and cold events made their survival even more interesting.

The episode also digs into what anglers should do if they catch a snook in Alabama or Northwest Florida. Zoe explains current tagging efforts, the importance of reporting sightings, why handling and releasing fish carefully matters, and why anglers may want to let these fish go while the local population is still developing. The group also discusses snook biology, including how they change sex as they grow, how slot limits work in Florida and Alabama, how snook may interact with native fisheries, and why this new opportunity comes with a chance for anglers to help shape the future of the fishery.

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Nearshore Snapper, Triple Tail Science, and Offshore Adjustments Aug 14, 2026

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This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers late-summer fishing from Louisiana deep-drop jigging to Alabama nearshore snapper, triple tail tagging, swordfish, grouper, and speckled trout. Butch Thierry is joined in studio by Dr. Dylan Kiene, who opens the show with an update on the Gulf-wide cobia and triple tail tagging project, including acoustic tags, satellite tags, reward tags, angler recaptures, and why better movement data can help build stronger fisheries management across state lines.

Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle kicks off the reports with a recap of a Louisiana trip that produced queen snapper, marble grouper, and a true fish-of-a-lifetime Cubera snapper on heavy tackle. He also talks through nearshore red snapper around Perdido Pass, fresh cut bait, overlooked close-to-shore structure, subtle baits for lethargic redfish and trout, hot-water flounder tactics, and why smaller, less invasive presentations can be the key when shallow fish get sluggish in August.

Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing follows with a nearshore and inshore report focused on live pogies, gas platforms, red snapper, sharks, triple tail, flounder, and speckled trout. Patric breaks down how he's using pogies on Carolina rigs and slow-sinking presentations around nearshore structure, why bait variety matters from day to day, and how a recent triple tail tagging trip showed just how important bait choice, electronics, and not breaking fish off can be. He also explains why speckled trout have been one of the most reliable bright spots of the summer.

Capt. King Marchand closes the fishing side with an offshore report from the Lady Ann, where a slow tuna bite has pushed him toward snapper, triggerfish, deep-drop grouper, beeliners, and swordfish. King explains how reading small anomalies on electronics can make or break a daytime swordfish trip, why he has adjusted his overnight strategy, and how he's targeting yellowedge grouper, snowy grouper, beeliners, and triggerfish when tuna are not cooperating. The episode also includes a safety-focused sponsor conversation with Mitchell Smith of Pike Consulting Group, covering boat safety, Garmin InReach, kill switches, ditch kits, OSHA compliance, worker training, and why small businesses should get ahead of safety issues before they become expensive problems.

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Pier Mackerel, Offshore Mahi, and Inshore Flounder Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Want more fishing content and fewer ads? Check out asfr.supercast.com for an ad-free, extended cut of your local fishing report. New subscribers get the first 30 days free.

This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers improving late-summer conditions along the Alabama Gulf Coast after weeks of dirty water, west wind, weak tides, and unsettled weather. Butch Thierry opens the show with a look at the better forecast ahead, including lighter winds, clearing water, stronger tidal movement, and a more typical August pattern that should help fishing rebound from the recent tropical shakeup.

David Thornton, The Pier Pounder, kicks things off with a detailed surf and pier report, explaining how sandbars, troughs, cuts, water clarity, jellyfish, wind direction, tide timing, and post-storm beach changes all affect where and how shore anglers should fish. He also talks through Spanish mackerel, hardtails, ladyfish, pompano, whiting, speckled trout, flounder, bull reds, jack crevalle, and why anglers should stay opportunistic when the primary target species are not cooperating.

Capt. Kendall Annan of Gulf Rebel Charters follows with an offshore and nearshore report from Orange Beach, where snapper, red grouper, mahi, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, bonita, and other species are all in play. Kendall breaks down how he chooses where to fish based on trip length, boat traffic, weather, current, water color, bait, thermoclines, trolling opportunities, and what happened the day before. He also shares practical bottom-fishing tips on holding over structure, using current to position baits, and knowing when to be patient versus when to make a move.

To close it out, Capt. Shane Traylor of Bona Fide Inshore checks in with a strong inshore report built around flounder, puppy drum, triple tail, redfish, black drum, and speckled trout. Shane explains why live bait has been important, how he's targeting flounder around hard structure, why puppy drum are holding near rocks and concrete, and how triple tail have been showing up around free-floating debris and buoys. The episode wraps with a practical look at how the fishery is trending as water clears, wind settles down, and anglers get another good late-summer window to fish.

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Bluewater Currents, Beach Trout, and Big-Game Stories Jul 31, 2026

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Want more fishing content and fewer ads? Check out asfr.supercast.com for an ad-free, extended cut of your local fishing report. New subscribers get the first 30 days free.

This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers red-hot Gulf Coast fishing from bluewater current breaks to Dauphin Island beach trout. Butch Thierry is joined by Angelo DePaola, who opens the show with an update on the Abaco Orange Beach development and how boating, fishing, waterfront access, and lifestyle are driving strong interest in the project. Tom Hilton of Realtime Navigator follows with a detailed offshore breakdown after the recent tropical weather, explaining how cleaner water, color changes, sea surface temperatures, altimetry, current, and structure should guide anglers looking for blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, mahi, and other pelagics.

Capt. Myles Colley of It Just Takes Time joins next for a deep offshore conversation on big-game fishing, Omni sonar, tuna tubes, live baiting, trolling teasers, pitch baits, current direction, boat handling, and how aggressive drag pressure can help anglers land more billfish and tuna. He also shares a wild story about releasing a giant blue marlin years ago near the Nipple and Elbow area. To close it out, Capt. Cody Broughton checks in from Dauphin Island with a strong inshore report, breaking down the live-croaker beach bite for speckled trout, night fishing, major bite windows, rigging details, leader choices, croaker placement, flounder, tarpon, and how long the summer beach trout pattern may last.

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Rodeo Recap: Flounder, Snapper, Triple Tail, and Live Release Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

For Bonus Content and an Ad free Version of this podcast, click here to Join The Crew! This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report recaps the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo with Capt. Tanner Deas, Capt. Branden Collier, and Dr. Dylan Kiene. The roundtable covers a huge weekend of inshore, offshore, and live-release fishing, including Branden and Tanner's 101-flounder day, tough Saturday inshore conditions, and how low oxygen, nip tides, jubilees, wind-blown banks, and water stratification may have affected the bite.

Dr. Dylan Kiene brings the fisheries-science perspective from the judge's table, breaking down the speckled trout, flounder, redfish, and live-weigh-in categories, including the success of the new live triple tail category and the value of tagging healthy fish for future research. The crew also talks through the Gulf-wide cobia and triple tail tagging project, acoustic tags, high-dollar reward tags, and what anglers should do if they catch a tagged fish. Offshore, Capt. Branden Collier explains how he targeted big red snapper and mangrove snapper with heavy tackle, big live baits, strong drag, and structure-focused fishing during one of the Gulf Coast's biggest fishing weekends.

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