Coastal Alabama Fishing Report - Week of 3/12/2018
- Snoop Bloggy Blog
- Mar 19, 2018
- 10 min read
Spring Break is in full swing. The roads, restaurants and beaches are packed, but the warm weather went AWOL. The consecutive days of unseasonably warm temperatures we recently enjoyed, are a now a distant memory. Night time temperatures in the 30's and daytime highs in the upper 60's have cooled the water surface temperatures back down to a chilly 63 degrees. This time last year, water temperatures were already in the 70's, with people catching good numbers of speckled trout on the bay reefs from Mobile Bay to Orange Beach. The cooler temperatures have had the fish in somewhat of a state of flux between the lower parts of the rivers (especially the big one) and the bays.
It's a running joke around here that the weather can be bipolar with mood swings worse than an old ex-wife or girlfriend, but for those who still believe in weather forecasts, it looks like we will experience daytime highs in the 70's and nighttime lows in the 50's for the next couple weeks with a few windy days in the mix.
Encouraging, are reports that the trout are starting to show up in some of their normal spring spots. Captain Bobby Abruscato, A-Team Fishing Adventures, has had a few successful trips this week, keying in on trout slicks, while drifting shallow grass flats using live and vudu shrimp under a popping cork.
Captain Todd Brice, Sunrise Charters out of the Flora Bama Yacht Club says, "the speckled trout bite has been on fire in some of the creeks that dump into Wolf Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway." He has been catching them in their normal springtime spots using green, black and silver back mirrodines with an orange bottom and also under a popping cork using live shrimp.
Meanwhile, the sheepshead continue gathering for their annual spawning ritual, chomping down on a buffet of live shrimp, ghost shrimp, fiddler crabs, hermit crabs, oysters and barnacles. This may be evidenced by the increase of sheepshead photos in your Facebook news feed, or simply by viewing the boat parking lot (pictured below). The gas rigs in southern Mobile Bay and beyond, Perdido Pass bridge and the jetties continue to produce nice sheepies and a few pompano.
Nearshore, those hoping to find the cobia (ling) cruising waters off the beach this week, were likely disappointed. Captain Taylor Fisher, Tails and Scales Charters, reported spotting a group of 3 cobia cruising the bottom while on a charter this week, but when he stopped to cast to them, he couldn't even get a look.
Offshore and beyond, the weather and the seas Thursday and Friday provided an excellent opportunity to break out the light tackle gear target some reef magnets (triggerfish and vermillion snapper). The favorable conditions also provided a rare chance to make the long run to go after big YFT (yellowfin tuna), had you been able to go. Yellowfin tuna were caught, but my Facebook newsfeed didn't blow up with pictures like it has in previous weeks. If you like blackfin tuna, a short run to Petronius might have been the worthwhile.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm ready for the warmer temperatures to settle in and stay a while, like snowbirds that inhabit our local area during winter.
This photo was a shot of the west jetties leaving Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, Alabama on Friday, March 15, 2018.
INSHORE REPORT
Orange Beach / Gulf Shores - Wolf Bay - ICW
Tails and Scales Fishing Charters - Captain Taylor Fisher
Instagram: @tail_scalescharters
Cell: 251-550-9301
Captain Taylor has had a busy week with the spring breakers. He said "now that the word is out, there are even more boats on the water to compete with, but they are still catching some great fish in good numbers." Capt. Taylor has been on the water most every day this week and said the trout bite has been a little slower than the previous week on the reefs, but that they have caught more than a barrel full of sheepshead, redfish and pompano.
The Highlight of Capt. Taylor's week was getting to take these guys spearfishing on one of the reefs, Gulf side, in Orange Beach, Alabama. (pictured below).
Unique catch of the week for one of Capt. Taylors charter groups, was the slippery dick ( Halichoeres bivittatus) (pictured below). Rumor has it, the slippery dick gets its name because of its ability to easily escape nets or your hands, should you try to grab it. They are more commonly found in shallow, tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. If you happen to successfully get your hands wrapped around a slippery dick, avoid putting your fingers near your mouth unless you want to feel their wrath.
Captain Taylor has been fishing the Orange Beach / Gulf Shores area from over 10 years, runs his guided fishing trips out of Caribe Marina and always shows his customers a great time.
Eastern Shore - Weeks Bay - Mobile Bay
Bayside Charters - Captain Patrick Hill
Facebook: @baysidecharters
Instagram: @phill04
Website: www.baysidecharterfishing.com
Cell: 251-379-0560
Capt. Patick says, "The first couple days of the week, we had a fairly strong cold front push through the area, bringing north winds in excess of 30 mph, This made fishing very difficult. Despite the high winds, we were able to find solid numbers of speckled trout, a few flounder, and slot redfish. On our trips, we focused on the northern end of the bay around Mobile, as we hid from the wind best we could. Later in the week, and throughout the weekend, the wind subsided and headed back towards the southern end of the bay to take advantage of the excellent sheepshead action. On our trip to the southern end of the bay we were able able to put together nice mixed bags of trout, redfish, sheepshead and black drum. This week was a good example of how adjusting to different weather conditions and paying attention to wind direction, can give you the best opportunity to have a successful day on the water."
Pictured left above is the result of the Mondays trip battling the winds. Pictured right is the buddy trip Capt. Patrick ran on Sunday in the fog.
Capt. Patrick typically launches off highway 98 under Fish River Bridge, but in late fall and early winter he may meet you up near the causeway. Capt. Patrick has years of experience guiding and providing a great fishing experience on the water.
Gulf Shores - Mobile Bay - Dauphin Island
Ugly Fishing - Captain Patric Garmeson
Facebook: @ugly.fishing
Instagram: @ugly_fishing
Website: www.uglyfishing.com
Cell: 251-747-1554
Captain Patric, fished neary every day, and in several areas around Mobile Bay this past week. On Monday, they also battled the 30 mph NW winds with a client who only had the one day fish. Since Mobile River was the best option, they spent all morning throwing soft plastic grubs, like Yum Mud Minnows and Dingers, Mirrolure Little Johns and Bass Assassin Flukes. The black with chartreuse tail mud minnow, rigged on a 3/8oz, Bomber jig head, turned out to be the golden ticket. They fished until their arms fell off, or at least felt like it.
Tuesday, they had a similar float plan, with the exception of adding live shrimp to the arsenal. By 9:30 a.m., they had filled the box trout limits for 3 anglers. They spent the spent the rest of the morning trying to locate slot reds. While they caught a few rats, the slots did a great job at hide-and-go-seek.
Wednesday, the wind subsided a bit and allowed them to launch at Dauphin Island. Capt. Patric decided to take the customers for an unforgettable experience, targeting sheepshead and bull reds. His hashtag of the tag says it all, #missionaccomplished. They left the dock around 9:00am and had their sheepshead creel by 11:00, the largest one weighing in at 9.5lbs. After leaving the rigs, they slow trolled down the beach for redfish and stopped and to cast into pot holes for pompano. Unfortunately, the pompano aren't here in numbers yet, but they did catch a few whiting. While slow-trolling over Dixie bar, they managed to hook 4 and land 3 bull reds fairly quickly.
Friday was like the movie Groundhog Day with the sheepshead but the bull reds didn't cooperate. They filled their sheepshead limit in short order but couldn't get the bull reds to eat. Unfortunately, the Friday trip had to be cut short due to rain, but they did manage a couple of rat reds in the Three Rivers area.
Saturday, they fished in Bon Secour River. After making several attempts to fool a fish with topwater plugs, they ended up loading the boat with speckled trout and redfish. The specks were caught using live shrimp under a popping cork in 3-6 foot of water, while the redfish were in 1-2 foot of water. Captain Patric says, "The upcoming week will challenge us with muddier water and windy conditions, but now that Spring is upon us we have the entire Mobile Bay system to locate fish and get out of the wind."
Pictured above, left, is a client Capt. Patric picked up through a redfish seminar with his prize. Pictured above, right, is one of his clients who got to get their sheepie on.
Captain Patric Garmeson is very mobile running trips from Dauphin Island to Gulf Shores. Captain Patric has years of experience fishing our local waters and is sure to provide you and your family with a fun-filled, fish catching experience on the water.
Surfside
Shore Thing Fishing - Captain Dusty Hayes
Instagram: @capt.dustin
Cell: 678-897-0167
Captain Dusty Hayes reports that the beach / surf fishing has been a little slower this week for alot of people, but there is also good news. Capt. Dusty reports increased numbers of whiting and black drum caught in the surf this week, plus a redfish and black drum. There have also been a good number of schooling size pompano caught this week including reports of 2-3 pompano per day to 20 plus. As mentioned last week, always be ready to move up and down the beach to find the fish, because this was one of those weeks where it paid off. Capt. Dusty believes the warmer weather and good tides welcoming us this week will only improve your results, should you decide to pack up the gear and head to the beach to do a little fishing
Capt. Dusty is well known in the area to provide an exciting time for your family fishing from the beach.
The Pier Review
Captain David Collins
Capt. David says the sheepshead bite continues to be on fire down at the pier, but the cooler water temperatures brought the mackerel bite to a screeching halt. There are still random spanish mackerel being caught, but nothing to get excited about. The combination of warm fronts, rain and south winds should bring the water temperatures back up quickly and accelerate the bite. Don't just wish, go Fish!
Offshore Report
Orange Beach, Alabama
Reel Kill Fishing Charters - Captain Bryars Bishop
Facebook: @reelkillcharters
Instagram: @reel_kill_charters
Website: www.reelkillcharters.com
Cell: 251-714-6008
Captain Bryars said, calm seas allowed him to fish where he needed to as he was able to run 3 trips into the Gulf this week. On the trips they caught limits of triggerfish, vermillion snapper and quite a few scamp. Unfortunately scamp season doesn't open in the 20 fathom range (120 feet) and beyond until April 1, 2018. In addition fish they kept, Capt. Bryars said the Red Snapper population is certainly still healthy, as they caught multiple large red snapper. Believe it or not, the amberjack pictured below was caught on a 2-hook chicken rig. Chicken rigs consist of approximately 2 1/2 to 3 feet of 30-50lb monofilament, two size 3 circle hooks, a barrel swivel and depending on the current a 4-8oz banks sinker. On friday, the 2-hook, chicken rig struck again, as they hooked a monster reef shark, got it to the surface, only to have it make one last run and straighten the hook.
Unique catch of the week from Captain Bryars, was a blue angelfish (pictured below), they caught while deep dropping. Blue angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis) are mostly caught off the south coast of Florida and in tropical waters, but also have been found in waters off North Florida. Table fare for these fish is said to be O.K.
Capt. Bryars has years of experience fishing the Alabama Gulf coast and guides out of Caribe Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama. His trips always brings in a boat load of fish shows his clients a great time on the water.
Bent Outfitters Fishing - Captain Billy Howell
Facebook: @bentoutfittersfishing
Instagram: @bent_outfitters_fishing
Website: www.bentoutfittersfishing.com
Cell: 601-938-7161
When you only have one good day to get out on the Gulf of Mexico in any given week during Spring, you have to #seastheday. As I arrived at Sportsman's Marina in Orange Beach the day prior to the trip, I noticed several boats loading up and heading to bluewater for the tunas. It had only been a week since we had a foretasted day smooth enough for most to want to chance making that run. This time of year the bite is good at the Lumps, the Horseshoe, various rigs and drill ships. Unfortunately, we didn't get to participate in this fun.
We headed out around 7:30 a.m. with the crew all bundled up to avoid tingly, chilly extremities upon our arrival. Unfortunately cold hands are not very coordinated. As we exited Perdido Pass, the waters were nice and green and the jetties were packed with boats. We set our boat on autopilot and started our 45 minute ride SE of Perdido Pass to fish a natural bottom. Once we got there, it only took about a couple drops to have our legal limit of triggerfish. We stayed in this area trying to catch some vermillion snapper (B-liners, mingos), but ended up having to leave, because the triggerfish were so thick you couldn't get a bait past them. We ran about 20 minutes to a rocky bottom, where the first drop started producing vermillion snapper. Not all were keepers, but we ended up with a nice mess in the 2-3lb range. All in all, we probably caught about 100 fish in a couple hours in this area, including a couple scamp that had to be released since the season doesn't open until April 1.
Pictured above was a nice mess of fish we caught on our charter this week. Somebody will be eating lots of fish sandwiches.
Fortunately, the weather forecast that had been calling for rain all week, drastically changed and we ended up with a quite warm and windy Saturday to fish. We started our charter late morning and joined a plethora of both charter and recreational fishermen in the pass to test the sheepshead bite. For most of the week we had strong incoming tides, crystal green water and a solid sheepshead bite. We stayed in the pass for about an hour catching a couple sheepshead. As I kept an eye on the boats around us, I noticed more hangups on the bottom that I did hookups on fish. We eased out to the jetties for about a half hour, but the young crew on our boat wasn't comfortable with the swells coming in thanks to the strong south winds. We decided to give up on the sheepshead and headed to Wolf Bay to target redfish. We fished the docks for the next couple hours with live shrimp under a slip cork and managed to hook up with about 30 redfish, landed about 14 and thanks to barnacles on the pilings, left the others to swim another day. Overall the group was stoked and amazed at the sheer power of the redfish as they all averaged about 22 inches in length. We released a couple oversized reds in the mix after a quick photo op.
Captain Billy has a few years fishing experience in the Alabama Coastal area and guides trips out of Caribe Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama. Captain Billy has a history of putting clients on fish and showing them a great time.
Summary
If your not wetting a hook right now you are missing out on an opportunity for some fun. Special thanks to all the contributors for this report. We look forward to keeping you informed each week of what's happening on the water.
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