Save $10.00
Port guide / Mississippi and Alabama / Alabama
Fairhope fishing guide
Fairhope sits on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay, a long run up the bay from the Gulf, so this is shallow, bay-only fishing from the municipal pier, the Point Clear shoreline, Fly Creek, Weeks Bay and the shell reefs off the shore. Where Mobile across the bay fishes the brackish Delta and the Causeway rivers, Fairhope fishes clear summer grass flats where fly guides sight cast to reds, black drum and tripletail, and the Zundel's, Klondike and Fish River reefs that hold trout. It is also home to the Mobile Bay jubilee, the summer nights when low-oxygen water pushes flounder, crabs and shrimp right up onto the Eastern Shore beaches.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Fairhope. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Fly Creek, Mobile Bay, AL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Coast Guard Sector Mobile, AL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Northern Mobile Bay (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Fairhope. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Great Days Outdoors Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report (opens in a new tab) Great Days Outdoors Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Fairhope. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Peak | Good |
| Black drum | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Tripletail | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Jack crevalle | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Reds hold on ledges, ditches, grass and stump banks in four feet of water or less, and a live pogy under a popping cork or a paddle-tail soft plastic gets bit.
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Eastern Shore guides freeline live bait and chum on Zundel's, Klondike and Fish River reefs, and live croakers and finger mullet take the big fish.
Flounder
Peak: May, June
Bull minnows along the Point Clear shoreline by the Grand Hotel, or shrimp on a bottom rig off the pier, and remember Alabama closes flounder harvest for all of November.
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, September, November
Sheepshead are a regular catch around the pilings of the Fairhope pier.
Black drum
Peak: April, May, June
Fly guides sight cast to black drum of 30 to 40 pounds on the shallow Eastern Shore flats, with the odd fish over 60.
Tripletail
Peak: May, June, July
Summer tripletail in the bay are the target of the fly-only Tripletail Classic and do not take much local knowledge to find.
Jack crevalle
Peak: June, July, August
Summer into fall, watch for birds and busting bait to find schools of jacks in the bay.
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July
Cobia are a lower bay fish here, so watch for them around manta rays near the mouth of Mobile Bay.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Red snapper, Alabama private anglers and state-licensed charters
Opened Friday, May 22, 2026, in state and federal waters, open seven days a week until the end of the year or until Alabama's quota is met.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federally permitted for-hire vessels
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026, and closed 12:01 a.m. October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, Alabama waters
Flounder harvest is closed for the month of November every year.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), annual, current regulation as of 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Alabama and federal waters
Open when federal waters are open, and closed every year in January and February and again in June and July.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Recreational season ran from 12:01 a.m. September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 1, 2026, and Alabama state waters are open when federal waters are open.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
Recreational season ran from September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 14, 2026, and stays closed until September 1, 2027. Alabama state waters follow federal waters.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Mullet, Alabama waters
From Oct. 24 through Dec. 31 the limit drops to 25 mullet per person from the shoreline or 25 per boat.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), annual, current regulation as of 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pier
Fairhope Municipal Pier
The town pier into the bay, where fall bait schools of pogies can run thick right up to the pier.
- Beach
Fly Creek
A known jubilee shoreline just north of downtown, and fly guides pick up clients here for the Eastern Shore flats.
- Bay
Point Clear and the Grand Hotel shoreline
Guides drag bull minnows here for flounder, and it marks the south end of the Point Clear to Daphne jubilee stretch.
- Reef
Zundel's, Klondike and Fish River reefs
Shell reefs off the Eastern Shore where freelined live bait and chum hold speckled trout, even at midday in summer.
- Flats
Eastern Shore grass flats
Water clears from May into summer for about six months of sight casting to reds and black drum, while winter brings muddy, zero-visibility water.
- Bay
Weeks Bay
Shallow estuary south of Fairhope whose creek mouths hold redfish, trout and flounder.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pier Street Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 1 Pier Ave, Fairhope, AL (1/4 mile south of Fairhope Pier) |
| Bay Watch Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 11470 US Highway 98, Baldwin County, AL |
| Mullet Point Boat Ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 13203 County Road 1, Baldwin County, AL |
| View Point Launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 10471 County Road 1, Baldwin County, AL |
| Fairhope Municipal Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | North Beach Road, Fairhope, AL 36532 |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (1)
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Fisherman's Discount
Bait: live shrimp, minnows, mullet, fiddler crabs, fresh bait, frozen bait
8438 US-98, Fairhope, AL 36532
In business since 1988 on Highway 98, with custom cast nets, handmade crab traps, rods, reels and in-house line spooling.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Black Dog Inshore Fishing (Capt. Robert Rohm) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Red Sky Fish Co. (Capt. Jason Gamble) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| FlyWay Charters (Sam Glass) (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
| Fairhope Fly Guy (Blake Walters) (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
| Capt. Dan Kolenich (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Tripletail Classic (fly only, catch and release) (opens in a new tab)
usually mid June
2026: captain's meeting June 12, fishing June 13Eastern Shore Fly Fishers Angler of the Year (opens in a new tab)
points contest from February through December
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Fairhope, asked and answered
What is a jubilee in Fairhope?
A jubilee is a summer night when low-oxygen water pushes flounder, crabs and shrimp right up onto the Eastern Shore beaches, mostly along the stretch from Point Clear to Daphne, with Fly Creek a known jubilee shoreline. Size, creel and license rules still apply to what you pick up.
Where can I buy live bait in Fairhope?
Fisherman's Discount on Highway 98 sells live shrimp, minnows, mullet and fiddler crabs as well as fresh and frozen bait. Call ahead for hours.
Do I need a license to fish the Fairhope Pier?
Yes. Walking the pier is free, but you need an Alabama saltwater fishing license to fish from it.
When is the best time to sight fish the Eastern Shore flats?
From about May through the fall. The water clears from May into summer, which opens about six months of sight casting to reds and black drum, while winter brings muddy, zero-visibility water.
What tide station and marine forecast should I use for Fairhope?
Use NOAA station 8733502, Fly Creek, for tide predictions. It does not report water temperature or wind, so check Coast Guard Sector Mobile, 8736897, for those. The NWS marine zone is GMZ630, Northern Mobile Bay.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Fairhope
Sources for this guide (21), last checked 2026-10-27
- alabamabirdingtrails.com/sites/fairhope-municipal-pier-and-beach/ (opens in a new tab)
- business.eschamber.com/list/member/red-sky-fish-co-21395 (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/alabama/fairhope (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/alabama/fairhope/seasonality?sport=1 (opens in a new tab)
- fishermansdiscount.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/charters/view/44839 (opens in a new tab)
- greatdaysoutdoors.com/alabama-saltwater-fishing-report-for-october-16-22-2026/ (opens in a new tab)
- greatdaysoutdoors.com/alabama-saltwater-fishing-report-for-october-17-23-2025/ (opens in a new tab)
- mobilebaykeeper.org/the-tug-is-the-drug/ (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater-recreational-size-creel-limits (opens in a new tab)
- tripletailclassic.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/alabama-saltwater-season-closures-notices-and-updates (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/articles/harvest-regulations-still-apply-during-jubilees (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/bay-watch-boat-ramp (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/mullet-point-boat-ramp (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/pier-street-ramp (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/view-point-launch (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/node/1376 (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Fairhope
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.