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Port guide / Mississippi and Alabama / Alabama
Mobile fishing guide
Mobile sits where the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the second largest delta in the lower 48, drains into the head of Mobile Bay. The Causeway across the upper bay and the rivers that cross it, the Blakeley, Apalachee and Tensaw, are brackish water where you can catch redfish, flounder and a largemouth on the same live shrimp. South of town, Dog River, Deer River and Fowl River hold trout and reds, and the open bay gives up tripletail and jacks in summer. The Gulf and the reefs are a long run down the bay, so Mobile is mostly an inshore town.
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 Mobile. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, 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 Mobile. 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 Mobile-Tensaw Delta Fishing Report (opens in a new tab) Great Days Outdoors Alabama Saltwater 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 Mobile. 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 | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Slow | Good |
| 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 |
Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
Reds live in the bay and Delta all year, and locals work the Causeway rivers, shallow points and creek mouths with live shrimp, with mid September through December the best stretch at the Causeway.
Speckled trout
Peak: September, October, November
Trout follow the fall shrimp up the Blakeley and Apalachee rivers once the water cools, and clamshell beds a few miles north and south of the Causeway hold them through the transition.
Flounder
Peak: September, October
Look for flounder on shallow points beside small drains and sloughs around the Causeway, and remember Alabama closes flounder harvest for all of November.
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, September, November
Sheepshead stack in the deep holes of the Causeway rivers such as the Apalachee, and a live shrimp on the bottom catches them.
Black drum
Peak: April, May, June
Black drum are in the bay and Delta all year and are a regular target for sight-fishing guides working the flats and marsh.
Tripletail
Peak: May, June, July
In early summer tripletail float beside crab trap buoys, channel markers and tide lines in Mobile Bay.
Jack crevalle
Peak: June, July, August
Big jacks crash bait around the shrimp boats in the bay at sunrise in summer.
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)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Bay
Mobile Bay Causeway (Battleship Parkway)
Seven miles of road across the upper bay with ramps all along it, where live shrimp on a light Carolina rig catches reds, specks, flounder and bass on the same trip.
- Channel
Blakeley and Apalachee rivers
Deep holes in these Causeway rivers hold sheepshead and reds, and in fall big shrimp drifted on the bottom draw bull reds and catfish.
- Reef
Clamshell beds around the Causeway
Scattered clamshell beds two to three miles north and a couple of miles south of the Causeway hold trout, reds and flounder in the fall transition.
- Marsh
Mobile-Tensaw Delta
A huge brackish maze of rivers, creeks and bayous where the creek mouths and old pilings near deeper water hold redfish, and the fresher water above holds bass and panfish.
- Channel
Dog River
A quieter bay tributary south of town with trout and reds year-round, and Dog River Park has ramps and pier access.
- Bridge
Admiral Semmes bridge
Shore anglers fishing under the bridge on the Causeway catch croakers, small reds and the odd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ted Middleton Jr. Landing (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Battleship Parkway (Causeway), Mobile, AL (30.6871, -88.0143) |
| Scott's Landing (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 5901 Battleship Pkwy, Spanish Fort, AL 36527 (on the Blakeley River) |
| Meaher State Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 5200 Battleship Parkway East, Spanish Fort, AL 36527 |
| Meaher State Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Paid | 5200 Battleship Parkway East, Spanish Fort, AL 36527 |
| Dog River Park (Navco Park) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 2459 North Dog River Drive, Mobile, AL |
| McNally Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 4380 Park Road, Mobile, AL |
| C&S Bait and Tackle launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 7554 Deer River Road, Theodore, AL |
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 (6)
Showing all 6 shops
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Southern Cypress Bait & Tackle
Bait: live shrimp
On the Causeway coming from Spanish Fort, with a pier behind the shop, and it posts live shrimp availability on Facebook.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Steele Creek Bait & Tackle
Bait: live shrimp
5761 Highway 43, Satsuma, AL
North of Mobile toward the upper Delta, and it posts on Facebook when fresh shrimp arrive and when they sell out.
- Bait and tackle
C&S Bait and Tackle
7554 Deer River Road, Theodore, AL
Bait shop with a paid double boat ramp on Deer River, open from 5 a.m. every day per the state listing.
- Bait and tackle
Deer River Bait & Tackle
7560 Deer River Road, Theodore, AL
Bait shop with a paid boat ramp on Deer River next door to C&S, open from 6 a.m. most days and 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Tackle shop
Tackle This Fishing Outfitters
Bait: frozen bait
5256 US-90 Suite D, Mobile, AL 36619
In business since 2004, with rods and reels, custom rods, terminal tackle and frozen bait for fishing from the Delta to the Gulf.
- Store
West Marine Mobile
3658-B Airport Blvd, Mobile, AL 36608
Boating store that also carries rods, reels, bait and tackle aimed at Mobile Bay fishing.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Coastal Blue Persuasion Fishing (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Ugly Fishing (Capt. Patric Garmeson) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Delta Fly Fishing (Capt. Ben Cummings) (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.
Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (a Mobile Jaycees project, held on Dauphin Island) (opens in a new tab)
usually mid July
2027: July 16 to 18 (94th ADSFR)Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually July, the week before the Rodeo
2027: July 10 (69th RMYAT)Mobile Big Game Fishing Club tournament series (opens in a new tab)
usually Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend
2026: Memorial Day Tournament May 20 to 23; Labor Day Invitational September 3 to 6
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Mobile, asked and answered
Where can I buy live shrimp around Mobile?
Southern Cypress Bait & Tackle on the Causeway, coming from Spanish Fort, had live shrimp in October 2026 and posts availability on Facebook. Steele Creek Bait & Tackle in Satsuma also sells live shrimp. South of town, C&S and Deer River Bait & Tackle sit side by side on Deer River Road with paid launches.
When is the best time to fish the Mobile Bay Causeway?
Fall. Mid September through December is the best stretch for reds at the Causeway, and trout follow the fall shrimp up the Blakeley and Apalachee rivers once the water cools. Reds are around the Causeway most of the year.
Do I need a freshwater or saltwater license on the Causeway?
The Causeway is brackish, so redfish, flounder and largemouth bass can all bite the same live shrimp. Meaher State Park says an Alabama freshwater fishing license is required on its pier and ramp.
Can I keep flounder in November?
No. Alabama closes flounder harvest for all of November. Fish the shallow points and drains around the Causeway in September and October instead.
What tide station and marine forecast should I use for Mobile?
Use NOAA station 8736897 at Coast Guard Sector Mobile. It has tide predictions and reports water temperature and wind. For the forecast, use NWS zone GMZ630, Northern Mobile Bay.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Mobile
Sources for this guide (25), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/guides/delta-fly-fishing (opens in a new tab)
- captainexperiences.com/locations/alabama/mobile/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- fishingbooker.com/blog/mobile-alabama-fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- greatdaysoutdoors.com/category/fishing/fishing-reports/mobile-tensaw-delta-fishing-report/ (opens in a new tab)
- greatdaysoutdoors.com/fishing-the-mobile-bay-causeway/ (opens in a new tab)
- mbgfc.org/ (opens in a new tab)
- mobilebaykeeper.org/?p=226090 (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/cs-bait-and-tackle (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/deer-river-bait-tackle (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/dog-river-park (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/mcnally-park (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/boating-access-coastal/ted-middleton-jr-landing (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater-recreational-size-creel-limits (opens in a new tab)
- tacklethisal.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- adsfr.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- alabama.travel/places-to-go/ugly-fishing-llc (opens in a new tab)
- alapark.com/parks/meaher-state-park (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)
- gulfshores.com/fishing-seasons (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/coastal-blue-persuasion-fishing-llc/ (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/mrd-season-closures-notices-and-updates (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/scotts-landing (opens in a new tab)
- westmarine.com/stores/mobile-al-1314/ (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Mobile
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.