Memorial Day weekend is here, summer patterns are starting to settle in, and the Alabama Gulf Coast fishery is wide open from the surf to the pier to Mobile Bay and the offshore tournament scene. This week, Butch Thierry checks in with Angelo DePaola of The Coastal Connection for an update on Orange Beach real estate, the Abaco development, marina access, and the early action in the Gulf Coast Outboard Challenge. Captain Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing breaks down a changing inshore bite across Mobile Bay, with speckled trout spread from shallow slicks to deeper structure, live shrimp still producing, soft plastics playing a role, and Spanish mackerel, redfish, puppy drum, and other species moving through the system as water temperatures rise. Jim Cox joins the show to recap the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, including long runs, big money, blue marlin releases, bluefin tuna battles, and the start of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown season. David Thornton, the Pier Pounder, returns with a surf and pier report covering Spanish mackerel, pompano, whiting, trout, clean water, snobbling dead bait, and what anglers can expect as beach traffic picks up. To close it out, Blakeley Ellis of CCA Alabama previews the 2026 STAR Tournament and explains how registered anglers have a shot at winning a Skeeter bay boat by catching one of the blue-tagged redfish released along the Alabama coast.

SPONSORS

Make Wake Marine

Deep South Cranes

CCA Alabama

Dixie Building Supply / Baker Metal Works

Foster Contracting

Black Buffalo

Slip Ski Solutions

Admiral Shellfish Company

Coastal Connection

Fiber Plastics Inc

Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator

McCoy Outdoor Company

Ricciardone Dentistry

Midway Lumber Sales

Coastal Brew Baits

Pure Flats

EMS / Endeck

Camper City Mobile

Fishing is heating up across the Alabama Gulf Coast, and this week's report has a little bit of everything, from nearshore reef fish to Eastern Shore trout to surf-zone fly fishing. Capt. Spencer Kight with D.I. Reef Monster breaks down the strong vermilion snapper bite, how he is fishing efficiently with fuel prices in mind, what he is seeing on triggerfish, and why he is watching for mahi, cobia, and the start of snapper season. Capt. Lyons Bousson with Fairhope Charters gives a strong Eastern Shore report, with speckled trout, redfish, and flounder showing up around piers, plus some encouraging signs for the trout and flounder fisheries. Sam Sumlin with Community Fly Shop in Gulf Shores shares a detailed surf fly fishing report, including how to find productive beach structure, what flies and lines he is using, and why anglers may be overlooking fish right at their feet. Blakeley Ellis with CCA Alabama also joins the show to preview the 2026 STAR Tournament, including the tagged redfish division and the chance for a registered angler to win a Skeeter bay boat.

SPONSORS

Make Wake Marine

Deep South Cranes

CCA Alabama

Dixie Building Supply / Baker Metal Works

Foster Contracting

Black Buffalo

Slip Ski Solutions

Admiral Shellfish Company

Coastal Connection

Fiber Plastics Inc

Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator

McCoy Outdoor Company

Ricciardone Dentistry

Midway Lumber Sales

Coastal Brew Baits

Pure Flats

EMS / Endeck

Camper City Mobile

This week on the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report, Butch Thierry is joined by Riley Ludlam, Captain Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing, and Captain Tanner Deas of Dauphin Island Fishing Charters. Riley kicks things off with a beach report from Dauphin Island, where low early water made the usual spots too shallow, but a rising tide opened up the bite around deeper cuts, drop-offs, and roadside flounder spots. Small live shrimp on Carolina rigs and popping corks produced flounder, trout, puppy drum, and a strong mixed bag once the water got right.

Captain Richard Rutland then breaks down an offshore swordfish trip that turned into a huge first swordfish for Riley. The crew dealt with a slow bite, tricky nighttime drift conditions, changing current, and a last-minute daytime drop that produced the fish just before they planned to head in. Richard also explains how he adjusted weight, bait, and presentation to deal with faster drift speeds, and he shares how the trip contributed to ongoing swordfish research with the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, including age, growth, mercury, and tagging work.

Captain Tanner Deas closes the show with an inshore report built around "anything fishing" near Dauphin Island, where trout, redfish, flounder, puppy drum, pompano, Spanish mackerel, and big whiting are all in the mix. Tanner explains how he has been starting with trout early, then shifting into ledges, drop-offs, Carolina rigs, slip corks, free-lined shrimp, and mid-strolled soft plastics as the day develops. His biggest takeaway is that anglers should not get too locked in on one species or one bait right now. The better approach is to fish good water, stay patient through the bycatch, and keep adjusting until the right fish shows up.

SPONSORS

AFTCO

Make Wake

Eastern Metal Supply

Deep South Cranes

Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)

Dixie Building Supply

KillerDock

Foster Contracting

Black Buffalo

Stayput Anchor

Slip Ski Solutions

Coastal Connection

Fiber Plastics Inc

Hilton's Offshore Charts

McCoy Outdoors

Ricciardone Dentistry

Coastal Brew Baits

Pure Flats

ADCNR Marine Resources Division

Shoreline Plastics

Camper City Mobile

Destin Boat Show