Hooked Fisherman
Archived report. Published September 30, 2026 and superseded by a newer report. View the current report →
SaltwaterAlabama · Mobile Bay & Gulf· September 30, 2026Active bite

Redfish keep biting as Gulf Coast holds late-summer warmth

Water temperatures at NOAA's Dauphin Island and Mobile Bay CO-OPS stations both read 84.7°F today, still solidly in late-summer range for the northern Gulf coast. Redfish are providing the bright spot this week: Coastal Angler Magazine reports the Fish Face Charters crew landed a solid redfish "between the showers and heat," and young angler Harvey Henke boated a nice red as well, evidence the species is staying active as the calendar turns into fall.

CURRENT CONDITIONS
85°F
Water temp · 7-day
Waning Gibbous
Moon phase
—
Tide / flow
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Weather

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What's biting

Active
Redfish

What's next

With water still near 85°F, redfish should keep feeding aggressively over the next few days. That pattern typically holds until a sustained cold front knocks temperatures down, and nothing in this week's readings points to that happening yet. The waning gibbous moon is moving toward last quarter, a phase that generally produces more moderate tidal swings than a full or new moon, so expect steadier rather than dramatic current shifts along Mobile Bay's marsh edges and grass flats — good news for working redfish on moving water rather than chasing one peak tide.

Weekend anglers should plan around early morning and late-afternoon windows while surface temperatures ease off their daytime peak, and build in flexibility around passing weather, since the Coastal Angler Magazine report specifically noted redfish biting between rain showers this week. As October opens, look for redfish to keep pushing onto skinny structure as bait concentrates tight to the shoreline with the seasonal shift underway.

Context

Late September into early October marks the start of the fall transition for Mobile Bay and the surrounding Gulf coast, when redfish activity typically ramps up as water begins to cool from summer highs and baitfish concentrate along marsh edges and passes. At 84.7°F, temperatures here are still running on the warm side for this point in the season, consistent with a slow, gradual cooldown rather than an early fall pattern. That lines up with what's coming in: redfish staying active and willing to bite is typical behavior heading into the strongest stretch of the Gulf coast redfish season, which usually builds through October and November as water temps drop further.

Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.

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