Alabama fishing reports
318 reports for Alabama — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Low, clear water sets up a patient fall bite in east Alabama
Fall water is cool and low across the Coosa system. USGS gauge 02413210 reads 58°F at 33 cfs and gauge 02413205 reads 59°F at 31 cfs, while gauge 02338523 shows 57°F at under 4 cfs. Gauge 02339500 is running 826 cfs, the only meaningfully moving water in this set. Weekend tournament coverage from MLF News points to Lake Guntersville as the big-bass spotlight this weekend, with Mark Daniels Jr. predicting big weights at the Toyota Owners event. That is one pro's forecast, not a catch report, so treat it as a sign of where fall bass attention is heading.
Redfish and snook fall pattern builds along the Gulf
Salt Strong's fall fishing breakdown this week points anglers toward big schools of redfish moving into certain areas, and its Weekend Game Plan for October 16th to 18th covers the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend along with the rest of the Gulf Coast. That is the pattern worth planning around for Mobile Bay and the nearby Gulf. Our two NOAA CO-OPS stations are reading 69.4°F (station 8735180) and 72°F (station 8736897) as of the 11:06 UTC observation on October 18. That is comfortable water for redfish, which Salt Strong describes as stacking up in numbers this time of year. Salt Strong also notes that popping corks remain one of the most effective rigs for redfish, trout, snook and flounder. Their tip is to prepare before the trip so the rig can be adjusted on the water without re-tying. For redfish that means being ready to shift between depths as fish move around. Salt Strong's inshore advice stresses that small details decide a trip once you are on the right spot with the right lure, and the video shows redfish and snook catches to back that up. Coastal Angler Magazine also posted a 28.5-inch redfish caught in the shallows on October 5, a reminder that fall redfish are working skinny water. The Salt Strong fall mullet-run coverage from Saltwater Sportsman applies here too. Mullet pour out of bays and estuaries along the Gulf from September into November, and redfish follow that bait.
Coosa tailwater cools into the low 60s as fall bass pattern builds
Gauges near the Coosa and Tallapoosa headwaters read 60 to 62°F this morning, a clear step down from summer and squarely in the range where bass start chasing baitfish. Fall bass coverage from Tactical Bassin (blog) this week points to bass on the move behind baitfish, with a bladed swimbait or underspin adding flash and vibration, and a shallow jig, soft jerkbait and topwater approach for October fish that anglers tend to overlook. Field & Stream's turnover guidance applies as lakes cool: move toward clear, shallow bays or creek arms that have not turned over yet, and search with spinnerbaits to find active fish. Major League Fishing's MDJ expects big bass and big weights on Lake Guntersville this weekend, which tells us the Alabama bite is strong heading into the cool months.
Fall redfish and snook patterns set up along the Alabama Gulf
Water is warm and fishable across the Mobile Bay and Gulf area. NOAA CO-OPS station 8735180 reads 71.4°F and station 8736897 reads 75°F as of the latest observation, a spread that tells us temperatures vary by location right now and that fish will sit differently depending on where you launch. Salt Strong (articles) is pointing anglers at fall redfish this week, noting that massive schools of big redfish are moving into certain areas. Their separate inshore write-up credits small details for the difference between a frustrating trip and a good one, backed by redfish and snook catches. Their popping cork piece lists redfish among the main targets for that rig, and a little prep before the trip makes it far more versatile on the water. Coastal Angler Magazine posted a reader's 28.5 inch redfish caught in shallow water on Oct 5, a reminder that fish of that size are still eating skinny water this month.
Guntersville bass bite builds as fall pattern settles in
Fall bass fishing is the story at Guntersville this week. MLF News notes the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament is heading to Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, with Mark Daniels Jr. predicting big bass and big weights. A tournament pro calling for heavy bags is a good sign that largemouth are feeding up. USGS gauge 03582000 reads 62°F water with 258 cfs flowing, a comfortable fall temperature for active bass. USGS gauge 03575100 shows 124 cfs.
Fall bass and catfish settle into a steady Coosa pattern
Water on the Coosa side is running in the low-to-mid 60s, with USGS gauge 02413210 and gauge 02413205 both reading 64°F and gauge 02338523 at 62°F. That is a comfortable fall range, and it matches what Tactical Bassin (blog) describes for October: fish chasing baitfish and relating to subtle shallow locations. Their tip is to cover shallow water with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, and to add a blade to a swimbait when bass are pushing bait.
Redfish and fall mullet run set the Gulf tone
Water temperatures around Mobile Bay and the Gulf are sitting in the low to mid 70s, with NOAA CO-OPS station 8735180 reading 72.5°F and station 8736897 reading 76.3°F this morning. That is comfortable territory for fall inshore fishing as the season turns. Saltwater Sportsman notes that the fall mullet run is under way, with mullet pouring out of rivers, bays and estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from September into November. Baitfish moving in those numbers tend to pull predators close to the beaches and passes, so working near bait schools is a sound plan this week. Coastal Angler Magazine shared a 28.5-inch bull redfish caught in the shallows on Oct 5, a reminder that redfish are working skinny water this month. We'd call redfish Active on that basis, with shallow presentations worth a look.
Low Coosa flows set up a fall shallow-water bite
Water temperatures held at 66 to 67°F on the USGS gauges at 02338523, 02413210 and 02413205 overnight, a comfortable fall range that keeps fish feeding through the day. Flows on the smaller gauges are low, at 43 cfs (02413210), 39.5 cfs (02413205) and under 4 cfs (02338523), while gauge 02339500 reads 866 cfs, so clear, settled water is the rule on the smaller tributaries. Tactical Bassin points to October as a time to slow down and work shallow cover with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, and notes that bass chasing baitfish in the fall respond well to a bladed or flashy swimbait.
Fall redfish schools move in along the Gulf coast
Gulf water around Mobile Bay is holding near 80 degrees. NOAA CO-OPS station 8735180 read 79.3°F and station 8736897 read 79.9°F just before midnight local time Friday. That is warm for mid-October, and it sets up a fall pattern where redfish are the main story. Per Salt Strong, big schools of redfish are moving into certain areas right now, and they call fall one of the best stretches of the year to target them. Coastal Angler Magazine passed along a 28.5-inch redfish caught in the shallows of Yankeetown on Oct 5, a Gulf Coast reminder that big fish are working skinny water this month. For rigging, Salt Strong points to the popping cork as a go-to for redfish, and suggests rigging a little extra before leaving the dock so you can adjust without re-tying on the water.
Fall shift sets up smallmouth and crappie moves on Coosa
Water temperatures near 70°F at the Coosa-area gauges put this system squarely in the early fall transition. Gauge 02413210 and gauge 02413205 both read 70°F, with flows of 44.4 and 42 cfs, while gauge 02338523 shows 69°F at 3.64 cfs. Those are low, steady flows, which means clear, stable water and fish that are not being pushed around by current. Per Tactical Bassin, the fall pattern for bass is baitfish chasing, and they note a blade added to a swimbait, such as an underspin, adds flash and vibration. That is a reasonable starting point for smallmouth where they hold in moving water. Tactical Bassin also points to an overlooked shallow approach for October fish, using jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater around subtle shallow locations.
Coosa and Tennessee river bite shifts as fall water cools
Water temperatures are sitting in the upper 60s across the Coosa drainage this week, with gauges 02338523, 02413210 and 02413205 all reading 67 to 68°F. That is a comfortable fall range, cool enough to pull fish out of summer holding water and warm enough to keep them feeding. Tactical Bassin's recent fall content stresses that bass chase baitfish this time of year and that a bladed swimbait adds flash and vibration. Their October piece also points to shallow water as an overlooked option, fishing jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater without electronics.
Fall bass bite shifts shallow as Coosa waters cool
Water in the upper Coosa basin has settled into the mid-60s this week, with USGS gauge 02413210 reading 67°F, gauge 02413205 at 66°F and gauge 02338523 at 65°F. That is prime fall bass range. Per Tactical Bassin (blog), October is a time to slow down and fish shallow water with jigs, soft jerkbaits and topwater, and to cover water without leaning on electronics. Largemouth Bass are the clearest target right now. Field & Stream adds that as waters cool, fish relocate and baitfish movement drives the feed.