December 2018

West Side:

With cold weather comes the opportunity for anglers to cash in on some big fish. This time of year the Tout and the Redfish head deep into the marsh and fresh water tributaries looking for warmer water. Look to target these fish around the deep holes and mudflats on Dog and Fowl Rivers which produce great bites on an incoming tide. Slower presentations will be the ticket this time of year. Suspending twitch baits such as a Mirrodine and a Paul Brown “fat boy” are almost absolutes. Another good artificial to target big trout will be the Egret baits Vudu Shrimp, as these fish are feasting on white shrimp that are headed out into the bay.

Always remember to wear your PFD and have a float plan! Tightlines,

Nathan Rich

East Side:

Between the weekly cold fronts and rain, the fishing has been tough but, things will get better as the water starts the clear up and water temps stay at a consistent cold temperature. You can look for fish to start showing up in numbers in the rivers and deep holes as this will be their winter pattern. Areas like Fish, Magnolia and Bon Secour Rivers will hold speckled trout and redfish for the next couple of months. If you like fishing live bait, then live shrimp either under a cork or free lined will work great. For the artificial fisherman: jerk baits, Mirrolures and soft plastics bounced off the bottom or slow-trolled with a jig head will do the trick.

In the Orange Beach area, the sheepshead have started to show up around Perdido Pass and Intracoastal Waterway around structure (piers, jetties and sea walls). You can target these fish with live shrimp, fiddler crabs and fresh dead shrimp rigged with a Carolina rig (1/2oz egg sinker, swivel, 20lb leader and a 1/0 hook). You will also find a few redfish mixed in with them and an occasional flounder. Also, speckled trout have made there way into Wolf Bay, Hammock Creek, Soldier’s Creek and Palmetto. You can catch this fish using live shrimp, soft plastics, and jerk baits. If you plan on hitting the water, good luck and tight lines. As always remember safety and wear your PFD!!

Tanner Martiniere