Late Winter, Early Spring: Adapting to a Fishery in Transition

This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers a fishery that's in full transition mode. After wild swings in weather, from 80-degree afternoons to freezing mornings, Captain Patric Garmeson reports that the fishing has actually been better than you'd expect for late February. On warming trends, fish are sliding shallow and acting more like it's spring already, with redfish, trout, flounder, drum, and sheepshead all showing up in the mix. When conditions turn windy and cold, the rivers and protected water are still producing, especially around docks, rocks, and pilings. One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation is the importance of being reactionary. The fish are simply responding to water temperature, clarity, and pressure, so anglers need to do the same. Patric shares a tactic he picked up from the Lower Chesapeake Bay report that's made a real difference locally: downsizing tackle. By switching to lighter braid, lighter leaders, and small jig heads paired with subtle plastics like the Slick Junior and Little Slick, he's been able to get more bites in clear, pressured water. When trout are suspended in deeper systems like canals and the Mobile River, a slow-sinking presentation—whether it's a free-lined shrimp or a lightly weighted artificial—has been key. Bait-wise, live shrimp are still effective, but fresh dead shrimp have been surprisingly productive, especially for redfish, drum, and flounder. With flounder showing up consistently across multiple systems since January, there's growing optimism about what the spring flounder bite might look like. As sheepshead season ramps up, the conversation shifts toward conservation. Patric emphasizes the value of releasing fish over 20 inches, not just during the spawn but year-round. Those larger fish represent significantly greater egg production and long-term genetic strength in the fishery. The "Release Over 20" mindset isn't about shaming anyone; it's about keeping a strong population for the future while still enjoying a fish fry with mid-sized fish. Offshore, Tom Hilton breaks down what to look for when targeting wahoo and tuna. Ideal wahoo water ranges from the upper 60s to mid-70s, with clean blue water, defined temperature breaks, structure, and current all stacking together. Areas near the Destin fads, the Oriskany, and along the shelf edge show promising conditions when those factors overlap. Tuna, as always, remain harder to pin down, but temperature, bait presence, and current remain central to the search. The episode wraps with a reminder about the upcoming Mobile Boat Show and opportunities to get involved in fish tagging through CCA Alabama. A cool tagging story highlights just how much growth and movement can happen over 500 days in the life of a redfish, reinforcing how valuable long-term data can be. Overall, this report is about adaptability. Whether you're inshore chasing trout and sheepshead or offshore hunting wahoo, the anglers who pay attention to environmental shifts and adjust accordingly are the ones finding success right now.   SPONSORS CCA Alabama  Dixie Supply and Baker Metalworks Killerdock Foster Contracting Gulf Coast Shows Black Buffalo Slipski Coastal Connection Fiber Plastic Hilton's Realtime Nativator McCoy Outdoor Co. Ricciardone Dentistry Coastal Brew Baits