What time is it? Its trout transition time at Dauphin Island… or very close to it. As the weather begins to cool, the trout will begin their migration and will move up the bay out of the lower bay and into the marsh areas and deeper river systems at the Mobile River Delta where they will winter. Although it is not cool by any means the trout follow the bait and their instincts. I will continue to use live shrimp under a popping cork in the shallow waters. Also in the deeper areas you can float one under a slip cork to find the fish as well. Once you locate fish, a plastic shrimp imitation will work well.
Also, another great way to catch trout and redfish is to look for diving birds and ease or drift into them casting toward the divers. Be quiet, big motor off, stealth! These fish are fattening up for winter and gorge themselves on these little fat minnows and shrimp. Redfish will be in their usual spots too, over oyster beds and shells and along the points of rivers and around streams that dump into the larger bodies of water; salinity and water temps don’t affect the reds like it will the trout. Flounder will start their migration from the rivers and channels down the bay as they head offshore to deeper water for the winter. Target points, structure and deeper channels with a finger mullet or bull minnow fished on the bottom. A live shrimp will work too as will the Gulp swim mullet on a lead jig head in either a pearl or chartreuse color bumped along the bottom; make sure to fish your baits on the bottom, its one big key to flounder fishing. The triple tail or blackfish will be here until the water cools, look for floating debris as they will float along under it.
We have openings still available for the fall so give us a call and Lets go fishing! Until next month, tight lines and good fishing!