Species guide · Alabama
Red drum fishing in Alabama
Sciaenops ocellatus, an inshore species also called redfish, reds and puppy drum. Listed for the Eastern Gulf region. Peak season, about 10 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in North Mobile Bay at 74, one of 4 Alabama bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Eastern Gulf
Peak season, about 10 more weeks- Jan: Shoulder season
- Feb: Shoulder season
- Mar: Shoulder season
- Apr: Shoulder season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Sep to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): all year.
Research notes, Eastern Gulf region
Fall is peak as spawning schools form near passes and inlets from late August to November. Winter low tides push fish into creeks, spring-fed rivers and oyster bar edges. Harvest is prohibited in federal waters.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 4
Alabama bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's red drum score this hour.
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (78) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 7 PM (80) · 33 named spots
Best window today 7 PM-12 AM (86) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (86) · 21 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (82) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (82) · 53 named spots
Best window today 6 PM-12 AM (80) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (80) · 20 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 52°F to 92°F, best between 65°F and 84°F.
- Water depth
- 1 to 40 ft of water.
- Structure
- Flat, oyster, marsh, grass, channel, pass and surf, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.A flooding tide lets reds push onto grass flats and into flooded marsh to feed, where they often tail. A falling tide pulls bait out of creeks, so fish creek mouths, drains and oyster bar points. Very low winter tides concentrate fish in potholes and creek channels.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Tends to feed as pressure falls ahead of weather.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Redfish feed on shallow grass flats, oyster bars and marsh edges, often in 1 to 4 feet of water, and drop into channels, deep holes and tidal creeks when the water turns very hot or cold. Work a live shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic along the grass line on a rising tide, then fish creek mouths and drains as the tide falls. Bull reds over 30 inches school in the surf, passes and jetties in late summer and fall, where cut mullet or a live crab on the bottom is the standard approach.
- Methods
- sight casting, popping cork, bottom fishing, surf fishing, fly fishing, wade fishing
- Lures
- gold spoon, soft plastic paddle tail, soft plastic shrimp, jighead and grub, topwater plug, shallow-running plug, crab or shrimp fly
- Bait
- live shrimp, finger mullet, mud minnow, blue crab, cut mullet, pinfish, Atlantic croaker
Regulations
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division. Synced with ADCNR Marine Resources Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed red drum rule for Alabama is on file yet. Check with ADCNR Marine Resources before you keep one.