May 08, 2026

The Everything Bite: Flounder, Reds, Trout, and Swords

1 hour 20 minutes

This week on the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report, Butch Thierry is joined by Riley Ludlam, Captain Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing, and Captain Tanner Deas of Dauphin Island Fishing Charters. Riley kicks things off with a beach report from Dauphin Island, where low early water made the usual spots too shallow, but a rising tide opened up the bite around deeper cuts, drop-offs, and roadside flounder spots. Small live shrimp on Carolina rigs and popping corks produced flounder, trout, puppy drum, and a strong mixed bag once the water got right.

Captain Richard Rutland then breaks down an offshore swordfish trip that turned into a huge first swordfish for Riley. The crew dealt with a slow bite, tricky nighttime drift conditions, changing current, and a last-minute daytime drop that produced the fish just before they planned to head in. Richard also explains how he adjusted weight, bait, and presentation to deal with faster drift speeds, and he shares how the trip contributed to ongoing swordfish research with the University of South Alabama and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, including age, growth, mercury, and tagging work.

Captain Tanner Deas closes the show with an inshore report built around "anything fishing" near Dauphin Island, where trout, redfish, flounder, puppy drum, pompano, Spanish mackerel, and big whiting are all in the mix. Tanner explains how he has been starting with trout early, then shifting into ledges, drop-offs, Carolina rigs, slip corks, free-lined shrimp, and mid-strolled soft plastics as the day develops. His biggest takeaway is that anglers should not get too locked in on one species or one bait right now. The better approach is to fish good water, stay patient through the bycatch, and keep adjusting until the right fish shows up.