Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report

Butch Thierry and Joe Baya
  • 4.9 (297)
  • Wilderness
  • Weekly

The Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is the Gulf Coast's first and only podcast that brings you the REAL fishing report whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Come along with Butch Thierry and Joe Baya as they interview the best fisherman in the area, covering every saltwater species whether you are pier and shore fisherman or you chase pelagics in bluewater. Every episode is packed with the weekly report and forecast as well as pearls of wisdom shared by our expert contributors. All of this comes to you in 60 minutes or less, and is available 24/7, so it's perfect for the ride home or that early morning trip to the dock.

  1. Oct 22

    Tanner Takes Over: Flounder, Cobia, and Triple Tail

    This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report features Capt. Tanner Deas of Dauphin Island Fishing Charters filling in for Butch Thierry, with reports covering an outstanding October bite for flounder, red snapper, cobia, triple tail, sheepshead, and more. With cooler weather finally arriving along the Alabama Gulf Coast, Tanner and his guests break down some of the best fishing opportunities of the fall season, from land-based trips around Dauphin Island to nearshore structure and offshore reefs. Capt. Branden Collier of Capt. Collier's Charters kicks things off with a fishing trip that went completely off-script. After engine trouble derailed their original king mackerel plans, Tanner, Branden, and their crew found themselves catching quality flounder while battling aggressive jack crevalle. They eventually switched boats and headed offshore, where they quickly put together a box of big red snapper, triggerfish, and vermilion snapper. Branden also shares an excellent cobia report from a recent University of South Alabama tagging trip, including schools of fish around nearshore structure, live-bait preferences, artificial lure tactics, and the three rod setups he recommends for targeting fall cobia. Tanner then turns the tables and calls Butch for a beach-fishing interview. He explains how falling tides, water clarity, sandbar cuts, and deeper troughs have shaped his recent Dauphin Island trips. While whiting have been biting well on small Carolina rigs and shrimp, the real highlight has been an excellent flounder bite around deeper pockets, seawalls, rocks, and docks. Tanner shares why fish have been concentrating in deeper water during low tides and how bright pink and purple soft plastics have been producing quality flounder, including several fish over 20 inches. He also looks ahead to improving sheepshead opportunities as fall progresses. Capt. Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing closes the show with an inshore report focused on the developing fall trout and redfish bite around Mobile Bay, the Causeway, and nearby tidal rivers. Richard explains why speckled trout are beginning to stage near river mouths, how anglers can find productive water before the fish push farther north, and why redfish, sheepshead, and flounder provide plenty of options even when windy weather keeps boats off the open bay. He also discusses his work with the University of South Alabama studying public fishing access and fish populations, then shares an outstanding triple tail report built around sight-fishing floating debris, tide lines, and free-swimming fish. With cobia still around, triple tail feeding aggressively, and fall fishing just getting started, there is plenty to look forward to along the Alabama coast. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

    Tanner Takes Over: Flounder, Cobia, and Triple Tail

  2. Oct 16

    Blue Water, Bull Reds, and Fall Fishing After Isaias

    This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report looks at how the Alabama Gulf Coast is shaping up after Hurricane Isaias, with cooler water, improving offshore conditions, bull redfish, jack crevalle, flounder, and the fall inshore transition. Butch Thierry opens the show with Capt. Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle, who reports an excellent pre-storm bite around the beaches and passes. Chris explains how falling water temperatures have fired up big jacks and bull reds along the beaches, why eastbound tarpon can be difficult to catch during their fall migration, and how to target flounder, mangrove snapper, trout, and redfish around washouts, troughs, and current breaks. He also shares his favorite heavy-tackle setups and topwater poppers for chasing big fish. Next, Clark Newsome and Andy Pipkin of Make Wake Marine in Fairhope join Butch for a practical conversation about fall boat maintenance, winter preparation, and upgrades. They explain why now is a good time to address neglected pumps, wiring, corrosion, fuel systems, and outboard maintenance before small problems become expensive repairs. The discussion covers service intervals, water pumps, lower-unit seals, lithium batteries, trolling motors, shallow-water anchors, and how to prepare boats for cold weather or extended storage. Joe Baya and Tom Hilton of Hilton's Offshore Charts follow with a detailed offshore breakdown focused on finding fall wahoo. Tom explains how Hurricane Isaias pushed cleaner blue water closer to the northern Gulf Coast, creating promising opportunities around the nearshore FADs, natural bottom, wrecks, and offshore temperature breaks. The guys walk through using sea surface temperatures, chlorophyll imagery, currents, bottom contours, and Hilton's trip-planning tools to build an efficient trolling route from Destin, Pensacola, Orange Beach, or Dauphin Island. They also discuss how a planned route can double as an offshore safety and float plan. Capt. Patric Garmeson of Ugly Fishing closes the show with a Causeway and lower Delta report, where the fishing has become more challenging as trout, redfish, and flounder adjust to the changing conditions. Patric explains why the storm appears to have scattered shrimp and shifted bait patterns, why live pogies have been especially productive, and how anglers can use bird activity, grass edges, river ledges, and shallow flats to locate fish. He also shares tips for live chumming, popping corks, Slick Juniors, Z-Man PaddlerZ, and adapting quickly when yesterday's productive fishing spot goes quiet. With fall fishing beginning to settle in, the message is simple: keep moving, pay attention to the bait, and be ready to change tactics. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

    Blue Water, Bull Reds, and Fall Fishing After Isaias

  3. Oct 9

    The Isaias Special

    This special episode of the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is a Hurricane Isaias edition, put together after the storm disrupted the normal weekly recording schedule. With Butch Thierry, the charter captains, and contributors spending the week securing boats, watching the forecast, and preparing for the storm, the crew was not able to record a regular report. Instead, this episode pulls together selected highlights from recent shows to give listeners something useful to listen to while they wait out the weather. The episode starts with a beach and surf-fishing segment covering the early fall transition, including cleaner water, more manageable mornings, flounder on artificials, pompano beginning to show back up, whiting, black drum, redfish, bluefish, and the return of better mixed-bag action in the surf. The discussion digs into tandem rigs for beach flounder, new penny plastics, fishing troughs and sandbar edges, fresh shrimp, Fishbites, smaller pyramid weights, and how wave height changes the best approach for set rigs, artificials, and topwater fishing. The show then moves inshore with Chris Vecsey, who talks through trout, redfish, mangrove snapper, topwater fishing, wake baits, dock lights, current, bait movement, and the growing number of snook being seen and tagged along the Alabama and Northwest Florida coast. Chris explains why he keeps moving until he finds bait and current, and why seeing more and larger snook is an encouraging sign for anglers and researchers tracking that developing fishery. The episode also includes a cobia and triple tail tagging segment tied to research work with the University of South Alabama. The conversation covers acoustic tags, satellite tags, DNA samples, diet sampling, reward tags, close-in cobia around Dauphin Island and Mobile Bay, and the importance of live bait. The report breaks down how bait preference can change week to week, why anglers should pay close attention to both the bottom machine and the surface, and how hardtails, cigar minnows, crazy fish, sardines, and threadfin herring can all matter depending on what the fish want that day. To close out the special, the episode features Gulf State Park Pier and offshore highlights, including warm-water mackerel patterns, slot redfish, whiting in the surf, and a lively offshore discussion about grouper, leader size, slack-line Carolina rigs, fishing baits off the bottom, live-chumming tuna, and a memorable Bama Boys trip full of fish, breakdowns, rough weather, Sea Tow, and hard-earned lessons. It is not a normal weekly report, but it gives ASFR listeners a strong mix of inshore, onshore, nearshore, and offshore fishing intel while Hurricane Isaias takes center stage. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

    The Isaias Special

  4. Oct 1

    Tuna, Triple Tail, Cobia Tags, and Pier Reds

    This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers the early-October transition along the Alabama Gulf Coast, with offshore tuna and swordfish, close-in cobia, big triple tail, Spanish mackerel, slot redfish, surf fishing, and changing fall conditions. Butch Thierry is joined by Angelo DePaola, who opens the show with a look at the shifting weather, the challenge of making fishing plans around rough fall forecasts, and why anglers still have to take their windows when they get them. Capt. Cody Broughton checks in from Dauphin Island with an offshore report focused on yellowfin tuna, swordfish, and bottom fishing. Cody explains why late September and October are some of his favorite times to fish, how he's been live-bait chumming for tuna, and why greenbacks, natural presentations, nose-hooked baits, and Seaguar Gold fluorocarbon have helped him get bites. He also breaks down a recent daytime swordfish bite on a buoy rod, how the fish behaved during the fight, and why swordfish can be so unpredictable once they are hooked. Capt. Richard Rutland of Cold Blooded Fishing follows with a detailed cobia and triple tail report built around the tagging work he's been doing with the University of South Alabama. Richard explains how the team is acoustic-tagging cobia and triple tail, collecting fin clips and diet samples, deploying satellite tags, and offering reward tags for recaptured fish. He also shares what he's learned from spending so much time targeting these fish, including why live bait has been critical for cobia, how bait preference can change week to week, and why anglers need to watch both the bottom machine and the surface when fishing ships, buoys, rigs, and other vertical structure. Richard also digs deep into triple tail tactics, including how to cover water, find productive regions, read tide lines, blind-fish poles and buoys, and decide when to slow down. He explains why shrimp worked well earlier, why small pogies have become a better option as spadefish, mangroves, and pinfish crowd the structure, and how to fish slip corks, short leaders, circle hooks, heavier braid, and locked-down drags around big blackfish. He also shares how tide lines with logs, buckets, bait, and other floating debris can produce some of the best and most forgiving triple tail opportunities of the season. To close the episode, David Thornton, The Pier Pounder, reports from Gulf State Park Pier and the surf. David explains that water temperatures have stayed warmer than normal, bait has been inconsistent, and the typical late-September mackerel pattern has been slower than expected. Still, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, slot redfish, speckled trout, flounder, mangrove snapper, whiting, and pompano are all in play when anglers can find bait, clean water, and the right window. The episode wraps with a reminder that fall fishing is close, but the next real push may depend on cooler water, better bait concentrations, and the weather settling down after the coming rain and wind. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

    Tuna, Triple Tail, Cobia Tags, and Pier Reds

  5. Sep 25

    Bama Boys Invade PCB

    This special episode of the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report brings together Joe Baya, Butch Thierry, Dr. Dylan Kiene, Capt. Tanner Deas, and Capt. Branden Collier for a recap of the "Bama Boys" trip to Panama City Beach. The crew talks through what it is like for Alabama anglers to bring their own boat to the Emerald Coast, learn a different style of bottom fishing, and target gag grouper, red grouper, snapper, triggerfish, and other species on natural bottom instead of the artificial reefs and rigs they are used to fishing closer to home. The conversation starts with bait, where Branden and Butch describe stumbling into a huge cloud of pinfish, white trout, hardtails, and other bait near St. Andrews Pass. That lucky bait stop ended up being a major part of the trip, especially once the crew realized that live pinfish were the ticket for gag grouper. From there, the group digs into what made the Panama City Beach fishery feel so different: closer natural bottom, fewer red snapper compared to Alabama, strong red grouper numbers, lots of triggerfish, spread-out ledges and low-relief structure, and grouper bites that often came only after a long soak. The guys also break down what they learned from fishing rough conditions, losing fish in the rocks, experimenting with 60- and 100-pound leader, using live bait versus slow-pitch jigs, and trying to understand how grouper move across natural bottom. They talk through the value of local knowledge, electronics, public numbers, drifting versus spot-locking, and how one good rock can change the whole day. The trip was not without problems, including trolling motor trouble, engine trouble, a flat tire, a broken rod, and a late-night boat-plug mishap, but the crew still came home with a solid box of fish, a pile of lessons, and a stronger appreciation for safety gear, Sea Tow, VHF radios, and being prepared offshore. The episode closes with Tom Hilton of Hilton's Offshore Charts joining Joe and Butch for a detailed look at the offshore setup in the Northern Gulf. Tom explains how to read chlorophyll, sea surface temperature, altimetry, current edges, and historical satellite shots to understand where blue water, bait, and pelagic fish may be moving. The discussion focuses on the water setting up from the Destin and Alabama side toward the Nipple, 131 Hole, Nakika, Blind Faith, and nearby offshore structure, with practical insight into how anglers can use Hilton's trip-planning tools to make better decisions before burning fuel. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

  6. Sep 17

    Flounder, Snook, Tuna, and the Fall Saltwater Shift

    This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report covers the late-summer transition along the Alabama Gulf Coast, from improving surf conditions and flounder on the beach to light-tackle billfishing, snook, tuna, amberjack, and bluewater live-bait tactics. Butch Thierry opens the show with Tony Emmons of South Alabama Surf Fishing, who reports cleaner water, more manageable mornings, improving beach action, and a growing mix of surf species as fall gets closer. Tony breaks down how he's targeting flounder from the beach with quarter-ounce jig heads, tandem rigs, new penny plastics, and long casts around the second sandbar, troughs, and points. He also talks through the return of pompano, whiting, black drum, redfish, bluefish, and other surf species, including when to fish close, when to fish behind the bar, how to read troughs and sandbar edges, and why fresh shrimp, Fishbites, small pyramid weights, and moving water can all matter. Chris Vecsey of J&M Tackle follows with an Orange Beach report covering light-tackle billfishing, gag grouper interest, blackfin tuna, mahi, wahoo, trout, redfish, snook, and inshore topwater fishing. Chris explains how he's using teasers, squid chains, dredges, pitch baits, and a light-hook spread for sailfish and other billfish, then shifts inshore to talk about snook tagging, larger snook sightings, high-current trout lights, topwaters, wake baits, grass lines, LY schools, and why bait movement is one of the biggest keys right now. Capt. King Marchand of Capt. Mike's Fishing closes the fishing reports with a deep offshore update from the Lady Ann, including a 209-pound yellowfin tuna, more quality tuna, live chumming, crazy fish, circle hooks, fluorocarbon leader, braid, FG knots, drag management, amberjack, snapper, and whale shark fishing. King explains how he finds catchable tuna in the water column, why bigger yellowfin may need more live chum to fire up, how leader size and bait behavior change the bite, and why live bait remains so important for both tuna and amberjack. The episode also includes a sponsor spotlight with Ultra Wash Mobile, covering drone washing, soft washing, Gulf Coast salt and mildew, commercial property cleaning, and how waterfront homes, condos, marinas, and businesses can better protect their exterior surfaces. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

  7. Sep 11

    Best of Summer: Alabama Saltwater Fishing Highlights

    This special episode of the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report looks back at some of the best conversations and most useful fishing intel from the summer season along the Alabama Gulf Coast. With Butch Thierry out this week, the show pulls together highlights from recent reports covering inshore, nearshore, offshore, and surf fishing, with practical tactics from captains and contributors who have been on the water through heat, dirty water, changing tides, and late-summer transitions. The episode covers a strong mangrove snapper bite around Orange Beach structure, docks, rocks, bridges, jetties, and deeper current, including bait selection, Carolina rigs, circle hooks, reef endorsements, and why croakers, spots, LYs, and small pogies can outproduce shrimp when pinfish are thick. It also revisits tarpon movement, tide-line and triple tail fishing, how to read color changes and offshore satellite imagery, and what anglers should look for when structure, current, bait, and clean water line up. The show also includes offshore and reef-fishing highlights, with reports on swordfish, squid and octopus baits, bait rigging, full-moon swordfish action, late-season beeliners, triggerfish, mahi, reef scouting, diving, thermoclines, oxygen changes, and how experienced captains use bottom type, bait presence, visibility, and fish quality to decide where to spend their time. Inshore and onshore segments round out the episode with eastern shore pier fishing, Fairhope Rattles, popping corks, live shrimp, flounder around pilings, Gulf Coast surf trout, pompano, redfish, beach troughs, fly fishing, and why small changes in current, bait, and structure can concentrate fish in surprisingly tight areas. The episode closes with one of the summer's best offshore stories: Capt. Myles Colley's account of a giant blue marlin caught years ago between the Nipple and the Elbow. It is a fitting end to a summer recap built around the kind of details, stories, and hard-earned fishing lessons that make the Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report valuable week after week. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

    Best of Summer: Alabama Saltwater Fishing Highlights

  8. Sep 4

    The Saltwater Finaddics Recap with Patric, Tanner, Branden, and Dylan

    This week's Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is a roundtable episode with Capt. Patric Garmeson, Capt. Tanner Deas-Dauphin Island Fishing, Capt. Branden Collier - Capt. Collier's Charters , and Dr. Dylan Kiene talking tournament fishing, flounder patterns, redfish, trout, live bait, artificial lures, and the decisions that make or break a two-day inshore event. The conversation centers around the Saltwater Fanatics Inshore Championship, where different teams found success in completely different ways, from shallow-water flounder and dock-light redfish to deep ledges, heavy current, and pattern fishing across multiple systems. Tanner and Branden break down their winning inshore slam strategy, including how they targeted redfish early, adjusted when the first plan did not feel right, found a 21-inch trout in an unexpected place, and finally landed the 22-inch flounder that helped put them over the top. Patric shares a wild tournament story involving boat trouble, a lost Yamaha screw, trolling-motor improvisation, a lead sinker turned into a temporary repair, and finally salvaging the weekend with shallow flounder, trout, and a redfish. Dylan adds the science-minded flounder perspective, explaining how he and his team abandoned their original plan, found deeper flounder patterns, caught fish on Coastal Brew and Down South plastics, and brought in a strong live-flounder total for the CCA hatchery effort. The roundtable also digs into the details that serious inshore anglers think about during tournament season: when to leave fish, how to recognize a real pattern, why small flounder and big flounder may not always feed the same way, how live bait compares to artificials in deep water, when slip corks make sense for flounder and trout, and why jig-head weight, scent, current, boat positioning, and nighttime dock-light fishing can all matter. The episode wraps with a look ahead to the Doormat Classic and the fall flounder season, including Dylan's thoughts on why wet years may pull more big offshore-spawned flounder back into the bay systems. SPONSORS The Coastal Connection / Angelo DiPaola Sea Tow Foster Contracting / Fortified Roofing Pros Black Buffalo Eastern Metal Supply Fiber Plastics Inc Hilton's Offshore Charts / Realtime-Navigator Coastal Brew Bait Company Dixie Supply / Baker Metal Works Make Wake Marine Midway Lumber Admiral Shellfish Company Pure Flats Pike Consulting Group Community Fly Supply Deep South Crane Rentals SlipSki Solutions CCA Alabama Camper City Mobile Moffett Road Dentistry / Ricciardone Family Dentistry McCoy Outdoor Company The Orthopaedic Group / Dr. Michael Blackmer Alfa Insurance / Bryan Klein Ultra Wash

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4.9
out of 5
297 Ratings

About

The Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report is the Gulf Coast's first and only podcast that brings you the REAL fishing report whether it's good, bad, or ugly. Come along with Butch Thierry and Joe Baya as they interview the best fisherman in the area, covering every saltwater species whether you are pier and shore fisherman or you chase pelagics in bluewater. Every episode is packed with the weekly report and forecast as well as pearls of wisdom shared by our expert contributors. All of this comes to you in 60 minutes or less, and is available 24/7, so it's perfect for the ride home or that early morning trip to the dock.

Information

  • Creator
    Butch Thierry and Joe Baya
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2019 Great Days Outdoors
  • Show Website
    Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report

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