5.0(5 Reviews)Inshore Fishing Charter in Dauphin Island
5.0(5 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Top Rated
Target speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and sheepshead inshoreFour to five hour guided charter in protected watersAll equipment, bait, and ice provided by Captain T's
Looking for some solid fishing action without the rough ride offshore? This Dauphin Island inshore charter is exactly what you need. We're talking 4-5 hours of fishing the protected bays, marshes, and estuaries where the fish are thick and the water stays calm. Captain T knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he'll put you on speckled trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead, and tripletail that call these productive flats home. Whether you're bringing the kids for their first fishing trip or you're an experienced angler who wants to skip the seasickness and focus on catching fish, this charter delivers consistent action in comfort.
This isn't your typical "hope and pray" fishing trip. Dauphin Island's inshore waters are famous for good reason – the mix of grass flats, oyster bars, and tidal creeks creates a perfect storm for hungry fish year-round. Captain T runs a tight ship but keeps things relaxed, making sure everyone gets their shots at fish regardless of experience level. The boat is rigged with quality rods and reels, fresh bait, and everything you need to land some solid catches. All you need to bring is a cooler for your fish, some gallon-sized ziplock bags for the cleaned fillets, sunscreen, and whatever snacks or drinks you want. The captain handles the rest, from finding the fish to cleaning your catch. This setup works perfectly for families, first-timers, or anyone who wants to fish without dealing with the logistics.
Inshore fishing around Dauphin Island is all about reading the water and adapting to what the fish want. We'll work everything from shallow grass flats where redfish cruise looking for crabs to deeper channel edges where trout stack up on moving water. The approach changes with the tide, season, and what's biting, but you can expect to throw live shrimp under popping corks, drift with gulp baits, and maybe even get into some topwater action when conditions are right. The tackle is sized perfectly for these species – not too heavy to kill the fight, but strong enough to muscle fish out of structure. Captain T reads the conditions and adjusts tactics throughout the trip, so you might start the day sight-fishing redfish on the flats and finish up working deeper water for trout and flounder. It's hands-on fishing that keeps you engaged without being overwhelming.
"Great trip! I would recommend Captain T's" - Wade. "We had a great trip. Caught lots of fish." - Shane. "Great trip, lots of fish, our boys loved it!" - Shanna. "Caught our limit and avoided the rain. Great job T!" - Jeremy.
Speckled trout are the bread and butter of Dauphin Island inshore fishing, and for good reason. These beautiful fish hit hard, fight smart, and taste even better. Spring and fall are prime time when they school up in big numbers, but you can find keeper trout year-round if you know where to look. They love grass flats with moving water, especially around dawn and dusk. What makes trout fishing so addictive is their willingness to hit both live and artificial baits, plus they put up a respectable fight on light tackle. A good trout bite can make your whole day, and Captain T knows exactly where they hold up based on tide, weather, and season.
Redfish are the other crown jewel of Alabama inshore waters, and Dauphin Island serves up some beautiful bull reds along with plenty of slot-sized fish. These copper-colored bruisers are ambush predators that love to hunt the shallows, especially around oyster bars and grass edges. Summer and early fall are peak times, but you can target them year-round with the right approach. What gets anglers hooked on redfish is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight – they'll test your drag and your patience. Plus, they're curious fish that often give you multiple chances if you don't spook them on the first cast.
Summer flounder around Dauphin Island are flat-out fun to catch and even better to eat. These ambush predators bury themselves in sand and mud bottoms, waiting to hammer unsuspecting baitfish. The key is working your bait slowly along the bottom where they're laying. Spring through early fall gives you the best shot at keeper-sized fish, and the bigger females are absolute fighters despite their flat profile. Flounder fishing teaches patience and bottom-reading skills, but when you hook into a 3-4 pound doormat, you'll understand why locals target them specifically.
Sheepshead are the opportunistic thieves of the inshore world, and Dauphin Island's structure-rich waters hold plenty of them. These black-and-white striped fish have human-like teeth designed for crushing barnacles and crabs around pilings, rocks, and oyster bars. They're notorious bait stealers with lightning-quick bites, which makes landing them a real skill game. Fall and winter are prime time when they school up around structure. What makes sheepshead special is their fight – they're surprisingly strong for their size and they taste fantastic. Landing a few good sheepshead proves you've got the touch.
Tripletail are the wild card species that keeps things interesting on every trip. These odd-looking fish float sideways near structure, debris, or crab traps, looking exactly like floating seaweed until they strike. They're year-round residents but more common in warmer months when they're actively feeding near the surface. What makes tripletail so exciting is their unpredictability – you might spot one floating next to a piling or find them randomly suspended in open water. They hit hard, jump like crazy, and their unique appearance makes them a conversation starter back at the dock.
Meet Way, your ticket to productive inshore fishing around Dauphin Island's protected waters. This 31-foot AmeraCat runs on twin 300hp Yamahas, giving you smooth rides to the best trout and redfish spots in the area's bays and marshes. With room for up to 3 anglers, you'll have plenty of space to work the flats and grass beds where speckled trout hang out, plus the oyster bars and structure that redfish love. The boat comes equipped with GPS to navigate the skinny water, radar for those foggy Gulf Coast mornings, and a fish finder to locate schools and structure. An icebox keeps your drinks cold and your catch fresh during the 4-5 hour trip. Your captain knows these estuaries inside and out, from the productive back bays to the marsh edges where flounder and sheepshead feed. All rods, reels, and bait are provided, so just bring your cooler, some ziplock bags for the cleaned fish, and sunscreen for those long days on the water.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread and butter of our inshore trips around Dauphin Island. These silvery fish with distinctive black spots typically run 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, though we catch some nice "gator trout" pushing 5-6 pounds in cooler months. They love grass flats, shallow bays, and drop-offs near marsh edges, usually in 3-10 feet of water. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action, but they bite year-round here. What makes them popular is their willingness to hit artificial lures and their excellent eating quality - tender, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. They're also great fighters with acrobatic jumps. My local trick: work topwater plugs early morning over grass beds, then switch to soft plastics as the sun gets higher. Listen for them "popping" shrimp on the surface.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are some of the most distinctive fish we catch - they've got human-like teeth and black stripes that earned them the nickname "convict fish." Around Dauphin Island, they hang tight to any structure with barnacles: docks, bridge pilings, and oyster bars. Most run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, though we see some hefty 8-pounders that'll test your drag. Early spring through late fall is prime time, especially around spawning season in March and April. What guests love is their reputation as excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that rivals snapper. They're also notorious bait thieves with those crushing jaws. Here's the key: use small hooks, keep your bait tight to structure, and when you feel them pecking, set the hook hard and fast. They'll steal your bait otherwise.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder are one of the coolest fish we target around Dauphin Island - they're flatfish that live on the bottom with both eyes on one side of their head. Most run 15-20 inches, but we catch some nice ones pushing 5-6 pounds. They're masters of camouflage, changing colors to match the sandy bottom where they ambush prey. Fall fishing from September through November is prime time when they're most active and feeding heavily before winter. What makes them special is their excellent table fare - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. Plus, watching a kid catch their first "doormat" flounder is always a highlight. My tip: when you feel that subtle tap-tap-tap, count to three before setting the hook. They bite sideways and need time to turn the bait around.
Lobotes SurinamensisTripletail are one of our most unique catches around Dauphin Island - they're oddball fish that float on their sides near the surface, mimicking debris or weeds. Most run 18 inches and 2-5 pounds, but we occasionally hook monsters over 20 pounds. They're ambush predators found around floating structure, weed lines, and channel markers from spring through fall. What makes them special is their incredible fight - they're surprisingly acrobatic for such a chunky fish, plus their meat rivals grouper or snapper. Summer months from June through September are peak season when water temps hit their sweet spot. The trick is sight fishing: once you spot one, cast well past it and slowly work your bait back. They spook easily, so stealth is key. Live shrimp or small crabs work best when sight casting to these floating trophies.
5.0 out of 5.0I yellowfin, i barracuda, 1 black fin, beeliners, and 3 wahoo. The big wahoo was over 90lbs. Captain T worked hard to find some gr...
Great trip! I would recommend Captain T's
We had a great trip. Caught lots of fish.
Great trip, lots of fish, our boys loved it!
Caught our limit and avoided the rain. Great job T!
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