Dauphin Island / Mobile Bay Entrance is an Alabama bay-mouth fishery built around Fort Gaines, beaches, jetties, tidal channels, and the transition from Mobile Bay to the Gulf. Red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, southern flounder, spanish mackerel, cobia, and florida pompano are the principal supported targets.
Current Coastal Rating
Fair · 63
Beta
Conditions are fair, but confidence is reduced because some coastal inputs are partial or prediction-based.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
Should I Go?
Trip conditions only. Target-species activity and seasonal fishery patterns are not yet included.
Consider
Trip conditions may be workable, but important cautions or data limitations remain.
High confidence in the evaluated inputs — observational coverage is partial. — Required data sources were available and the key inputs were current.
Evaluates trip conditions using weather, tides, currents, waves, daylight, and active alerts.
This coastal rating is in public beta.
Missing waves are not calm. Forecast is not an observation. Prediction is not an observation.
Because this rating is in public beta, recommendations are capped at Consider when evidence is limited.
Service Status
Degraded
Coastal conditions are partial, stale, or predictions-only.
Recommended window
Tuesday · 8:00 AM–11:00 AM CDT
Window score
81
Max wind
17 mph
Max gust
18 mph
Daylight
100% of window
Tide state
falling
Why
Strong daylight coverage supports the evaluated window.
Current Readings
Updated Oct 20, 2026, 5:01 AM
NOAA Station
NOAA Station selected
Source
NOAA CO-OPS
Dauphin Island station
0.1 mi from destination
Water level
1.4 ft MLLW
Updated 8 min ago
Past 7 Days
NOAA Station
NOAA Station selected
Water level
Window Oct 13, 2026, 5:01 AM – Oct 20, 2026, 5:01 AM (rolling 168 hours)
Water level over the past 7 days. 1679 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 4:54 AM Range 0.3 ft MLLW to 2.5 ft MLLW.
Readings increased over the available period.
1679 observations · from Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM · to Oct 20, 2026, 4:54 AM
Tidal-current predictions are not available for this destination.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Dauphin Island / Mobile Bay Entrance fishery
An Alabama Mobile Bay Main Pass inlet fishery at Fort Gaines / east-end Dauphin Island. ADCNR Marine Resources treats this pass as a red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, southern flounder, Spanish mackerel, cobia, and Florida pompano destination. Cobia remains a seasonal target.
Fishery type
Estuary
Bay entrance
Jetty
Fishing modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Fort Gaines / east-end Mobile Bay Main Pass jetties · Pass current seams between Mobile Bay and the Gulf · Gulf-side sand immediately east of the Main Pass
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 30, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
Red drum, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, southern flounder, and Florida pompano are Dauphin Island / Mobile Bay Entrance targets. Spanish mackerel have an approximate spring-through-fall season. Cobia may be a seasonal target.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Red drum
Primary
Sciaenops ocellatus
Also called Redfish
No seasonal pulse known
These fish are not typical every month.
Spotted seatrout
Primary
Cynoscion nebulosus
No seasonal pulse known
Sheepshead
Secondary
Archosargus probatocephalus
No seasonal pulse known
Fort Gaines pier and rock fishing at the Mobile Bay Main Pass.
Southern flounder
Secondary
Paralichthys lethostigma
No seasonal pulse known
This species occurs along the pass and sand edge at the Mobile Bay entrance.
Florida pompano
Secondary
Trachinotus carolinus
No seasonal pulse known
Gulf-side sand fishing at east-end Dauphin Island.
Spanish mackerel
Seasonal
Scomberomorus maculatus
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING — FALL
Approximate spring through fall. This timing is typical.
Cobia
Seasonal
Rachycentron canadum
No seasonal pulse known
Cobia is a seasonal nearshore target at Dauphin Island.
Typical Seasonal Targets
Spanish mackerel — SPRING — FALL
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Public Fort Gaines / east-end Dauphin Island pass and jetty access. Confirm current ADCNR Marine Resources, park, and local postings. This covers the Main Pass.
Primary hazards
Pass current, vessel traffic, heat, and thunderstorms are the primary hazards.
Fishery considerations
Tide and live water level are NOAA 8735180 Dauphin Island water-level.
Pass and bay-entrance wind can steepen the surface against tide. Observed wind is available from the NWLON/PORTS met suite. A local wave reading is not available here.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Coastal conditions can vary over short distances. Predictions and remote observations are planning information, not guarantees of access or safety.
This location is Fort Gaines / east-end Mobile Bay Main Pass. Not downtown Mobile, not west-end beaches, not Fort Morgan, and not generic Dauphin Island surf.
