Thread: Fairhope report

~ midnight- 2am.


Wind/gusty from S/SE, choppy brown water. No bottom fish.

6 Speckled Trout. Three undersized (8-9") one unbuttoned (small) one 14" one 16".

3" white/sparkle plastic minnow , 3/8 oz jighead.

------- it was either that or go to sleep, and I can do that every night.

Thanks for the report!
Did you see any baitfish in the lights?

Originally Posted by OldSpool

------- it was either that or go to sleep, and I can do that every night.

I like your reasoning. Coming down Friday for a week. That’s my planned philosophy for this trip - ”I can sleep after the trip”.
thanks for the report.

Originally Posted by Pier#r

Thanks for the report!
Did you see any baitfish in the lights?

Pier, the only fish I actually saw were those annoying "sand perch" or whatever they're called. Look a little like Croaker but without the colors, different dorsal fins and a much smaller mouth. They were popping on top in the lights.

btw I HATE THEM. WORTHLESS.

Do you know what they are?

Yes, American Silver Perch (aka "sweet trout", "yellow tail") ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_silver_perch

Originally Posted by Pier#r

Yes, American Silver Perch (aka "sweet trout", "yellow tail") ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_silver_perch

Thank you Sir.

Originally Posted by Pier#r

Thanks for the report!
Did you see any baitfish in the lights?

Hey PP... very small "shiners" are showing up. Even saw a few needle-fish starting to congregate, always a good sign of bait in the water.

I threw a 1/8oz, 1-1/2 inch crappie jig and landed 18 and 25 small Specks along with 2 legal the last two times out.

AND (don't tell anyone but) I found 5 white trout willing to hit 'em too. Those are the first I've seen this year. (largest was around 8 inches.)

Fairhope Thurs 13th early am (1:30-daybreak)

had a good night- 38 moderate white trout (all on 1/8th white crappie jigs) and the BIGGEST Blue Catfish I have ever caught... or seen in person... on a 7" shad.

37 inch to the fork, 26 inch girth. Didn't get a weight but required 2 people to lift it. We both guessed 25 lbs. Total slob.


catfish1.jpg


also Fairhope-

Caught my first red of the year a few nights back. Not a big one, 28-30 inch, and one of the luckiest catches ever. Had a Menhaden tangle himself in a bottom line, I cut the tail and hooked him up... hooked the Red 5 minutes later.

Update: Fairhope pier sucks and probably will for the rest of my life.


< insert rant>

water is terrible (I blame the dredging) and they've replaced all the lights with some God-awful soft/diffused crap that barely illuminates the water. All the lights are directly over the pier, so very little even reaches the water, and what does creates shadows from the new rails, which also suck. The new benches are nice even though I never use them, and the 2 cleaning stations on the West end still have no water. Good thing it rains occasionally.

If I didn't know better, I'd say Fairhope cares a lot for their tourist attraction but doesn't give a damn about anyone fishing in their pretty new park (which should be finished any day now, I guess).

I can't imagine having to go to Cedar Point at night just for some casual fishing but it looks like the choice was made for me. If anyone goes to Fairhope pier and has any luck, (other than Catfish and stingrays) please tell me how.

FWIW Cedar Point Pier is currently closed for renovation but is scheduled to reopen in mid July.