Fish River Fishing Guides
A short Baldwin County coastal river running to Weeks Bay, where largemouth bass overlap with speckled trout and redfish in the same brackish reach.
Guides on the Fish River
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About the Fish River
Fish River is a short coastal river in Baldwin County that runs south from the pine flatwoods near Silver Hill, past Marlow and the Highway 98 crossing, and into Weeks Bay just before Weeks Bay opens into Mobile Bay. Its whole length is only about thirty miles, but it packs a lot of change into that distance: a narrow, tea-colored freshwater creek in its upper reaches under overhanging hardwood, a wider slow river in the middle with cypress and lily pads along the banks, and a brackish tidal reach at the bottom where the salt from Mobile Bay reaches up on a strong tide.
That gradient is the whole appeal. In the middle river you are fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, shellcracker and crappie against pads, laydowns and boathouse pilings. Drop a few miles further down toward Weeks Bay and the same trip can produce speckled trout, redfish, flounder and sheepshead, and on the right day anglers catch bass and specks within sight of each other. The Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve protects a good part of the lower corridor, which keeps the marsh and the water quality in better shape than the development along the upper river would suggest. Guiding here runs out of Fairhope and Magnolia Springs, and most trips are light tackle in bay boats or skiffs working the lower river and bay edges.
The gauge near Silver Hill reads the freshwater river above the tidal influence, and it is best understood as a rainfall and salinity indicator. Baldwin County takes very heavy rain, and a big system pushes freshwater down the river, pushes the salt wedge back toward the bay and moves the brackish fishing several miles downstream for days afterward. A long dry spell does the reverse and brings specks and redfish further up than usual. There is no temperature sensor at this site.
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Access
Highway 104 crossing near Silver Hill - the closest public access to the gauge.
Weeks Bay Reserve boat launch - the main access to the lower river and bay.
Highway 98 crossing at Marlow - a bridge access with a nearby ramp.
Magnolia Springs area landings - access to the lower river and Magnolia River system.
Fish River public boat ramp near Marlow - paved launch for the middle river.
Weeks Bay Reserve boardwalks and trails - walk-in shoreline access.
Mobile Bay ramps at Fairhope - access to the bay end of the system.
Seasons
Spring: bass move shallow in the middle river and the first speckled trout push up from the bay.
Summer: hot and humid, with early bass fishing up top and trout and redfish in the lower river.
Fall: the best month, with specks and redfish concentrated and comfortable weather.
Winter: cool and clear, with bass in the deeper river bends and sheepshead near structure.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Fish River?
As of Sep 17, 6:30 am, the USGS gauge FISH RIVER NEAR SILVER HILL AL reads 54 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Fish River?
Anglers target Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Longnose Gar, Red Drum, Redear Sunfish, Sheepshead, Southern Flounder, Spotted Seatrout, Warmouth on the Fish River in Alabama.
Where can you access the Fish River?
Highway 104 crossing near Silver Hill - the closest public access to the gauge. Weeks Bay Reserve boat launch - the main access to the lower river and bay. Highway 98 crossing at Marlow - a bridge access with a nearby ramp. Magnolia Springs area landings - access to the lower river and Magnolia River system. Fish River public boat ramp near Marlow - paved launch for the middle river. Weeks Bay Reserve boardwalks and trails - walk-in shoreline access. Mobile Bay ramps at Fairhope - access to the bay end of the system.
When is the best time to fish the Fish River?
Spring: bass move shallow in the middle river and the first speckled trout push up from the bay. Summer: hot and humid, with early bass fishing up top and trout and redfish in the lower river. Fall: the best month, with specks and redfish concentrated and comfortable weather. Winter: cool and clear, with bass in the deeper river bends and sheepshead near structure.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Fish River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Alabama agency site: https://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/freshwater-fishing-creel-and-size-limits