Apalachee River Fishing
A tidal river of the Alabama coast in Baldwin County.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Tensaw River: Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, CC BY 2.0
Getting oriented on Apalachee River
Apalachee River, a tidal river, lies in Baldwin County on the USGS names map. Daphne, around 5 miles away, is the closest town.
Within 12 miles lie 7 inshore reefs from the ADCNR list. Water level data come from 5 water level stations.
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR coastal layers; Census 2023 places.
Trailering a bay boat to Apalachee River
Reach Apalachee River by running from the ramps listed below.
Backup ramps for a busy day at Apalachee River
- Scott's Landing on Blakeley RiverBlakeley River, 2 miles east
- Chocalotta Ramp on Chacaloochee BayChacaloochee Bay, 2 miles northwest
- Tenesaw Public Boat Ramp on Polecat BayPolecat Bay, 3 miles northwest
- D'Olive Bay RampD'Olive Bay, 3 miles southeast
- Ted Middleton Jr. Landing on Polecat BayPolecat Bay, 4 miles northwest
- Arlington Park on Spanish RiverSpanish River, 6 miles west
ADCNR coastal boating access pages and public access site layer (ADCNR GIS), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026.
Public piers by Apalachee River
Bank fishing within reach of Apalachee River
- Pier Street Boat Ramp on Mobile Bayfishing pier, salt water, 10 miles
- Weeks Bay Boat Ramp and Pierfishing pier, salt water, 19 miles
- Magnolia Springs Public Pierfishing pier, salt water, 21 miles
ADCNR coastal boating access pages and public access site layer (ADCNR GIS), read November 1, 2026.
Limestone and rubble reefs near Apalachee River
Within a 12-mile run of Apalachee River sit 7 inshore reefs from the ADCNR list.
| Reef | Placed | Material | Listed depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw Pass Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble and 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 4 ft listed depth | 4 miles west |
| Dell Williamson Reef | 1991 | Concrete block and oyster cultch material placed inside old pier pilings and 3"x6" … | 6 ft listed depth | 5 miles southeast |
| Buddy Beiser Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble placed around abandon barge and 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 9 ft listed depth | 5 miles south |
| Dog River Reef | 2023 | 7000 tons of 3"x6" limestone aggregate (2023) | 10 miles southwest | |
| Dog River Reef | 7000 tons of 3"x6" limestone aggregate was installed during 2023 | 10 miles southwest | ||
| Bender – Austal Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble encircling oyster cultch material and 3"x6" limestone aggregate | 7 ft listed depth | 11 miles southwest |
| Battles Wharf Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble placed inside old pier pilings and 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 5 ft listed depth | 12 miles south |
ADCNR Marine Resources Division public reef master list 2025 (KMZ; reef layer), read November 1, 2026. Coordinates are for information only, not for navigation.
Tide tables and gauges for Apalachee River
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (November 1, 2026); station page for live data.
- Meaher State Park, Mobile Baytide predictions, 1 mile
- MOBILE, Mobile River (State Dock)tide predictions, 6 miles
- Coast Guard Sector Mobiletide predictions, 6 miles
- Fly Creek, Mobile Baytide predictions, 9 miles
Gulf tides here are small, and a strong north wind can push water off Apalachee River faster than the tide table suggests.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations; read November 1, 2026.
The passes that feed Apalachee River
- Choctaw Pass4 miles west
- Pass Picada1 mile north
- Pinto Pass4 miles west
- Sardine Pass2 miles northeast
- Duck Skiff Pass2 miles northeast
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026.
Where charter boats leave for Apalachee River
- FairhopeBaldwin County, 10 miles
- DaphneBaldwin County, 5 miles
- MobileMobile County, 6 miles
- Spanish FortBaldwin County, 3 miles
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026.
Keeping redfish and trout from Apalachee River
| Species | Daily limit and size | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Sheepshead | 8 per person; 12" min. FL | state waters |
| Spotted Seatrout | 6 per person – one fish is allowed to be over; 15" min. TL – 22" max TL | state waters |
| Red Drum (Redfish) | 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL | state waters |
| Cobia (Ling) | 1 per person, not to exceed 2 per vessel; 36" min. FL | state waters |
| Spanish Mackerel | 15 per person; no size limit | state waters |
| Florida Pompano | 3 per person; 12" min. TL | state waters |
| Striped Bass | 2 per person; 16" min TL | state waters |
| Flounder | 5 per person (Closed Season for the month of November); 14" min TL | state waters |
| Tripletail (Blackfish) | 3 per person; 18" min TL | state waters |
| Mullet | Oct. 24-Dec. 31, 25 mullet per person from the shoreline or 25 per boat. No mullet by cast net or snagging in Theodore Industrial Canal, Dog River, Fowl River, and their tributaries.; no siz | state waters |
For Apalachee River, the inshore saltwater rows apply; the full MRD list is on the saltwater page.
Whether a spot needs the saltwater or the freshwater license depends on the line ADCNR describes; the saltwater page quotes it.
Saltwater anglers 16 and older carry an Alabama saltwater license ($30.90 resident, $66.80 nonresident for 2026-27), plus the $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement to keep reef fish such as red snapper.
Limits as printed by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division recreational size, creel and possession limits for state waters (MRD limits page), read November 1, 2026.
For the redfish herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Apalachee River and the closest bays and bayous
Of the waters listed, D'Olive Bay has the most entry points: 8.
| Water | Distance | Type | Ramps | Piers and banks | Access sites | Inshore reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apalachee River | tidal river | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Blakeley River | 2 miles southeast | tidal river | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| D'Olive Bay | 3 miles southeast | bay | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 |
| Chacaloochee Bay | 3 miles north | bay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Spanish River | 4 miles west | tidal river | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Bay Minette Basin | 4 miles northeast | bay | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
ADCNR ramp, access and reef layers, USGS GNIS; read November 1, 2026.
The Alabama country behind Apalachee River
Alabama still water near Apalachee River
- Dead Lake16 miles
- Big Creek Lake23 miles
- Shelby Lakes33 miles
- Citronelle Lake35 miles
Streams near Apalachee River
- Tensaw River4 miles
- Fish River10 miles
- Dog River10 miles
- Mobile River11 miles
Gear stores a short hop from Apalachee River
- Autrey's Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Daphne, 3 miles
- Sunrise Marina, 28791 Us Highway 98marina, Daphne, 3 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Spanish Fortsporting goods store, Spanish Fort, 3 miles
- Dick's Sporting Goods Daphnesporting goods store, Daphne, 3 miles
- Shirley's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Mobile, 4 miles
- Bama-Baitsbait and tackle shop, Daphne, 6 miles
Guide services that list Apalachee River
- AAA Charterscharter, Foley, (251) 948-2525
- Action Charter Service Inccharter, Orange Beach, (888) 558-3889
- Alabama Coastal Charterscharter, Gulf Shores, (251) 943-6017
- Alabama Deep Sea Fishingcharter, Lillian, (251) 981-3733
- Alabama Fun Fishing LLCcharter, Orange Beach, (251) 550-5002
- Alabama Inshore Charterscharter, Fairhope, (251) 421-6797
- Allen Stella Marina Charterscharter, Foley, (251) 981-4510
- Annan Brian Capt Gulf Rebelcharter, Orange Beach, (251) 981-3119
Overnight towns for Apalachee River anglers
- Daphne5 miles
- Spanish Fort7 miles
- Mobile8 miles
- Chickasaw10 miles
County-by-county pages for Apalachee River
- Baldwin Countyseat: Bay Minette
Piscifun spinning and casting gear rigged for Apalachee River
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
The country around Apalachee River through a lens
Photo: Andrea Wright, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Andrea Wright, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rian Castillo, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Chris Amelung, CC BY 2.0
Questions Alabama anglers ask about Apalachee River
Which Alabama coastal county holds Apalachee River?
Steer toward Baldwin County, about 5 miles from Daphne.
What are the 2026-27 Alabama fees for fishing Apalachee River?
Saltwater anglers 16 and older carry an Alabama saltwater license ($30.90 resident, $66.80 nonresident for 2026-27), plus the $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement to keep reef fish such as red snapper. ADCNR describes the line in words on the saltwater page.
Where do bay boats launch for Apalachee River?
Scott's Landing on Blakeley River, about 2 miles away, is nearest.
Which MRD creel rows cover Apalachee River?
Red Drum (Redfish): 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL.
Which NOAA reading speaks for Apalachee River?
Check Mobile State Docks; the reading is above.
Is Apalachee River worth a trip without any boat at all?
Nothing sits on it; the nearest listed is Pier Street Boat Ramp on Mobile Bay, about 10 miles away.
Which Alabama tackle counter sits nearest Apalachee River?
Autrey's Bait Shop, about 3 miles away, tops our shop list.
Where is placed structure near Apalachee River?
The reef band lists 7 inshore reefs; Choctaw Pass Reef is closest.
Which cuts are near Apalachee River?
Close by: Choctaw Pass, Pass Picada, Pinto Pass, Sardine Pass and Duck Skiff Pass.
Put Apalachee River on the saltwater list
Every Alabama saltwater fee and limit is one click away.