Grand Bay Fishing
A bay of the Alabama coast in Mobile County.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Bayou La Batre: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, CC BY 2.0
Grand Bay summed up for a first saltwater trip
USGS names Grand Bay as a bay of Mobile County. Bayou La Batre is the closest Census place, some 5 miles off.
ADCNR placed 5 inshore reefs within 12 miles. It is covered by 5 water level stations.
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR coastal layers; Census 2023 places.
Launch sites ADCNR lists near Grand Bay
There is no listed ramp at Grand Bay; plan a run from a nearby one.
Other ramps a short tow from Grand Bay
- Bayou La Batre Boat LaunchBayou La Batre, 5 miles east
- Delta Port Marina on Heron BayHeron Bay, 11 miles east
- Memories Fish Camp boat ramp on Deer RiverDeer River, 13 miles northeast
- Jemison's Bait & Tackle boat ramp on Heron BayHeron Bay, 13 miles east
- Fowl River Marina on Deer RiverDeer River, 15 miles east
- Landnier Landing on Pass DruryPass Drury, 16 miles southeast
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.
Shore fishing at Grand Bay
Piers and bank spots that sit near Grand Bay
- Dauphin Island Public Beach and Fishing Pier (Dauphin Island Main Beach) on Pass Druryfishing pier, salt water, 16 miles
- Fort Morgan Fishing Pier and Boat Ramp on Pass Druryfishing pier, salt water, 22 miles
ADCNR coastal boating access pages and public access site layer (ADCNR GIS), read November 1, 2026.
Artificial reefs by Grand Bay
The ADCNR list puts 5 inshore reefs near Grand Bay.
| Reef | Placed | Material | Listed depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimpboat Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble placed around abandoned Shrimpboat Hull and 3" X 6" … | 9 ft listed depth | 7 miles southeast |
| Heggeman Reef | 2017 | 52 eco-reef modules placed in clusters of 3-4 modules (each module consists of 3 … | 12 ft listed depth | 8 miles southeast |
| Mississippi Sound Reef #1 | 2013 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 6 ft listed depth | 11 miles south |
| Mississippi Sound Reef #2 | 2013 | 3" x 6" limestone aggregate | 7 ft listed depth | 11 miles southeast |
| Mississippi Sound Reef #3 | 2013 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 6 ft listed depth | 12 miles southeast |
ADCNR Marine Resources Division public reef master list 2025 (KMZ; reef layer), read November 1, 2026. Coordinates are for information only, not for navigation.
How much water covers Grand Bay today
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (November 1, 2026); station page for live data.
- Bayou La Batre, Mississippi Soundtide predictions, 4 miles
- Bayou LaBatre Bridgetide predictions, 6 miles
- West Fowl River, Hwy 188 bridgetide predictions, 11 miles
On Grand Bay, wind and river flow move the water as much as the moon does; check the station before running shallow.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations; read November 1, 2026.
Port towns by Grand Bay
- Bayou La BatreMobile County, 6 miles
- CodenMobile County, 6 miles
- IrvingtonMobile County, 11 miles
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026.
Daily limits on Grand Bay
| 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 |
The MRD inshore rows cover the usual catches on Grand Bay.
The license line is set by highways and landmarks, quoted on the saltwater page; check it for spots up the rivers.
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 Grand Bay set against nearby salt water
Of the five closest coastal pages, Mississippi Sound has the most ramps and access sites (31).
| Water | Distance | Type | Ramps | Piers and banks | Access sites | Inshore reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Bay | bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Bayou La Batre | 5 miles east | bayou | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Portersville Bay | 6 miles east | bay | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Mississippi Sound | 9 miles east | sound | 8 | 1 | 23 | 14 |
| Petit Bois Pass | 12 miles south | pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Heron Bay | 13 miles east | bay | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 |
ADCNR ramp, access and reef layers, USGS GNIS; read November 1, 2026.
More Alabama water an hour or so from Grand Bay
More Alabama lakes near Grand Bay
- Big Creek Lake26 miles
- Dead Lake41 miles
- Shelby Lakes41 miles
- Citronelle Lake47 miles
Rivers behind Grand Bay
- Fowl River13 miles
- Dog River20 miles
Buying bait for Grand Bay
- Fowl River Marinabait and tackle shop, Theodore, 14 miles
- Dauphin Island Marinamarina, Dauphin Island, 16 miles
- Dockside Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Dauphin Island, 18 miles
- Tackle This Shoot Thatbait and tackle shop, Mobile, 19 miles
- Beachcomber Marina & Dry Dockmarina, Mobile, 20 miles
- Grand Mariner Marinamarina, Mobile, 20 miles
Charter and guide names for Grand Bay
- Capt. Lynn's Inshore Adventures Inc.charter, Dauphin Island, (251) 214-5196
- Capt. Mike's Deep Sea Fishingcharter, Dauphin Island, (251) 861-5302
- Captain T's Fishing Charterscharter, Dauphin Island, (251) 454-4107
- DX Guide Fishingcharter, Mobile, (251) 709-4742
- Deupree Outdoor Guide Servicecharter, Mobile
- Doug Houston Outdoors Charterscharter, Dauphin Island, (251) 861-3586
- Fear Knot Fishing Charterscharter, Dauphin Island, (256) 343-5705
- Finatics Fishing Charterscharter, Dauphin Island, (251) 265-3474
Alabama towns with rooms near Grand Bay
- Bayou La Batre5 miles
- Grand Bay6 miles
- Dauphin Island14 miles
- Theodore14 miles
Alabama county pages covering Grand Bay
- Mobile Countyseat: Mobile
Piscifun reels a Yellowhammer State angler might load for Grand Bay
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A picture guide to fish at Grand Bay
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: bluecrab, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Grand Bay, the common questions settled
Which stretch of shoreline should I search for Grand Bay?
Its home is Mobile County, about 5 miles from Bayou La Batre.
Does ADCNR treat Grand Bay as salt or fresh for the license?
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. Check the line on the saltwater page for upper water.
Where does a trailered bay boat get wet for Grand Bay?
Use Bayou La Batre Boat Launch, some 5 miles away.
Has the digest written special rules for Grand Bay?
Red Drum (Redfish): 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL.
Which NOAA station serves Grand Bay?
NOAA Bayou La Batre Bridge covers it.
Which pier on Grand Bay would ADCNR point me to?
The closest pier or bank site is Dauphin Island Public Beach and Fishing Pier (Dauphin Island Main Beach) on Pass Drury, 16 miles off.
Who keeps live shrimp near Grand Bay?
Head to Fowl River Marina, about 14 miles away,.
What reef count sits around Grand Bay?
Shrimpboat Reef is nearest of 5 inshore reefs.
Gas the bay boat and aim for Grand Bay
Read the MRD limits before filling the cooler.