Heron Bay Fishing
A bay of the Alabama coast in Mobile County.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Tensaw River: Andrea Wright, CC BY 2.0
Starting points for fishing Heron Bay
Heron Bay is a bay of the Alabama coast in Mobile County, named in the USGS gazetteer. Dauphin Island sits about 6 miles from the point.
ADCNR lists 2 public ramps for reaching it. There are 1 public access site on the ADCNR access layer. The reef program has 20 inshore reefs within 12 miles. NOAA runs 5 water level stations near it.
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR coastal layers; Census 2023 places.
Ramps along the shore of Heron Bay
- Delta Port Marina on Heron Bayramps: 1, business launch, docks: 2, ~40 unmarked parking spots, 2 van …, restrooms, 5080 Green Drive, Coden, AL off State Hwy 188.
- Jemison's Bait & Tackle boat ramp on Heron Bayramps: 2, business launch, docks: 2, ~30 parking spots, restrooms, 16871 Dauphin Island Parkway just north of Heron Bay. …
Marina ramps that reach Heron Bay
- Delta Port Marina on Heron Bayramps: 1, business launch, docks: 2, ~40 unmarked parking spots, 2 van …, restrooms, 5080 Green Drive, Coden, AL off State Hwy 188.
- Jemison's Bait & Tackle boat ramp on Heron Bayramps: 2, business launch, docks: 2, ~30 parking spots, restrooms, 16871 Dauphin Island Parkway just north of Heron Bay. …
Where the public reaches Heron Bay
- Bayfront Park (Mobile County)15961 Dauphin Island Parkway, Coden, Western Shore
Second ramps near Heron Bay
- Landnier Landing on Pass DruryPass Drury, 6 miles south
- Billygoat Hole Ramp on Pass DruryPass Drury, 7 miles southeast
- Little Billygoat Hole Ramp on Pass DruryPass Drury, 7 miles southeast
- Fowl River Marina on Deer RiverDeer River, 8 miles north
- Bayou La Batre Boat LaunchBayou La Batre, 8 miles northwest
- Memories Fish Camp boat ramp on Deer RiverDeer River, 9 miles north
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.
Fishing Heron Bay from land
Walk-up fishing spots close to Heron Bay
- Dauphin Island Public Beach and Fishing Pier (Dauphin Island Main Beach) on Pass Druryfishing pier, salt water, 6 miles
- Fort Morgan Fishing Pier and Boat Ramp on Pass Druryfishing pier, salt water, 10 miles
- The Pines Fishing Pier and Boat Launch on Bon Secour Bayfishing pier, salt water, 16 miles
- Pier Street Boat Ramp on Mobile Bayfishing pier, salt water, 18 miles
- Weeks Bay Boat Ramp and Pierfishing pier, salt water, 20 miles
ADCNR coastal boating access pages and public access site layer (ADCNR GIS), read November 1, 2026.
ADCNR reef sites around Heron Bay
ADCNR crews built 20 inshore reefs within 12 miles of Heron Bay.
| Reef | Placed | Material | Listed depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn Dent Boykin Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble and #2 limestone aggregate | 9 ft listed depth | 5 miles southeast |
| Wellhead Reef | 2023 | 3367 tons of 3"x6" limestone aggregate (2023) | 5 miles southeast | |
| Wellhead Reef | 3367 tons of 3"x6" limestone aggregate was installed during 2023 | 5 miles southeast | ||
| ExxonMobil: Alex Maisel Memorial Reef | 2003 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate placed around gas production platforms | 13 ft listed depth | 6 miles southeast |
| Ghost Rig Reef | 2023 | 3367 tons of 3"x6" limestone aggregate (2023) | 7 miles southeast | |
| Ghost Rig Reef | 3367 tons of 3"x6" limestone aggregate was installed during 2023 | 7 miles southeast | ||
| Denton Reef | 1997 | 900 prestressed concrete roof slabs encircling oyster cultch material; 4300 tons of … | 10 ft listed depth | 7 miles northeast |
| CCA Alabama Pelican Bay Reef | 2017 | 80 eco-reef modules placed in clusters of 3-4 modules(each module consists of 3 … | 14 ft listed depth | 7 miles south |
| EXMOB 76-A | 2003 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate placed around gas production platforms | 13 ft listed depth | 8 miles southeast |
| Shrimpboat Reef | 1999 | Concrete pipe and rubble placed around abandoned Shrimpboat Hull and 3" X 6" … | 9 ft listed depth | 8 miles west |
| Mississippi Sound Reef #3 | 2013 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 6 ft listed depth | 9 miles southwest |
| EXMOB 63-AB | 2003 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate placed around gas production platforms | 12 ft listed depth | 9 miles east |
| Heggeman Reef | 2017 | 52 eco-reef modules placed in clusters of 3-4 modules (each module consists of 3 … | 12 ft listed depth | 10 miles west |
| LEGACY 615-1 | 2003 | 3" X 6" limestone aggregate placed around gas production platforms | 12 ft listed depth | 10 miles east |
ADCNR Marine Resources Division public reef master list 2025 (KMZ; reef layer), read November 1, 2026. Coordinates are for information only, not for navigation.
Tides and stations around Heron Bay
NOAA CO-OPS water level, preliminary reading at retrieval (November 1, 2026); station page for live data.
- West Fowl River, Hwy 188 bridgetide predictions, 3 miles
- Dauphin Island Hydrotide predictions, 7 miles
- DAUPHIN ISLANDtide predictions, 7 miles
- East Fowl River, Hwy 193 Bridgetide predictions, 8 miles
Mobile Bay country sees about one tide a day; wind decides how much water covers Heron Bay.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations; read November 1, 2026.
Cuts and passes around Heron Bay
- Little Pass Margaret4 miles south
- Pass Berron4 miles west
- Pass Chateaugue5 miles south
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026.
Ports and harbor towns near Heron Bay
- Dauphin IslandMobile County, 6 miles
- Bayou La BatreMobile County, 8 miles
- CodenMobile County, 7 miles
- Fort MorganBaldwin County, 10 miles
- Alabama PortMobile County, 2 miles
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026.
Fish you may carry home from Heron 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 |
At Heron Bay, read the inshore rows first.
ADCNR draws the saltwater license line in words; the saltwater page prints it in full.
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 Coastal water near Heron Bay in one table
Mississippi Sound leads these neighbours with 31 ramps and access sites.
| Water | Distance | Type | Ramps | Piers and banks | Access sites | Inshore reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heron Bay | bay | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 | |
| Grants Pass | 3 miles south | pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Pass aux Herons | 3 miles south | pass | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Mississippi Sound | 4 miles west | sound | 8 | 1 | 23 | 14 |
| Pass Drury | 6 miles southeast | pass | 4 | 2 | 17 | 19 |
| Portersville Bay | 7 miles west | bay | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
ADCNR ramp, access and reef layers, USGS GNIS; read November 1, 2026.
Lakes, rivers and towns behind Heron Bay
Other lake pages around Heron Bay
- Shelby Lakes29 miles
- Big Creek Lake32 miles
- Dead Lake39 miles
Alabama river pages close to Heron Bay
- Fowl River7 miles
- Dog River18 miles
- Tensaw River28 miles
- Fish River30 miles
Where anglers fill the livewell before Heron Bay
- Dauphin Island Marinamarina, Dauphin Island, 5 miles
- Dockside Bait Shopbait and tackle shop, Dauphin Island, 7 miles
- Fowl River Marinabait and tackle shop, Theodore, 8 miles
- Fort Morgan Marina Restaurantmarina, Gulf Shores, 11 miles
- Beachcomber Marina & Dry Dockmarina, Mobile, 16 miles
- Grand Mariner Marinamarina, Mobile, 16 miles
Guides and charters who fish Heron 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
Towns to bunk in close to Heron Bay
- Dauphin Island6 miles
- Bayou La Batre9 miles
- Theodore14 miles
- Grand Bay15 miles
County guides for the land around Heron Bay
- Mobile Countyseat: Mobile
A Piscifun setup to pack for Heron Bay
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Fish to recognise before a trip to Heron Bay
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Rennair, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, Public domain
What folks ask before a trip to Heron Bay
Which Alabama town sits nearest Heron Bay?
The gazetteer pins it in Mobile County, about 6 miles from Dauphin Island.
Can I fish Heron Bay on a freshwater 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. Up the rivers, check the ADCNR license line.
Which ramp puts me closest to Heron Bay?
Use Delta Port Marina on Heron Bay, one of 2 public ramps.
How many redfish may come home from Heron Bay?
Red Drum (Redfish): 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL.
What does the newest NOAA number say about Heron Bay?
Use West Fowl River Bridge, in the tide band.
Does the ADCNR shore map mark spots along Heron Bay?
Dauphin Island Public Beach and Fishing Pier (Dauphin Island Main Beach) on Pass Drury, some 6 miles away, is nearest.
Is there a bait shop on the way to Heron Bay?
Dauphin Island Marina, about 5 miles away, is first on our list.
Does ADCNR list reef sites around Heron Bay?
20 inshore reefs within 12 miles; nearest is Lynn Dent Boykin Reef.
Where does the tide move near Heron Bay?
Look to Little Pass Margaret, Pass Berron and Pass Chateaugue.
Head down to Heron Bay
Saltwater license fees and MRD limits are on one page.