The fishing started early this mid- June morning. There were scores of laughing gulls diving for baitfish a few hundred feet from the boat launch. Usually this means there are predator fish under the birds pushing the bait to the surface. 

Fairhope Wildlife PhotographerLaughing gulls feeding on a school of baitfish in Fairhope, Alabama.

I kept getting numerous bites but no hookups. Finally, I managed to land one of the fish and it was a small, under the limit speckled trout. I also hooked something big and I was hoping it was a huge speck. I didn't feel the normal head shake of a trout and my suspicions were confirmed when I saw it was a catfish. This spot produced four more undersized specks and another catfish.

Fairhope PhotographyCatfish caught in Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope FishingSpeckled trout caught in Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope FishingSpeckled trout caught in Fairhope, Alabama.

I didn't want to put pressure on a school of small specks and I didn't feel like catching more catfish so I moved South. There were no bites to be had. I was disappointed as there were bait and mullet all around. However, I was treated to some great moments with the local wildlife. 

Fairhope wildlife PhotographerAn adult brown pelican in Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope wildlife PhotographerAn adult brown pelican in Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope wildlife PhotographerAn adult brown pelican in Fairhope, Alabama

Brown pelicans were feeding on baitfish. 

Balde Eagle in Fairhope AlabamaAn adult bald eagle with fish photographed in Fairhope, Alabama on June 17,2020. Balde Eagle in Fairhope AlabamaAn adult bald eagle with fish photographed in Fairhope, Alabama on June 17,2020. Balde Eagle in Fairhope AlabamaAn adult bald eagle with fish photographed in Fairhope, Alabama on June 17,2020.

To my surprise I spotted a bald eagle flying by with a fish catch. It landed on a piling to eat it's fish but it was harassed by laughing gulls. It flew off to find a peaceful place to eat its fish.

A few moments later I spotted dolphins in the area. This may have had something to do with the slow fishing.

Fairhope Wildlife PhotographerA bottle-nosed dolphin in Fairhope, Alabama

After seeing the dolphins I made my way back to the boat launch, fishing a few of the piers on the way in. I hooked up on a nice trout around 18 inches. Also on the way in purple martins were hanging out on a pier, an osprey flew by, and a green heron was hunting baitfish along a sea wall.

Fairhope FishingSpeckled trout caught in Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope FishingSpeckled trout caught in Fairhope, Alabama. Fairhope Wildlife PhotographerPurple Marlins in Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope Wildlife PhotographerPurple Marlins in Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope Wildlife PhotographerAn osprey in Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope Wildlife PhotographerA green heron in Fairhope, Alabama