JANUARY
Red Snapper: Gulf Of Mexico
On a calm sunny day in January, it's difficult to find a more enjoyable place to fish than the reefs 20 to 30 miles south of Orange Beach. The reefs often produce limit catches of triggerfish and vermilion and white snapper, and on good days grouper. Still, it is red snapper that draw most anglers to the Gulf.

These bottom fish eagerly attack a variety of lures; however, the best terminal tackle for winter is a two-hook porgie rig tied above a 14-ounce bank sinker. Bait the hooks with squid cut into pieces large enough to hide the hook. Fish near the bottom at depths of 120 to 220 feet.

To book a fishing trip or obtain more information, call Capt. Erik Manthei at (251) 980-1919 or visit his Web site, at fishnfool.com.

Other Hotspots
It's never too cold to catch spotted bass on the lower Coosa River. The best fishing lies on the upper stretches of Jordan, Lay and Mitchell, where the lakes are riverine and the current is strong.

For smallmouths, anglers find good action fishing main-river dropoffs on Wilson Lake.

FEBRUARY
Largemouth Bass: Escambia County Lake
Unless you receive an invitation to fish a professionally managed private lake, Escambia County offers the best opportunity to catch a largemouth weighing more than 10 pounds. Many say it holds the next state-record bass. In the last two years, this state-managed 184-acre lake produced 43 bass exceeding 10 pounds. Last year, anglers caught 150 bass weighing more than 5 pounds. The lake record is 14.6 pounds.

To locate bedding bass, successful anglers search the lake's expansive spawning flats from johnboats modified with 3- to 5-foot elevated platforms or towers. You won't be able to spot many of the big bass leaving the beds if you don't have a tower.

Proven baits for the lake's trophies include shiners, bream and 4-inch plastic worms.

For current fishing information, call lake manager Clyde Chandler at (251) 809-0068.

Other Hotspots
In the Mobile Delta, bluegills congregate in deep holes and creeks, offering phenomenal fishing. Limit catches are possible using grass shrimp as bait in Mallard Fork and Bay Minette Creek.

Also, Wheeler Lake offers anglers excellent fishing for large blue cats on fresh cut bait.

MARCH
Crappie: Millers Ferry Lake
As one of the top crappie fisheries in the state, Millers Ferry consistently produces heavy stringers in March. This 17,200-acre reservoir, with its excellent habitat and abundant forage, holds good numbers of 1 1/2- to 2-pound slabs.

Bogue Chitto, Rum and Gee creeks are top areas for spawning fish. To find concentrations of crappie, look for sloughs with gravel or other types of hard bottom. Then using a long pole, fish every piece of available cover. If you are only catching smaller males, increase your distance from the bank to fish a little deeper. After heavy rains, limit your fishing to Rum and Gee creeks.

The best baits for fishing cover are small minnows, as they are easier to control.

For updates on fishing conditions, visit Lori Stogner at L'n L Marina, located off State Route 28, or call (334) 682-5125.

Other Hotspots
On Weiss Lake, anglers target pre-spawn largemouths by fishing a jig-and-pig next to cover. Skilled anglers frequently catch fish weighing up to 6 pounds.

Meanwhile on the coast, saltwater anglers are catching big cobia as the fish migrate westward past Gulf Shores.

APRIL
Largemouth Bass: Guntersville Lake
One could easily claim Guntersville Lake as the best bass water on the continent. The heaviest total tournament weight in Bassmaster history was brought to the scales in April 2002 on Guntersville, where pros caught more than 5,645 pounds of bass. Five-fish limits weighing more than 20 pounds are common.

"The word is beginning to spread that Guntersville is back," reported Dan Catchings, district fisheries supervisor. "Fishing has really rebounded."

Given typical weather conditions, you find bass in pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn patterns this month, so just about any style of fishing produces bass. However, the most effective pattern is to fish the ditches and channels leading into spawning areas.

Texas-rigged plastic lizards fished less than 9 feet deep produce quality bass.

For current fishing information, drop by Waterfront Grocery and Tackle on S.R. 79, or call them at (256) 582-6060.

Other Hotspots
When the pecan leaves begin to open in April, Gantt Lake's shallow flats at the head of the lake attract huge concentrations of spawning shellcrackers.

Cobia fishing is in full swing just off Orange Beach in April.