Here fishy fishy!!!

I just looked at the weather for this weekend and it seems like my family and I will be in for a nice (but warm) first trip to Gulf Shores. Despite the gloomy daily fishing reports, I am optimistic. I have been lurking on this site for about a month now and have picked up many useful tips, so I'll try to avoid those often repeated questions from many newcomers. But I do have a couple questions: One, I haven't read any posts about it, but how is the barracuda fishing down there? That used to be my favorite fish to catch when I was younger. I have read that there can be plenty of blue fish action on spoons, what size do you reccomend. And finally, is there anything special that I should see/ do (besides fishing) while we're in town? We have it planned for 5 days in Gulf Shores then 2 days on DI. Oh, I plan to do all my fishing from either the beach or the pier.
P.S. since I am from Knoxville, I will be wearing orange, but not for UT, but for Boise St. So if you see a guy in a Broncos shirt wandering the peir feel free to give me a pointer or two.
Thanks

There are no (Greater) barracuda available from the GSPPier.
However we do have a fair number of Guaguanche barracuda (their smaller cousins).
And they taste GREAT ;-)

For bluefish (and ladyfish) try 3/4 ounce Krocodile spoons.

Plenty to do and see especially in Gulf Shores/OBch.
When on DI the Estuarium @ the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is a 'must see'!

Thanks Pier#r. I didn't know that you didn't have the greater barricuda, but the smaller cousin will work for me. I wasn't really planning on fishing for them off the pier but around the jetties or passes, or even surf. Does J&M carry the Krocodiles? I plan on stopping in there anyways but I like to patron the local businesses. Would you recommended a tube lure for the barricuda?

i second the estuarium suggested by pier#r.my fiance is doing some classes on DI all summer.and we love the estuarium.it helps that she gets in free lol.and while your on DI stop by barnacle bills restaurant and ask for Marlee.tell her david sent you.

P.S. that invite goes for any of the members on here.tell her I sent you and she might be nice jk jk

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Originally Posted by droptyne

Thanks Pier#r. I didn't know that you didn't have the greater barricuda, but the smaller cousin will work for me. I wasn't really planning on fishing for them off the pier but around the jetties or passes, or even surf. Does J&M carry the Krocodiles? I plan on stopping in there anyways but I like to patron the local businesses. Would you recommended a tube lure for the barricuda?

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The last time I was down they did carry them. All of the guaguanche I've seen caught have been by people fishing for Kings or using baby ly for Spanish.

Yeah, guaguanche top out about 20". Two pounds is a big one.
They luv cigar minnows (if the remora and spadefish don't beat them to it ;-)
There are some around the jetties, but I have seen and caught MANY more at the pier.

Love me some Guaguanche. I call them "I can't believe it's not speckled trout"! Texture and taste of meat is almost exactly the same, just a slightly different shape in the filet.

There are two top ways to catch Guaguanche.

Their mouths are very tough and hard to set a hook into.

First way and best at pier is to use a king leader setup, but drop down to a number 8 to 10 stinger treble by Owner. They are sharp and thin enough to pierce the barracuda. For bait, use a cigar minnow or a small live fish no more than 2 inches. Place hooks near the tails, as they always attack from behind or the mid sections. Using a double hook set up works best, as one will hold the bait and the stinger will be placed more appropriately near the tail section.

Next method is fishing water level, such as a low wall, beach or jetty. Fish a long 4"-6" minnow-shaped top water and bright colored lure with a slow/pause retrieve into a current. Use a thin single strand steel leader such as 27#.

The trick is in the hook set. They will come from behind the lure and clamp on. At that moment you stop moving and let them clamp. You'll then slightly jerk your rod tip downward, and when you feel them bump again (repositioning their catch), jerk straight up. You'll set the hooks into the underside of their lower jaw where the flesh is softer. It takes practice, but works very well when you learn the technique.

They don't respond to taste of their prey like most fish, so they won't realize their target is artificial until you've educated them with a hook set. Trying to set a lure into their mouths internally almost always results in the fish shaking off.

Last year I decided to try night fishing with some glow crappie jigs hoping for some spanish. I caught some nice ladyfish, but the little Cuda were everywhere. May have been a fluke, but every early morning/before daylight trip seems to yield some.

Have you ever caught a real stud spanish on light tackle? It might just ruin your Cuda preference for good. ;)

Tell you what, I could catch spanish and ladyfish on light tackle and be happy the rest of my life...doubly so if Lady's were palatable...if that were the case, lady's might be it for me. Right on the beach during the cool of the morning, getting tight to the Ladys does it for me every time and part of what keeps me coming back. Sometimes I fish too...

You can eat ladyfish and they are top quality if prepared correctly.

I have a written recipe, and I'll assure you after trying it to the letter, you'll keep a few every time thereafter.

I thought I was the only Boise State fan in the southeastern United States and definitely the ONLY one to wear Bronco's gear on the pier!

Great times and fishing to ya! And go Broncos!

Gentlemen, thank you for all of your advice. In less than 48 hours I will be in town and ready to soak a line.
J. Gravu , I used to live in Idaho so BSU has stuck with me. Being deep in UT territory I get a lot of funny looks though

Just an update:
While at Orange Beach I caught 2 bull reds, 2 sting ray, 1 big pompano, and several blues, hardtail, and tons of cats. All from fishing behind my condo, using frozen shrimp and fresh cut bait. I went to the peir once and struck out. I'm now at Dauphin Island and plan on hitting it hard tomorrow. My plan is to bounce around the east end along the rock jetties. I will try with shrimp around the peir, but after that I will try got-chas and maybe some cut bait for the shark that have been hanging around. If anyone has other suggestions, I'm all ears. Thanks. I will post pics and more detail once I return home.

Try drifting live shrimp under a float from the 'finger' jetties around the fort on the SE or south side.
Timing might be 'tricky' with the upcoming NEAP tides the next couple of days.
The best time may actually be later in the am when the incoming tide slacks off and just after it changes to outgoing.
Or it could be EARLY and LATE in the day~
The gulf beaches west of the pier may be good too with this north wind.

Target speckled trout (primarily) and other will species will come in as well ;-)