Thread: Okie's fishing in Alabama

My husband and I want to fish off pier, will be in Alabama late July. Any suggestions?

I usually go down late July. I fish off the octagon with LY's, cigars, gotcha plugs, spoons, bubble rigs and even buck tails. I usually only catch Spanish and the rare seat trout. I see people using the same stuff and catching kings and reds. I would love a little help myself. I wonder what I am doing wrong!

Sunscreen! It's going to be hot! You have a little time, so check the reports here every day and review past conversations and tutorials that go into great depth for fishing for every species that swims in the Gulf! At the top of the page, you'll see an ad for J & M Tackle. Go ahead and do a directions-search so that you'll know where to go for bait, if you haven't been to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach before.

If you have rods and reels at home that you use for bass and catfish - bring those. They'll be ten times better than rods that you'd rent. If you don't have rods/reels, let the professionals at J & M fix you up. They know what they're doing and they won't sell you stuff you can't use. If you use your own, put NEW 12 - 14 pound test line on, for everything but King Mackerel. If you fish for kings, use 15 - 20 pound test.

Here's my recommendation of what NOT to do:
1) don't rent rods and reels.
2) don't buy frozen shrimp or frozen squid for bait. You don't know HOW many years that stuff may have been frozen and how gross it may be when it thaws!
3) don't set your rod down after you've cast your bait out. Fish in the gulf are more than capable of taking your rod over the rail!
4) don't use hooks too big for the fish that you're targeting. If you use too-big hooks and/or bait that is too big, the fish, not able to take the whole thing in its mouth, will leverage the bait against the hook and will steal your bait every time!
5) Don't forget to bring a cooler with ice to put your fish in, when you catch them. Not just a plain bucket - the fish will spoil in no time in hot weather.
6) Don't cast across other lines. Cast perpendicular to the rail and observe where the other lines are.
7) Come to the pier prepared, but don't be afraid to ask for assistance. Most folks are really nice and willing to help.
8) Don't forget to get the proper licenses!

Most of all - have fun! The Gulf Shores Pier is a special place!

Originally Posted by FishinB73

I usually go down late July. I fish off the octagon with LY's, cigars, gotcha plugs, spoons, bubble rigs and even buck tails. I usually only catch Spanish and the rare seat trout. I see people using the same stuff and catching kings and reds. I would love a little help myself. I wonder what I am doing wrong!

It may be rigging, since the fish don't know who is on the other end! Are you using singlestrand wire - about 18 inches - with a haywire twist with a medium treble hook and a small black barrel swivel? Are you using 14 - 20 pound test? Is your bait lively, if it's live bait? I've seen guys fish cigar minnows when the guts were hanging out and a king would swim up to it and turn up his nose and go in a different direction. What I'm saying is that if you use frozen cigs, keep 'em fresh. If it's live bait, check it occasionally to make sure that it's still lively.
When I fish Cigs I keep them moving - just a bit. I take the slack out after the cast and turn the handle in a most boring fashion. I keep turning the handle only one or two turns at a time and repeat. When the cig starts to show significant wear, I toss it back into the cooler and get a fresh one.

It happens to everyone sometimes, where everybody else seems to be catching and that the fish have something against you, personally. That's not it and as long as you have your bait in the water with a natural presentation, you'll get bit! King Mackerel are often school-fish, so it's important to have a GOOD bait in the water when the bite starts.

Try the BORING retrieve - It works for me! If you don't bore yourself by reeling so slowly -- you're not doing it right! A good king will change all of that!

Welcome to the Forum, Ms. renae. If you really want to be successful in your efforts, read eym-Sirius post really close. I am not a pier fisher, but I will tell you this: Pay attention to those around you, especially those that are successful. Watch a lot, and ask questions. The old hands love to be engaged, are way proud to tell all they know to someone that is eager to learn. We surf fish ourselves, and we behave all same same. Late July can be difficult. Bring your patience and sense of wonder. It is not all just about catching. Best of luck to y'all, and smooth drags.

Glad to see another fellow okie on this forum

Pray for a cold front and some wind. The wind is your friend. Long as your asking, make it south east wind. You need a reel that holds 300 yards of 15# test mono if that's what you go with, for kings. Everything else, your medium action freshwater stuff is fine. Good luck. Write reports with pictures. We like pictures.

Thanks so much, guys. See you next week. Good luck, Renae!