Thread: Types of Fish

Im sure this is out there somewhere and I just haven't come across it yet or looked hard enough, but I figured someone on here would be able to help me a little quicker. Is there a reference guide with pictures or something similar for all the different species of fish one could catch off of the pier. I know it can be a bit intimidating not knowing what you are catching and what is legal.

http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...ral-info-3083/

This has pictures and a description.

Species Profiles of Fish and Wildlife in Florida

Also try fishbase if you have the scientific name. Google has most of them if you know a name.

Alabama Rod 'n Gun used to have an online book, but I can't find it today.

I use an app for that. It's called "FishRules". Based on your GPS position it will let you know what's in season. You can use name, pictures or fish shape to figure out what you have on the end of the line. It's some time easier for a fellow fisherman to let you know what it is. I want a method to find out if it legal to keep or better yet where it fits on how big is it curve.

One of the most ultimately definitive fish ID publications is Dr Bob Shipp's "Guide To Fishes Of The Gulf of Mexico".
But more convenient (and less expen$ive) are the waterproof, folding guides "Fishing Regulations for the Gulf Of Mexico" and "Fishes of The Northern and Western Gulf Coast".
That last one sounds like what you are looking for.

All are available @ https://bobshipp.com/store/

Keep in mind the caveat (in red) in the link 'pokenfish' listed above on this forum.
Those regs are now outdated.
The most current state fishing regulations can also be found @ Regulations and Enforcement | Outdoor Alabama

Alabama Regs as of May 2017:
http://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/...20printing.pdf

Great info. Thank so much

Originally Posted by frednic

This has pictures and a description.

Species Profiles of Fish and Wildlife in Florida

Also try fishbase if you have the scientific name. Google has most of them if you know a name.

Alabama Rod 'n Gun used to have an online book, but I can't find it today.

Thanks for the link. I was catching a bunch of Whiting one afternoon and someone told me they were Croakers. I have been mis-identfying them ever since (about 8 months now). Now that I know what they are I will have to keep a few to eat. I am slowly learning what's what. It is quite a bit different going from fishing in Wisconsin my whole life to fishing down here now.

Ashtonn27,
Welcome aboard. I too am from Wisconsin, but been fishing the saltwater for 40+ years. I now live in Alabama because of my love of the saltwater and the people. There are size limits, bag limits and photos of most variety of what you'll catch posted on the pier, at least on the octagon and what's not there, fellow fisherman will help you out. All you have to do is ask. It's a friendly pier, unlike any other I've fished in the Gulf.
Good fishing...

From my point of view, it should be the first thing that people should do before coming to fish the Gulf Shores Pier - Find out what fish are there and where on the pier you can catch them. Find out everything you can about all of the different fish species. Get to know the fish before selecting tackle or bait.

Of the 100 or so species of fish available to be hooked from the pier, only about a dozen are regulated.
That's a good place to start ;-)
http://www.outdooralabama.com/sites/...20printing.pdf

Of those 12-15 species, only 8 can be referred to as 'common' catches on the pier.
So I put them on the back of my business card...


Easily THE most commonly caught regulated fish on the GSPPier would be Spanish Mackerel,
and they don't even have a length requirement.
They are however, easily confused with juvenile king mackerel, which must measure at least 26" fork length (FL).
Learn to tell the difference:


And since shark fishing is taboo on the pier, IDing those species is rendered irrelevant.

The rest should be easy ;-)