Thread: Vacation

My family is taking a trip to Dauphin Island Alabama. It's in the Gulf of Mexico. We'd love to do some fishing, but boats are too expensive for our family. That would leave us fishing mainly on the beach, and maybe a little bit on piers. We're used to fishing in freshwater lakes in Minnesota, so we have literally no idea how to fish the ocean. We're going the beginning-middle of March so Id like to find out-
1.) Are there are fish I (never fished on the ocean before) would be able to catch just right off the beach? If so what are the fish called (so I can do some research)
2.) What type of bait would I use?
thanks for your time!! If you have ANY information about it please tell me, even if it doesn't answer the questions above!

First of all Fisher, welcome to the forum, it's a great place to be. I'm from MN. too, the SE corner, Caledonia. You may have heard of our Football team, it has won the State, 7 times in the last 10 years. We have 2 kids playing in the NFL at the current time and the best one is coming.
Use the search button in the upper right corner to find out all kinds of great info. You are coming down at the right time and the fish should be starting to become very active, especially this year with an early Spring and above ave. temp. Right now the water temp. is 71 and that will kick start them. As far as gear, you may well be o.k. with the gear that you use in MN., unless you go after the Kings, then you will be a little light. For most of the other fish down here, you will be fine. Unless you get sharked!!!! There will be other people commenting on you post and they are all super helpful and very good people. However, not a lot of the locals here, fish the Dauphin Island area, I have never fished it, but some do. Tight Lines & Good Luck!

Type "Dauphin Island" in search bar at the top right of the screen. You should find some fishing reports, though they may not be current. You should be able to catch redfish, black drum, speckled trout, flouder and pompano from shore whether the Gulf side or the bay side. Your freshwater tackle will be fine in the 10-12lb test range. just rinse it off at the end of the day to keep saltwater from ruining it.

Try the canal at the north end of Pensacola Street. I fished in there last June with my neice and we caught a bunch of ground mullet, white trout and croakes. Always a chance for a redfish, spec or flounder.

Cool! Thanks for all the help!