Thread: on vacation and needing advice

We are vacationing in Gulf Shores this week with 5 kids (ranging from 17-21). We are looking for an inexpensive day of fishing for all 7 of us. Anyone have a recommendation? We have never salt water fished before.

thanks!

Florida pier's(Pensacola,Navarre) would be the best bet, where the fishing license is part of the entrance fee .....at 11 a piece for the license alone then 8.00 entrance fee to gulf shores pier.....you do the math
11.00x 7 people = 77.00
8.00 x 7 people = 56.00
=133.00

trip to Pensacola or Navarre for fishing 49.00 at 7.00 a piece + or - plus see some different scenery

Bill gave you a good suggestion...if you have your own gear with you. Rental rods and reels aren't usually very good....buying stuff for everyone wouldn't be good either. If you could give a bit more info you might get more help. If the Spanish mackerel keep playing around Gulf Shores, that alone is worth the price of admission. Add a good red run and you are well into the bonus round. But if you don't have any gear, then a charter of some kind would probably be best....good luck!

Thanks! We have no gear with us. Sounds like the pier is the way to go. Next time we will come more prepared😊

What would the trip to Pensacola or Navarre include at around $50 a person? We have no gear or licenses.

I was in the same spot about ten years ago. No gear. Had never fished saltwater much. Was vacationing in Gulf Shores. Somebody told me that J am M tackle rented spinning reels and rods. I can't remember what we paid but it wasn't much and the equipment was perfect. Plus the folks at the tackle shop were very helpful. That very week turned me on to in shore fishing. why? Because I was standing in the surf one afternoon fishing with chunks of squid and started catching black tip sharks. Small ones--probably 24 inches--but they were in there as thick as thieves. A couple of other guys saw me and joined in. We literally had sharks hooked on every cast before the bait hit the bottom. Finally quit an hour or so later because my arms were tired.

Not sure if J&M still rents but with those rental rods you could fish the surf, the pier, the cut at Little Lagoon or wherever you wanted to go.

one last thing about bait--go to any grocery store that has a seafood department and buy fresh shrimp. peel and cut into small pieces. Or make a trip out to Bon Secour (sp?) and buy fresh shrimp at one of the fish markets on the river. On the way, stop at the BBQ place (hole in the wall) just off highway 59 and pick up some really good smoked pork. I think it's Deep South BBQ.

enjoy your trip!

I'm going to suggest that you get/rent one or two smaller rods for bait catching. Not additional, but in the mix. This will save you money and provide entertainment as baitfish are much more plentiful. The smaller rods will be good for Spanish Macks also which are more often plentiful and easier to catch on gotchas or looney jigs (with a heavy fluoro/mono leader.

I think the BBQ place davidbham is talking about is at county Road 10 and AL 59, behind the Fresh Market, who, BTW usually has plenty of bait shrimp, live and dead frozen/fresh. If that's not the one davidbham was talking about, I will recommend that one - not much variety, but a dang good sandwich.

I'm having trouble finding a place that rents rod and reels. J and M don't rent anymore. The flyers that are available are overwhelming.

I would go with one of the piers and rent their rods and reels . True they ate not the greatest ,but they are all your crew needs to catch, fish and have fun .I started fishing and catching with a lot less quality than what they have . If you find out you enjoy the experience ,then next time you can come prepared .

Contact Pierless on here. I think he does charters fairly cheap. Or look at one of the party boats. I had a real good trip 2 weeks ago on Zeke's lady, and they were still catching Red snapper. Not sure if they still have permits, but worth the call and price in my opinion.