Thread: Visiting Angler Looking for Information

I will be in gulf shores for a few days, and I want to do some fishing. How is fishing off of the beach? Should I go on the pier instead?
What type of rig/bait is catching now? What's a good bait shop to checkout in the area?
Feel free to email me. Brandon.Dale13@yahoo.com

I'm from Louisiana, just looking to catch a few fish. (Nothing specific in mind)
Thank you and have a great day!

I'm not sure if they sell live bait, but if you stop in at J&M Tackle in Orange Beach they can point you in the right direction.....

I was about to post the same exact thing. I will be in town from 8/5-8/11. From Lafayette, LA.. Looking to land on some reds/specks/flounder. Really want to try fishing from the beach, never done that before. Hope you get some good replies here! I have done some research and it seems like the jetty's might be a decent spot. Maybe someone can shed some light on that.

Welcome to the forum and an early welcome to Lower Alabama. Well, you have picked a difficult time to fish in our area. The reason is that the water is very warm in August and the fishing slows way down. Surf fishing will be hard, but if you go at daylight you might have some luck with an occasional pompano, whiting, bluefish, and ladyfish. I cannot stress enough that surf-fishing right now is an early-morning affair. You will probably not get a bite after about 8:00 a.m. The pier fishing is OK, right now. Kings are few and far between, with only a couple being caught each day. There are some very small Spanish mackerel being caught, an occasional speckled trout in the shallow water, and some spadefish out on the end. But nothing is on fire, except maybe the decking of the pier.

Your best bet is to follow the reports section of this forum on a daily basis. This will give you an idea of what is happening day-to-day. If you were visiting tomorrow I would say your best bet would be to throw a gotcha for Spanish and just hope for some decent ones, although you will be throwing a bunch of them back right now. You might also get a bluefish. If you go surf-fishing, use fresh dead shrimp bought from the seafood market for bait. And again, go early!

As for the jetties, I don't think you could pay me to go out there this time of year. The trip is long and dangerous and the reward will be very little. Anything happening on the jetties is also happening on the pier. And the pier is nice and flat and has bathrooms. I wouldn't go to the jetties.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

What time would you say we should go out in the morning?? Thank you for the advice on the jetties!! Any word on night fishing?? If so what would we be fishing for? What bait?

If you want luck in the surf, go at daylight and fish til about 8. There are a few specks around the pier at night. Use live shrimp. You can also maybe catch some bluefish at night on cut bait.

Originally Posted by BryanB

If you want luck in the surf, go at daylight and fish til about 8. There are a few specks around the pier at night. Use live shrimp. You can also maybe catch some bluefish at night on cut bait.

Thank you very much for the information! Have a great day!

Agree... Best before the break of dawn till 8-9am, especially on outgoing tide.
Seen some nice Specks and Reds last time at Ft. Morgan.
Live & fresh dead shrimp, and gold/silver spoons were killing them.

However if you've the gear for surf fishing sharks, the bites have been good all day.
Drop baits inside the bars early morning and evenings, go deep in the afternoons.
My hits were all on fresh Mullet.

Do you like Bream fishing?
Meet FW Bream's SW comparison, but on steroids, the Atlantic Spadefish.
They put up a hell of fight for their size, just like Bream.
Fish bits of shrimp, fishbites or jellyfish on a beefed up rig similar to regular bream.
They've reportedly been hitting pretty good on the pier, and they are great eating.