Inshore Fishing Near Gulf Shores ,al

[robster80]

i notice a few alabama guys on here some. anyone fish around gulf shores alabama? my family own a condo there and im gonna probably stay there a few times a year. last time i went i went to a tackle shop and got some info on some public places to fish. was wondering what fish do u typically catch out there and what would be a good saltwater setup (rod/reel) ? any info would be appreciated. thanks

[gulfcaptain]

Being I work down in the Gulf, inshore fishing your looking at catching redfish, speckled trout, flounder, black drum.  Depending on the time of the year ofcourse.  Now, although mainly in Louisiana, I fished a lot with just a 7'H casting rod and standard sized bass reel with 30kb braid and 20lb topshot.  Summer, topwater baits like spooks are deadly and a blast.  Other main bait, 1/4oz jighead with a 4inch curly tail grub will catch all of the above.  If you choose to baitfish, well you will likely encounter numourous "hardhead" catfish which are extremely annoying and well some eat them, most do not.  Stick with a standard baitcasting rig and attificals you will have a blast.  Almost all of the above fish stay in really shallow water with current and deep water close by.  Look for flats with grass, any rock used for errosion control, docks, etc. Topwater normally works great between April to October.  

[atcoha]

I go there pretty often.

I fish Alabama point. Underneath the big bridge, usually on the west side. Catch the tides right,  you can catch everything from big bull reds, white trout, speckled trout, flounder, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, cuda's, huge rays, sheepshead and the occasional shark. Nice little area, bring some chairs and a pier net. I use cut mullet and live shrimp on a carolina rig. When the current is running, go with at least a 1oz weight on the shrimp, step up to a 2-3 oz on a mullet head or large chunk.

4500 reels and medium inshore rods on the shrimp and smaller cut bait 1-2/0 circle hook, and 7500-9500 reels with bigger rods on the big baits, maybe a 5-7/0 circle hook. Most of my salt reels are spooled with braid, 20-50lb. Use a 20-40lb mono leader depending on line size, there is some rough stuff down there, and the seawall to tear up the braid...lost a few bull reds from line abrasion. Night is pretty good, but no lights out there, bring a headlamp and lantern. if you can throw a castnet, bring it, mullet run right along the seawall.

There is a nice pier also, but I am not a pier guy.

The current can be VERY swift, catch the tides and you won't have to be recasting every 5-10 minutes....shorter leader. We have had some good days and bad days out there. 

[SirSnookalot]

The equipment to use and how it's rigged is predicated on where you will be fishing.  My inshore set ups are different fishing a beach vs a pier or being on a boat.  A simplistic rule of thumb for me is the higher I am from the water (jettie or pier) the heavier the gear.  Fishing close to the water like a beach it's lighter rods and reels, 3-4000 spinners and med or mh inshore rods, with 15 or 20# braid and about 2' 30# leader.  IMO something comfortable and easy to handle because for me it's all casting artificial, a bait set up is slightly different.

 

Being a saltwater fisherman I would never consider using bass equipment, but for the person that fishes inshore sporadically it's fine, take what you have and don't make a big deal over it.  Please believe me when I tell you this, you are not going to catch a 40# fish on every cast, even if you target redfish.

[Slade House]

I spent my summers as a child there.  go catch some blue crab.  What you have to do is go to the "Pink pony pub" and order up some deep fried blue crab claws, get 2 baskets.  then get really drunk and go over to "Barb's World of Fireworks" and get yourself some fireworks and go blow them up on the beach.