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Surf Fishing on Alabama's Beaches
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States
One of the great features of the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast is the quality of the surf fishing year-round. The scenic Gulf coastline offers pristine beaches, abundant marine life, and ideal surf fishing conditions that attract anglers from all over.
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Swipe up at any time to learn more about surf fishing in Gulf Shores, Orange, Beach, and Fort Morgan.
Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States
Whether you're an avid angler or new to fishing the Gulf, surf fishing is a great way to enjoy the beach while still wetting a line.
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Fall and spring are the best time to fish the surf as fish are closer to the shore.
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States
Anglers can hook a variety of species right along the water’s edge almost all year long, with the exception of a few harsher days during the winter. Surf fishing in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach is excellent from May through the fall. During the heat of the summer, you may have to change tactics a little by fishing in a little deeper water in the holes scoured out by the wave action. In the spring and during fall surf fishing , the fish are all along the shore.
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Pompano, whiting, and flounder are common species to target when surf fishing.
Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States
Pompano, whiting, and flounder are hanging around in the usual spots along the sandbar, usually the first one closest to the breaking surf. Those breakers stir up the bottom, and sand fleas, ghost shrimp and other invertebrates are easy pickings for the fish.
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Ghost shrimp, sand fleas, and fresh dead shrimp are the best baits for surf fishing.
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have several tackle shops that stock tools you’ll need to scoop up sand fleas (mole crabs) and a pump to slurp ghost shrimp out of the surf. The ghost shrimp extruders are made out of PVC pipes that suction the crustaceans out of their holes in the sand. If you find the right spots, it won’t take long with the extruder to get enough ghost shrimp to last the fishing trip. If you’re having trouble catching your own bait, head to the tackle shops and grab some frozen sand fleas if they have them or some fresh dead shrimp. Pinch off a bit of the shrimp, peel it and stab it onto the hook. Almost everybody fishing the surf these days adds a little square of Fish Bites for added enticement.
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A double-hook rig with light pyramid weight is the preferred rig setup with either a bait hook or circle.
Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States
Most surf anglers use a double-hook rig with the lightest pyramid weight allowed, depending on the surf and current conditions. If you can get by with a one-ounce sinker, go with that as long as the sinker remains stationary. Go up in sinker size if it starts rolling around in the surf. A 1/0 or #1 hook size is usually best for pompano. You can use either a bait hook or a circle hook. Whiting rarely exceeds two pounds, so you can use lighter tackle if the whiting bite is on.
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While you can typically catch something all day, sunrise and sunset are the best times to surf fish.
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States
From the middle of May through August, most people visit the beach, and it can get crowded. Avoid the high-traffic areas and find a spot where beach fishing won’t interfere with the sunbathers or swimmers. Although you can often catch fish all day, the best surf fishing is usually during low-light conditions of the early morning and as the sun starts to set. During those times, the beach will be less crowded as well.
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When scouting for a spot, look for clearer waters, darker waters with depth, and irregular features in the sandbar.
Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States
Scouting is important for surf fishing. Look for water and surf conditions that the fish prefer. Clearer water allows the fish to easily spot a meal in the surf. Also, look for the darker water, which indicates more depth, and look for any irregular features in the sandbar where the predator fish like to ambush their prey.
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Surf Fishing Size & Bag Limits
Flounder: 14", 5 fish
Pompano: 12", 3 fish
Whiting: no limit
Redfish: 16-26", 3 fish - one fish can be over 26"
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States
Be sure to know Alabama's surf fishing regulations to keep your fishing experience enjoyable and within the law. Flounder: Alabama’s length limit on flounder is 14 inches, with a daily bag limit of 5 fish per person. Pompano: The pompano length limit is also 12 inches, but the daily bag limit is three fish per person. Whiting: There is no limit on whiting. These fish are plentiful and make for a great catch. Redfish: The redfish limit is three per person with a slot limit of 16 to 26 inches, with the exception that one fish larger than 26 inches is allowed. If you happen to beach a large redfish, take a photo and return it unharmed to the water. Those “bull” reds are not good table fare.
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Go surf fishing during your next visit to Alabama's Beaches and enjoy scenic angling adventure!
Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States
Plan to bring your rod and reel with you next time you visit Alabama's Beaches and try your hand at fishing the surf!