Shore Fishing
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
The fishing in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan is unbeatable, enticing visitors from all over to cast off in the Gulf and local waterways. While inshore and offshore fishing are popular, they’re not the only forms of fishing anglers can take advantage of while here. If you don’t own or have access to a boat while visiting Alabama’s Beaches, don’t worry. The area offers numerous locations where you can experience success fishing from the shoreline.
On Alabama’s Beaches, shore fishing includes angling from land along the bays, lagoons, and seawalls instead of the open beach. The calm waters and easy access around the area are why locals and guests love to cast off at these scenic spots.
Best Places for Shore Fishing
Little Lagoon
Little Lagoon
Little Lagoon is an excellent place for shore fishing, either at Mo’s Landing on Fort Morgan Road, where a couple of fishing piers are available, or at Little Lagoon Pass Park, where most anglers head for a peaceful day on the water. The Pass Park has a parking area that charges a small fee for non-residents. You can head under the bridge and try your hand at the mouth of Little Lagoon Pass, where it empties into the Gulf, to fish for the surf species and big croakers. Or you can take advantage of the shallow areas to the north of the Pass to fish from the bank or wade into waist-deep water to cast off. The mix of salt and freshwater draws trout, flounder, redfish, and extra-large croakers.
Live shrimp, Gulp shrimp imitations and minnow imitation grubs will work on the species in the Lagoon. Croakers will also take fresh dead shrimp with a bit of FishBites. I prefer 7-foot medium-action rods with 10-12-pound test line. If the fish seem finicky, add a fluorocarbon leader. If you head out Fort Morgan Road all the way to the mouth of Mobile Bay, anglers can fish the Gulf side for the usual species or fish on the Bay side for specks, reds and flounder.
Intracoastal Canal
Intracoastal Canal
The Intracoastal Canal is also one of the best shore fishing spots for species such as black drum and redfish. Because the canal is deep and has a pretty good current, you’re going to need some heavier equipment with 10-foot rods and 25-30-pound test line to be able to toss the bait and weight into the desirable areas. The fish will not be cruising the middle of the canal, but will instead swim fairly close to the bank to find prey to ambush. You can use cut bait or break blue crabs in half and be patient. Take a lawn chair and refreshments for a relaxing day of bay fishing.
Perdido Pass
Perdido Pass
Heading to the east, one of the most popular and productive spots for shore fishing is the west side of the Perdido Pass Bridge. Here, the Perdido Pass Seawall Park allows easy fishing access to the Pass with convenient parking nearby. The wall attracts a variety of desirable species like redfish, flounder, and speckled trout, but you never know what you might catch where the Perdido Bay meets the Gulf. Keep in mind that the currents here are stronger due to boats passing through, and timing the tides is key. A variety of tackle can be used, from 7-foot light tackle rods to heavier rods if you want to fish the bottom.
Shore Fishing Tips
To make your shore fishing experience as successful as possible, keep these tips in mind as you plan your trip and visit the local bait and tackle shops for gear and local advice. All anglers must have an Alabama Saltwater Fishing License to cast off in the Gulf, bays, and Little Lagoon.
- Check the tides before you go
- Fish early or late in the day
- Use fresh or live bait
- Watch for structure and tide movement
- Pay attention to wind direction
- Watch the weather
- Respect the area
Plan Your Fishing Trip
Anyone can enjoy angling on Alabama’s Beaches - no boat or experience required. If you’re ready for a Gulf fishing trip, plan a vacation to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan and try shore and bank fishing. The coastal waterways offer the perfect backdrop for a memorable angling experience.
David Rainer
David Rainer has written about the great outdoors on the Alabama Gulf Coast for more than 20 years. For 14 of those years, he covered the many fishing opportunities on the Gulf Coast as outdoors editor at the Mobile Press-Register. He is past president of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and currently serves on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Outreach and Education Advisory Panel and the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation board.
