Many visitors to Alabama’s beautiful beaches have no idea about the freshwater lake within walking distance from its shores.
Yet, right across from The Lodge at Gulf State Park is the Lake Shelby complex with three freshwater lakes and various fish species. Lake Shelby is 592 acres, Middle Lake covers 193 acres, and Little Lake has 39 acres.
The lakes are mostly freshwater, with species like largemouth bass, crappie, bream, and catfish available. At times, brackish water with enough salinity will migrate into certain areas and hold speckled trout, redfish, and blue crab.
If you’re visiting the Alabama beaches and want to fish at Lake Shelby, you will need to purchase a freshwater fishing license, or you can buy a license at the Gulf State Park Pier bait shop. If you want to fish the pier, you will need a saltwater fishing license.
Boat launches are available at Lake Shelby and Middle Lake. Launching at Lake Shelby requires a $5 fee, which can be deposited in the honor box.
Bass anglers can use a variety of lures to catch largemouths, some as large as 5 pounds. The most common tactics are to use a Texas-rigged plastic worm or lizard in the areas with structure. For those who prefer a more fast-moving technique, try spinner bait around the edges of the lakes. In the lake's deeper areas, cast swimbaits or crankbaits on an irregular bottom you see on your depth finder. If you’re a live bait angler, grab some live shrimp at one of the local tackle stores or the pier’s bait shop and drop the bait either freeline or under a cork.
Bream fishing for bluegills or redears is usually a live bait game with crickets or night crawlers, although when the fish are bedding around the full moon, fly fishing with popping bugs or spider-imitation flies can yield a nice stringer.
The rule for those who prefer catfishing is usually the smellier, the better. Grab some catfish bait at the local store or some chicken livers from the grocery store. Cast the bait out and wait for the catfish to follow the scent to your bait.
The speckled trout and redfish usually only show up for short periods, mostly in the fall when the saltwater creeps in. Try live shrimp or shrimp-imitation baits or minnow-imitation plastic grubs. Redfish will feed on the same bait and will also hit a spinner bait.
You might also see some blue crabs around if the water has enough salinity.
After your fishing trip, relax at the Lake Shelby Picnic area with picnic tables, pavilions, and kayak rentals. You can also swim in freshwater only steps from the Gulf of Mexico.
Plan a fishing trip to Alabama’s beaches and cast your line at Lake Shelby. Book your stay today!
