Rainy Day Fishing

One of the spots that offers fishing opportunities in a variety of ways is Little Lagoon on the west side of Gulf Shores. Grab a poncho and visit West End Beach to fish Little Lagoon Pass, or head down Fort Morgan Road to launch a boat at Mo’s Landing. 

The Lagoon is about 8 miles long and ranges from a ½-mile to ¾-mile across with a mix of saltwater from the Gulf and the tannin water from the drainages on the west end. The salinity of the water depends on the tide cycles and the Pass, which is regularly dredged to maintain water flow. On the sandier bottom of the east half of the lagoon, the tide and wind action form waves of sandbars, which provide ambush points for species like speckled trout, redfish, white trout, and flounder. Little Lagoon is also known for some huge croakers as well.

Most anglers use strategic drifts with the wind to find the fish. And the Lagoon is known to throw a curveball regularly. The fish move around the Lagoon, so you’ll usually have to do some searching to find out where the fish are on any particular day.

For those who like to surf fish, grab an umbrella and head to the beach to catch pompano, whiting, and occasional ground mullet. Because their mouths are not very big, use a small hook. A small circle hook allows the fish to hook themselves when you’re fishing for pompano or whiting. Just watch your rod, and when there’s a good bend in the rod, pick it up, and start reeling. There’s no need for a hookset. When you’re targeting whiting, you can use a single hook or two-hook rigs on a three-way swivel for the pyramid weight. If possible, use the smallest pyramid weight. If your rig starts getting washed down the beach, go with a larger weight. Try your best to conceal the hook with the bait you’re using, as pompano can be a bit finicky. I’ve found that a combination of fresh dead shrimp chunks paired with a slice of pink FishBites is the most effective most of the time.

Look for areas where the first sandbar is located near the shoreline. I search for any irregularities in the surf, such as deeper spots that will appear darker in color. Then cast the bait in those spots, put your fishing rod in the rod holder and enjoy that fantastic, relaxing sound of the surf splashing onto the beach as you sit beneath your umbrella out of the rain.

You can also catch as many whiting as you desire because there is no limit. For pompano, the limit is three fish, with a minimum total length of 12 inches. If the whiting are biting, they are great for a fish fry, so don’t let a little rain keep you from enjoying the great fishing on Alabama’s beautiful Gulf Coast.