Wade Fishing in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

How to Wade Fish on Alabama's Beaches

angler wade fishing in the Gulf in Gulf Shores

What is Wade Fishing

Wade fishing involves standing in the water, usually waist-deep, and casting out. Unlike surf fishing, where you cast your bait into the water at the shoreline and wait, wade fishing allows you to move from spot to spot to find a concentration of fish. Wade fishing is the stealth mode of inshore fishing. If you’re in a boat and drop something on the deck or bump the side, the fish can be easily spooked. With regular casts while you’re wading, the fish will not detect that you’re there.

Anglers wade fishing in Little Lagoon in Gulf Shores

Where to Wade Fishing

Look for areas with a little less wave action so you won’t fight the surf while trying to fish anywhere from Orange Beach to the tip of Fort Morgan. Little Lagoon is also excellent for wade fishing, especially around the pass. If you’re arriving at the fishing location by boat, anchor your boat at least 100 yards away. Ensure the vessel is properly anchored because you don’t want the boat drifting away or washing up on the shore.

If you’re scouting for a wade fishing location, look for bait and then for possible structures, including everything from seagrass to rocks. Pay attention to the tides as well. The fish will likely be in one place on an incoming tide and move to an ambush location when the tide starts to fall. Therefore, keep track of the water conditions and tides when fishing. If they’re biting, you’ll want to look for those conditions again.

Man holding a speckled trout caught in the Gulf while fishing in Orange Beach

Best Gear for Wade Fishing

As for clothing, some folks prefer just to wade in their shorts and t-shirts, while others will don a pair of lightweight waders for fishing in the spring and fall. If you’re out there in the winter, wear 3mm neoprene waders.

I prefer medium-action rods from 7 to 7½ feet long. I like fishing with a casting reel because it’s easier to feed out the line with live bait, but plenty of people use spinning tackle. Live bait circle hooks are best for live bait, but don’t set the hook like a bass fisherman. When the rod starts to bow, just start reeling. For artificial lures, throw any number of jigheads with plastic fish or shrimp imitation bodies. You can also use a popping cork to get the fish’s attention.

Wade Fishing Tips

Early in the morning and late in the day, cast a topwater lure out and see if a speckled trout or redfish will come up and eat it. The thing about trout is that their aim is notoriously bad. It may take several attempts for the fish to connect with the bait, so be patient. If you’re looking for redfish, I love casting a gold Johnson Silver Minnow spoon. There’s something about the erratic action of the spoon that the reds can’t resist. But, I’ve also had big trout eat the spoon as well.

Most dedicated wade fishermen will have a floating fish basket for their catch because fish stealers will grab your catch if it’s just trailing behind you on a line. Be sure to carry a short-handled landing net, too. Again, if you don’t like sitting around waiting for the fish to bite, start looking for potential areas to wade fish. It can pay off with plenty of fish for a family fish fry or redfish grilling.

Try wade fishing during your next visit to Alabama's Beaches to target inshore species!