Free & Cheap Fishing
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Fishing is one of the most popular activities along Alabama’s Beaches, and many guests plan a trip just to cast off into the Gulf. The area’s array of fishing opportunities, desirable species, and substantial charter fleet are unbeatable. If money is a little tight on your next beach trip, and you still want to fish, don’t worry. Several options are available that won’t break the budget when angling in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan. Here are a few options for free and cheap fishing opportunities on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Affordable Ways to Fish on Alabama's Beaches
Gulf State Park Fishing & Education Pier
Gulf State Park Fishing & Education Pier
If you don’t have any fishing tackle, and you don’t have room to haul any back home, the Gulf State Park Fishing & Education Pier has you covered. For a $10 fee, you can rent a rod and reel for 4 hours. The pier’s bait shop has all the tackle and bait needed for the outing.
Anglers who fish the shallow end of the pier typically catch inshore species such as whiting, Florida pompano, and speckled trout. The Octagon at the end of the pier is the hotspot for anglers looking for bigger fish. Depending on the time of the year, the catches can include Spanish and king mackerel, redfish, and bluefish. As anglers ply the Gulf waters farther out on the pier, the species change with the depth of water. When the mackerel arrive in the spring and stay until the fall, anglers will concentrate on that section of the pier from the second sandbar to about 100 feet past the restrooms, about halfway down the pier.
Surf Fishing
Surf Fishing
If you don’t want to try your fishing skills at the pier, you can bring your own tackle or grab a rod, reel, and tackle from a local retailer and head to the beach. Surf fishing is a favorite among anglers on Alabama’s Beaches. The island boasts 32 miles of pristine shoreline, ideal for casting off into the Gulf to hook whiting, pompano, and flounder. Redfish and speckled trout are two year-round species that are also often reeled in from the surf.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have multiple public beach accesses for anglers to surf fish. A parking fee is required, but fishing is free at these beaches. If you’re staying in a beachfront accommodation, you can easily head down to the shore and plant a rod in the sand as you relax by the water. The early morning is the best time to surf fish, as the beaches are less crowded.
Little Lagoon
Little Lagoon
Little Lagoon is a 10-mile-long saltwater lagoon that is little more than a ½-mile wide and is separated from the Gulf by a ½-mile stretch of sand dunes and West Beach Boulevard. The lagoon offers several opportunities and serves as a free fishing spot in Gulf Shores. Lagoon Pass Park in West Beach is a prime spot for wade fishing, as the sandy bottom provides easy access. The lagoon is constantly dredged to maintain a reasonable water flow level, so you may need to work around the equipment.
If you go to where the Pass empties into the Gulf, anglers can catch fish in the current or do some surf fishing along the beach. Little Lagoon is known to hold some of the largest croakers on the Gulf Coast, but it also has speckled trout, redfish, and flounder. On the north side of Little Lagoon is Mo’s Landing, where anglers can fish for free from several piers.
Perdido Pass Seawall Park
Perdido Pass Seawall Park
If you head east to the Perdido Pass, anglers can fish for free in Orange Beach at the west side of the Perdido Pass Bridge at the Perdido Pass Seawall Park, which allows easy fishing access for everyone, including those with physical limitations. The boardwalk offers a comfortable spot for shore fishing. The Pass can produce redfish and speckled trout, but the current flow through the pass can bring a wide variety of species into range. The park has convenient paved parking near the water, so you don’t have to worry about hauling your gear far.
Walk-On Charters
Walk-On Charters
For those who want to experience fishing in the Gulf, several local marinas in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan have fishing charters that offer walk-on trips, where you pay a relatively inexpensive fee and join a group of anglers for a trip in the Gulf to catch whatever is in season. Fishing charters are also ideal for those who don’t have an Alabama fishing license, as passengers are covered by the charter for the duration of the trip.
Plan a Budget-Friendly Fishing Trip
Obviously, no matter your budget, Alabama’s Beaches has free and affordable fishing opportunities to cast off in coastal waters and make memories for a lifetime. An Alabama saltwater fishing license is required to fish in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Orange, so be sure to purchase one online from Outdoor Alabama before casting off!
