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Port guide / Mississippi and Alabama / Alabama
Gulf Shores fishing guide
Gulf Shores fishes the Alabama surf, the Gulf State Park Pier, Little Lagoon and the Intracoastal Waterway, with the Fort Morgan peninsula running west to the mouth of Mobile Bay. Fall is the town's best season, when reds school along the beaches and on Dixey Bar off Fort Morgan, trout slide into Little Lagoon, and pompano and whiting feed in the surf. Offshore, boats run to Alabama's artificial reef zones, which the state calls the most productive artificial reef program in the country.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
Today’s bite
A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.
Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.
Tides
- Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.
On the water now
- Water
- Checking
- Wind
- Checking
Marine forecast
Loading the National Weather Service forecast.
7 day forecast
National Weather Service, for Gulf Shores. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Gulf Shores, ICWW, AL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Dauphin Island, AL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Gulf Shores. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
15 ft, fishing reports
Fishing reports
What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.
Latest reports
From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.
- Checking the latest reports.
Report sources: Great Days Outdoors Alabama Saltwater Fishing Report (opens in a new tab)
Straight from the dock
Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.
Checking for reports.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Gulf Shores. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Florida pompano | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| King mackerel | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Peak | Good |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Red snapper | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
October is Red October here, with reds feeding in the bays and along the beaches and bull reds around Dixey Bar at the mouth of Mobile Bay.
Speckled trout
Peak: April, May, June, September, October
In fall trout follow shrimp into the bays, and Little Lagoon is the local spot once the bait stealers slow down.
Flounder
Peak: May, June
Before November, fall flounder stack in the passes and channels leading to the Gulf, and bull minnows or a slow-dragged jig catch them; Alabama closes flounder for all of November.
Florida pompano
Peak: March, April, May, June, July, August
Fish the surf with sand fleas, ghost shrimp, fresh dead shrimp or Fishbites, and expect a fall feeding spree when the water drops a few degrees.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
Troll small spoons nearshore or fish the Gulf State Park Pier, and they usually hang around through October unless an early front pushes them out.
King mackerel
Peak: May, June, July, August
A cigar minnow is the standard king bait nearshore, and the Gulf State Park Pier gets kings into the fall.
Sheepshead
Peak: March, April, May, September, November
Sheepshead come off the Gulf State Park Pier and the surf, and they are a winter and spring staple.
Cobia
Peak: April, May, June, July
Cobia run the beaches in spring and get another shot in early fall around buoys and anchored shrimp boats before cold water moves them out.
Red snapper
Peak: May, June, July, August
Snapper come off the state's nearshore and offshore artificial reefs, and every one has to be reported through Snapper Check.
30 ft, seasons and rules
Seasons and rules
Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.
Red snapper, Alabama private anglers and state-licensed charters
Opened Friday, May 22, 2026, in state and federal waters, open seven days a week until the end of the year or until Alabama's quota is met.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, federally permitted for-hire vessels
Opened 12:01 a.m. June 1, 2026, and closed 12:01 a.m. October 26, 2026.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, Alabama waters
Flounder harvest is closed for the month of November every year.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), annual, current regulation as of 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Alabama and federal waters
Open when federal waters are open, and closed every year in January and February and again in June and July.
Alabama Marine Resources Division (ADCNR), 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, federal waters
Recreational season ran from 12:01 a.m. September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 1, 2026, and Alabama state waters are open when federal waters are open.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, federal waters
Recreational season ran from September 1, 2026, to 12:01 a.m. October 14, 2026, and stays closed until September 1, 2027. Alabama state waters follow federal waters.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pier
Gulf State Park Pier
Open 24 hours, and depending on the season it gives up sheepshead, reds, Spanish and king mackerel, flounder, pompano and whiting.
- Bay
Little Lagoon
The local fall speckled trout spot, reached from the Lagoon Park launch on Highway 180.
- Beach
Gulf beaches and surf
Pompano and whiting feed hard in the surf when the water cools a few degrees, and reds school along the beaches in October.
- Pass
Dixey Bar
The bar at the mouth of Mobile Bay off Fort Morgan where boats look for bull reds in the fall.
- Reef
Alabama artificial reef zones
About 1,060 square miles of permitted reef zones off the coast, with public reef coordinates free to download from the state.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canal Park launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 200 East 24th Ave., Gulf Shores, AL (under the Hwy. 59 bridge) |
| Lagoon Park launch (Mo's Landing) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | State Hwy. 180, 2 miles west of Ala. Hwy. 59, Gulf Shores, AL |
| Fort Morgan boat launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Next to the Fort Morgan Pier, Fort Morgan, AL |
| The Pines Boat Launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Gulf Shores, AL (shallow-draft boats only) |
| The Launch at County Rd 6 (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | County Road 6, Gulf Shores, AL |
| Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Paid | Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, AL |
60 ft, bait, tackle and charters
Bait, tackle and charters
Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle (7)
Showing all 7 shops
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Beach Bum Outdoors
Bait: live shrimp, bull minnows
3041 West 1st St., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
On Highway 59 just before the Intracoastal bridge, and a good stop for surf fishing tips and gear.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Hooked Up Bait & Tackle
Bait: live shrimp, dead bait, frozen bait
100 E 20th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Just south of the Intracoastal bridge off Highway 59, and the shop says to call for hours.
- MarinaLive bait
Fort Morgan Marina
Call to ask what bait is in today.
1577 Hwy. 180 W., Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Dock store at the far west end of the Fort Morgan peninsula, so call ahead to be sure the live bait you want is in.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
J & M Tackle
Call to ask what bait is in today.
25125 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
One of the biggest tackle shops on the Alabama coast, stocked for inshore and offshore fishing.
- Pier shop
Gulf State Park Pier bait and tackle shop
Bait: frozen shrimp
Rents rods and sells Sabiki rigs so you can catch your own menhaden and alewives off the pier.
- Store
Sam's Stop & Shop
27125 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561
Store on Canal Road between Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
- Store
Academy Sports + Outdoors Foley
2410 S. McKenzie St, Foley, AL 36535
Big-box sporting goods store in Foley, just north of Gulf Shores on Highway 59.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Nicole Fishing Charters (Fort Morgan Marina) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Off the Hook Charters (Fort Morgan Marina) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| 6 Deep Charter Fishing (Fort Morgan Marina) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo (opens in a new tab)
usually early June
2027: June 4 to 6Orange Beach Billfish Classic (opens in a new tab)
usually mid to late May
2027: May 18 to 22Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (Dauphin Island) (opens in a new tab)
usually mid July
2027: July 16 to 18 (94th ADSFR)
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Gulf Shores, asked and answered
When is the best time to catch redfish in Gulf Shores?
October. Locals call it Red October, when reds feed in the bays and along the beaches and bull reds gather on Dixey Bar off Fort Morgan. April through June and September are also strong months.
Where can I buy live bait in Gulf Shores?
Beach Bum Outdoors and Hooked Up Bait & Tackle, both on Highway 59 by the Intracoastal bridge, sell live shrimp. J & M Tackle on Canal Road and Fort Morgan Marina also carry live bait. The Gulf State Park Pier shop sells frozen shrimp only.
Do I need a license to fish the Gulf State Park Pier?
Yes. The pier fishing fee does not include a license, so you need an Alabama saltwater or pier fishing license on top of the pier permit.
When is red snapper season in Alabama in 2026?
Private anglers and state-licensed charters opened May 22, 2026, seven days a week until the end of the year or until the state quota is met. Federally permitted for-hire boats fished June 1 to October 26. Report every snapper through Snapper Check.
What tide station should I use for Gulf Shores?
Use NOAA station 8731439, Gulf Shores ICWW, for tide predictions. It does not report water temperature or wind, so check the Dauphin Island station, 8735180, for those, along with NWS zone GMZ650.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Gulf Shores
Sources for this guide (21), last checked 2026-10-27
- captainexperiences.com/locations/alabama/gulf-shores/seasonality (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/blog/things-to-do/water-activities/coastal-alabama-boat-launches (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/fishing/saltwater-recreational-size-creel-limits (opens in a new tab)
- adsfr.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- alapark.com/parks/gulf-state-park/fishing-and-education-pier (opens in a new tab)
- beachguide.com/gulf-shores/fishing/6-deep-charter-fishing (opens in a new tab)
- beachguide.com/gulf-shores/fishing/off-the-hook-charters (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gulf-america-red-snapper-recreat (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
- florabama.com/fishing-rodeo (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/blog/fishing/fall-fishing-migration/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/blog/things-to-do/fishing/live-bait/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/academy-sports-outdoors/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/nicole-fishing-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/sams-stop-shop/ (opens in a new tab)
- hookedupangler.com (opens in a new tab)
- orangebeachbillfishclassic.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/fishing/coastal-alabama-boating-access (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/mrd-season-closures-notices-and-updates (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/saltwater-fishing/artificial-reefs (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Gulf Shores
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.