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Port guide / Mississippi and Alabama / Alabama
Orange Beach fishing guide
Orange Beach and Gulf Shores share the Alabama coast between Perdido Pass and Fort Morgan. Inside you have Perdido Bay, Wolf Bay, Cotton Bayou, the Intracoastal and Little Lagoon, and outside are the surf, the Gulf State Park Pier and Alabama's artificial reef zones, which the state calls the most productive artificial reef program in the United States. Those reefs, a short run out of Perdido Pass, are what set this stretch apart for snapper and other reef fish.
10 ft, conditions now
Conditions now
Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.
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.
NOAA tides, Alabama Point, AL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Pensacola, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Pensacola FL to Pascagoula MS out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Orange Beach. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Good | Slow |
| Speckled trout | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Flounder | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good |
| Florida pompano | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Slow | Slow |
| King mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Cobia | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Red snapper | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Greater amberjack | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Good | Slow | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: October
October is the month here, with reds feeding hard in the bays and coastal rivers and bulls stacking on Dixey Bar off Fort Morgan.
Speckled trout
Peak: September, October, November
In fall trout follow the bait into the bays and estuaries, and Little Lagoon is a local favorite.
Flounder
Peak: September, October
Fish the passes and channels to the Gulf during the fall run, and get it done before November because Alabama closes flounder for the whole month.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March
In winter and spring sheepshead feed in the surf and around the pilings, including the Gulf State Park Pier.
Florida pompano
Peak: March, April
Fish the surf and the pier in spring, and again in fall once the beach water drops a few degrees.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: April, May, October
They hit the Gulf State Park Pier and the beaches in spring and fall and usually stay through October unless an early cold front moves them out.
King mackerel
Peak: June, July, August, September
From June through September the Gulf State Park Pier is a well known spot for kings.
Cobia
Peak: March, April
This is a spring run fish, with a second shot in early fall around buoys and anchored shrimp boats before the water cools.
Red snapper
Peak: June, July
Run out of Perdido Pass to the state's nearshore and offshore artificial reefs, and report every snapper through Snapper Check before it comes off the boat.
Greater amberjack
Peak: September
This is an offshore fish on the deeper reefs and rigs, and the 2026 federal season was open only from September 1 to October 13.
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, with MRD announcing any closure ahead of time.
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 (as reported by Alabama Marine Resources Division), 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Flounder, Alabama waters
Recreational and commercial 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 is 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 Alabama is open when federal waters are open.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Pass
Perdido Pass
This is the main inlet out of Orange Beach, a busy channel right beside the Boggy Point launch, and inshore guides work from the pass east toward Pensacola Bay.
- Pier
Gulf State Park Pier
Open 24 hours, it produces sheepshead, red drum, Spanish and king mackerel, flounder, pompano and whiting depending on the season.
- Bay
Little Lagoon
This is the place locals go for fall speckled trout, and Mo's Landing on Hwy. 180 puts you right on it.
- Pass
Dixey Bar
This bar at the mouth of Mobile Bay near Fort Morgan is the fall spot for bull redfish.
- Beach
Gulf beaches and surf
Whiting and pompano come into the surf once the water cools in fall, and they're also there in spring and through winter.
- Reef
Alabama artificial reef zones
About 1,060 square miles of the Gulf off this coast are designated reef areas, built from bridge spans, rigs, ships, tanks and modules, and MRD posts the coordinates.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boggy Point Launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | End of Marina Road, off Highway 161, Orange Beach, AL |
| Cotton Bayou Launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Highway 182, just east of the Highway 161 intersection, Orange Beach, AL |
| The Launch at ICW (Baldwin County Boat Launch) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 22830 Brown Lane, Orange Beach, AL |
| Josephine Park Launch (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | Josephine Drive, off Old County Road 95 (upper Perdido Bay) |
| 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 |
| 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
Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.
Bait and tackle
| Shop | Where | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Sam's Stop & Shop (opens in a new tab) | 27125 Canal Rd., Orange Beach, AL 36561 | (251) 981-4245 |
| Hooked Up Bait & Tackle (opens in a new tab) | 100 E 20th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 | (251) 955-5550 |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors Foley (opens in a new tab) | 2410 S. McKenzie St, Foley, AL 36535 | (251) 952-3434 |
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Summer Hunter Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Reel Krazy Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Extreme Chaos Inshore Charters (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| Cold Mil Fishing (opens in a new tab) | Offshore |
| Zeke's Lady party boat (opens in a new tab) | Offshore |
| Nelson's Inshore Charter Fishing (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.
Orange 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
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Orange Beach, asked and answered
When is the best time to catch redfish in Orange Beach?
October. Reds feed hard in the bays and coastal rivers then, and bull reds stack on Dixey Bar off Fort Morgan. March through May, September and November are also good.
Do I need a license to fish the Gulf State Park Pier?
Yes. You need an Alabama saltwater or pier fishing license on top of the pier's own fishing fee.
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, 2026. Every snapper has to be reported through Snapper Check before it comes off the boat.
Where are the public boat ramps in Orange Beach?
The city lists Boggy Point at the end of Marina Road near Perdido Pass, Cotton Bayou on Highway 182, and The Launch at ICW on Brown Lane. In Gulf Shores, Canal Park and Mo's Landing on Little Lagoon are other options.
What tide station should I use for Orange Beach?
Use Alabama Point, NOAA station 8730667, at Perdido Pass for tide predictions. It does not report water temperature or wind, so check the Pensacola station, 8729840, for those, along with the NWS forecast for zone GMZ650.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Orange Beach
Sources for this guide (23), last checked 2026-10-26
- gulfshores.com/blog/things-to-do/water-activities/coastal-alabama-boat-launches (opens in a new tab)
- orangebeachal.gov/372/Public-Boat-Launches (opens in a new tab)
- outdooralabama.com/articles/red-snapper-season-opens-7-day-week-starting-may-22 (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)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/noaa-fisheries-announces-2026-gag-recreational-season-federal- (opens in a new tab)
- fisheries.noaa.gov/bulletin/recreational-fishing-season-length-announcement-greater-amberj (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/blog/fishing/fall-fishing-migration/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/fishing-seasons (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/fishing/fishing-seasons/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/academy-sports-outdoors/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/cold-mil-fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/extreme-chaos-inshore-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/hooked-up-bait-tackle/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/nelsons-inshore-charter-fishing/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/reel-krazy-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/sams-stop-shop/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/summer-hunter-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- gulfshores.com/things-to-do/zekes-lady-charters/ (opens in a new tab)
- orangebeachbillfishclassic.com/ (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 Orange Beach
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.