Gulf Shores inshore/surf

Gulf Shores, Alabama Fishing Report

July 17

Gulf Shores continues to offer some of the best summertime fishing on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Whether you’re fishing from the beach, the Gulf State Park Pier, Little Lagoon, or heading offshore, there’s plenty of action if you’re willing to beat the heat. Water temperatures are in the mid-80s, baitfish are abundant, and predators are feeding around them. The best fishing continues to be from daylight until around 9 a.m. and again during the last couple of hours before sunset. (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach)

Surf Fishing

The beaches around Gulf Shores have been producing a steady variety of fish this month. Focus on the deeper troughs between sandbars, areas where baitfish are active, and places where the waves break differently. Many fish are feeding much closer to shore than most people realize.

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Whiting

• Spanish mackerel

• Bluefish

• Ladyfish

• Redfish

• Black drum

• Speckled trout

• Flounder

• Jack crevalle

• Tarpon

• Sharks after dark

Artificial Lures

• Metal casting spoons

• Paddle-tail swimbaits

• Bucktail jigs

• Casting jigs

• Jerkbaits

• Shrimp-style soft plastics

• Topwater walking baits

Surf Fishing Tips

• Fish the first and second trough before making long casts beyond the sandbars.

• Look for diving birds, schools of baitfish, and darker cuts in the water.

• Retrieve spoons and casting jigs quickly when Spanish mackerel are feeding.

• Slow your presentation near the bottom when targeting redfish and flounder.

• If floating grass is covering your lure, move until you find cleaner water.

• Early morning is consistently the best time to fish the beach.

Gulf State Park Pier

The Gulf State Park Pier has been one of the most consistent places to fish this summer. Schools of bait move through the pier regularly, bringing predators within casting distance. The pier reopened after major renovations and continues to provide excellent access to deeper Gulf water. (Wikipedia)

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Spanish mackerel

• King mackerel

• Bonito

• Bluefish

• Jack crevalle

• Ladyfish

• Redfish

• Pompano

• Tarpon

• Cobia

• Sharks

Artificial Lures

• Silver spoons

• Diamond jigs

• Casting jigs

• Paddle-tail swimbaits

• Bucktail jigs

• Topwater plugs

Pier Fishing Tips

• Keep a fast-moving lure tied on because Spanish and king mackerel can appear without warning.

• Cast beyond bait schools and retrieve through them instead of throwing directly into the middle.

• Watch the water before casting. Bait movement usually tells you where the fish are.

• Fish the outside corners of the pier whenever current is moving.

• Make long casts in clear water to avoid spooking fish.

Little Lagoon & Inshore Fishing

Little Lagoon offers excellent opportunities for anglers looking to get out of the surf. Early mornings are producing good numbers of speckled trout and redfish around grass edges, docks, and channel drop-offs. Flounder continue to hold along sandy bottoms and deeper cuts, while black drum can be found around docks and bridge structure. (Wikipedia)

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Speckled trout

• Redfish

• Flounder

• Black drum

• Sheepshead

• Mangrove snapper

• Jack crevalle

• Ladyfish

Artificial Lures

• Paddle-tail swimbaits

• Shrimp-style soft plastics

• Suspending twitch baits

• Bucktail jigs

• Topwater walking baits

• Small casting jigs

Inshore Fishing Tips

• Fish moving water whenever possible.

• Start with topwater before sunrise, then switch to soft plastics after the sun gets higher.

• Work docks, grass lines, and deeper channels during the middle of the day.

• Keep your lure close to the bottom when targeting flounder.

• Skip soft plastics under docks for redfish and black drum.

Offshore Fishing

Offshore fishing remains outstanding in July. Alabama’s reef system continues to produce excellent catches of reef fish, while king mackerel and mahi are providing action away from the bottom. Weed lines and floating debris remain excellent places to look for pelagic species. Red snapper season has many boats targeting reefs, but there’s also good fishing for grouper, amberjack, and vermilion snapper. Always check current Alabama and federal regulations before keeping reef fish. (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach)

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Red snapper

• Vermilion snapper

• Mangrove snapper

• Amberjack

• King mackerel

• Red grouper

• Scamp grouper

• Mahi

• Blackfin tuna

• Bonito

• Wahoo farther offshore

• Cobia

Artificial Lures

• Vertical jigs

• Slow-pitch jigs

• Bucktail jigs

• Large paddle-tail swimbaits

• Deep-diving trolling plugs

• High-speed trolling lures

• Skirted trolling lures

• Surface plugs

Offshore Fishing Tips

• Find bait on your electronics before dropping your first lure.

• Fish the edges of reefs instead of always dropping directly over the center.

• Troll between reef numbers to cover more water for king mackerel and mahi.

• Work floating debris and weed lines thoroughly before moving on.

• Keep one casting rod ready while bottom fishing in case cobia, mahi, or king mackerel show up beside the boat.

Overall Outlook

Gulf Shores is offering excellent fishing opportunities this July. The beaches are producing whiting, Spanish mackerel, redfish, and other summer species, while the Gulf State Park Pier continues to provide steady action for Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bonito, tarpon, and other predators following schools of bait. Little Lagoon is producing quality trout, redfish, and flounder, and offshore remains outstanding with snapper, grouper, amberjack, king mackerel, and mahi.

The key to success this time of year is getting an early start, staying around bait, fishing moving water, and not wasting time in areas that aren’t showing signs of life. The anglers who stay mobile are finding the most consistent action. (Gulf Shores & Orange Beach)