Orange beach inshore/surf

NOEoutdoors Fishing Report – Orange Beach, Alabama – Inshore, Surf, Pier & Jetty – Second Week of October 2025

It’s fall feeding season on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and Orange Beach is loaded with action. Water temps are in the low 70s, bait is thick, and the first cool mornings have the fish fired up. From the inshore bays to the Gulf surf, everything is biting right now if you’re timing the tides right. Light north winds and cleaner water are keeping conditions just about perfect for both inshore and beach anglers.

Inshore Bite

Fishing inside Perdido Bay, Cotton Bayou, and around the Intracoastal Waterway has been excellent this week.

Speckled trout are hammering topwater lures at sunrise over grass and sand flats in 2–4 feet of water. Walk-the-dog baits like She Dogs and Skitter Walks are working well. Once the sun gets up, switch to soft plastics or suspending baits in white, silver, or natural shrimp colors. Focus on moving water around creek mouths, docks, and channel edges.

Redfish are pushing shallow on higher tides and around structure. Slot fish are hitting shrimp or finger mullet under popping corks, while bull reds are holding near Perdido Pass and bridge pylons. Live mullet or cut bait fished on the bottom will get crushed when the tide’s running.

Flounder are staging along sandy edges and creek drains. A slow-dragged soft plastic or bull minnow on a jighead is money this time of year. Look for them in 4–10 feet near rock piles, docks, and grass edges.

Surf Bite

The surf bite along Gulf State Park and Perdido Key is hot right now with plenty of variety.

Pompano are biting well on incoming tides when the water is clear. Double-drop rigs with sand fleas, Fishbites, or shrimp chunks are getting solid fish. Cast just past the first bar and look for color changes or deeper cuts.

Redfish are cruising close to the beach in the mornings and evenings. Fresh-cut mullet or shrimp on a Carolina rig will get their attention fast.

Whiting and bluefish are consistent in the same areas, keeping rods bent between pompano and redfish bites. Spoons or small jigs will find steady action when the surf is calm.

Pier & Jetty Bite

The Gulf State Park Pier and Perdido Pass Jetty are both producing excellent fall fishing right now.

Spanish mackerel are running thick — Gotcha plugs, silver spoons, and bubble rigs are the go-to for fast action. Fish early mornings around the tide changes.

King mackerel are showing up off the end of the pier and jetty rocks. Live cigar minnows, big spoons, or slow-trolled hard baits are getting bit.

Bull reds are stacked up in Perdido Pass, especially during incoming tides. Use heavy gear and big live baits near the rocks or current seams.

Sheepshead and mangrove snapper are tight to the structure — fish live shrimp or fiddler crabs right along the rocks for best results.

You’ll also see jacks, black drum, and the occasional cobia mixed in. Keep a heavy setup ready if something big pushes through the pass.

Cold Front Tips

1. Fish Before the Front: The feeding window peaks right before a front moves in.

2. Go Deeper Afterward: When temps drop, fish move lower in the water column and hold tight to structure.

3. Keep It Natural: In the clear fall water, use lighter leaders, smaller hooks, and natural-colored baits.

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