Orange beach inshore/surf

Orange Beach, Alabama Fishing Report

July 17

Orange Beach is in a full summer fishing pattern. Warm water and plenty of bait have fish active along the beaches, throughout Perdido Pass and the back bays, and around offshore reefs and wrecks.

The first few hours after daylight are usually the most productive. Fishing can slow once the sun gets high, especially in shallow water. Late afternoon and the final couple of hours before dark can bring another good feeding window.

Summer storms, wind, dirty water, floating grass, and changing tides can affect the bite from one day to the next. Pay attention to the conditions and be willing to move when an area is not producing.

Surf Fishing

Surf fishing has been producing a mixed bag along the Orange Beach shoreline. Whiting remain one of the most dependable targets, while Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish, jack crevalle, redfish, and the occasional pompano can move through when the water is clean and bait is present.

Tarpon are also moving along the Alabama Gulf Coast during the summer. They may be seen rolling or feeding beyond the sandbars, but hooking one from the beach takes the right conditions, heavy enough tackle, and some luck.

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Whiting

• Spanish mackerel

• Ladyfish

• Bluefish

• Jack crevalle

• Redfish

• Black drum

• Flounder

• Pompano

• Speckled trout

• Tarpon

• Sharks, especially during the evening and after dark

Artificial Lures

• Metal casting spoons

• Small casting jigs

• Paddle-tail swimbaits

• Bucktail jigs

• Jerkbaits

• Shrimp-style soft plastics

• Topwater walking baits early in the morning

• Larger swimbaits or plugs for tarpon and big jacks

Surf Fishing Tips

• Do not assume every fish is beyond the second sandbar. Whiting, redfish, flounder, and trout may feed in the first trough close to the beach.

• Look for deeper cuts through the sandbar, darker water, breaking bait, diving birds, or areas where waves are breaking differently.

• Cover water with a spoon or small casting jig when Spanish mackerel, bluefish, or ladyfish are moving through.

• Use a fast retrieve for Spanish mackerel. A slow-moving lure usually gets fewer bites from actively feeding fish.

• Fish paddle tails and bucktail jigs closer to the bottom when targeting redfish and flounder.

• If floating grass keeps covering your lure or line, move down the beach until you find a cleaner section of water.

• Start before sunrise when possible. The beach bite is usually better before swimmers, heat, and boat traffic increase.

Perdido Pass and Inshore Fishing

Perdido Pass, the surrounding jetties, nearby canals, and the back bays are holding a wide variety of fish. Moving water is the biggest factor. Incoming and outgoing tides pull bait through the pass and around points, bridge structure, docks, grass edges, and deeper channels.

Speckled trout and redfish are feeding best during low-light periods. Mangrove snapper are holding tight to rocks, pilings, docks, and other hard structure. Flounder can be caught around sandy drop-offs, channel edges, and the bottoms of passes.

Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish, and jack crevalle may also move through Perdido Pass when bait is concentrated.

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Redfish

• Speckled trout

• Flounder

• Mangrove snapper

• Spanish mackerel

• Jack crevalle

• Ladyfish

• Bluefish

• Sheepshead

• Black drum

• Tarpon

• Sharks

Artificial Lures

• Paddle-tail swimbaits

• Shrimp-style soft plastics

• Suspending twitch baits

• Bucktail jigs

• Small metal spoons

• Casting jigs

• Topwater walking baits

• Diving plugs around deeper structure

Inshore Fishing Tips

• Fish moving water. A strong incoming or outgoing tide normally produces more activity than a dead tide.

• Start with topwater lures around grass lines, points, and shallow flats before the sun gets high.

• Once the sun comes up, move toward deeper channels, shaded docks, bridge pilings, and rock structure.

• Let jigs and swimbaits sink before retrieving them around Perdido Pass. Many fish will be holding deeper in the current.

• Cast up-current and allow the lure to move naturally back toward the structure.

• When targeting mangrove snapper, use smaller lures and keep them close to rocks, pilings, and shaded cover.

• Work paddle tails and bucktail jigs slowly along the bottom for flounder. Flounder often strike when the lure falls or pauses.

• Keep a heavier rod ready in case tarpon, large redfish, or jack crevalle begin feeding around the pass.

Offshore Fishing

Offshore fishing remains one of the strongest options around Orange Beach in July. Alabama’s artificial reef system gives fishermen access to red snapper, vermilion snapper, mangrove snapper, grouper, amberjack, and several other reef species.

Red snapper are one of the main targets right now. Vermilion and mangrove snapper have also been producing consistent action around reefs and natural bottom. King mackerel may be found over reefs, around bait schools, and along nearshore trolling routes.

Mahi can show up around weed lines, floating debris, buoys, and offshore structure. Longer runs into deeper water may also produce blackfin tuna, wahoo, and other pelagic fish.

Always check current Alabama and federal seasons, size limits, and bag limits before keeping offshore fish. Some seasons can close or change during the year.

What You Can Expect to Catch

• Red snapper

• Vermilion snapper

• Mangrove snapper

• King mackerel

• Amberjack when the season is open

• Red grouper

• Scamp grouper

• Mahi

• Bonito

• Blackfin tuna

• Wahoo farther offshore

• Cobia

• Sharks

Artificial Lures

• Vertical jigs

• Slow-pitch jigs

• Heavy bucktail jigs

• Large paddle-tail swimbaits

• Deep-diving trolling plugs

• High-speed trolling lures

• Skirted trolling lures

• Surface plugs for mahi and feeding pelagic fish

Offshore Fishing Tips

• Use your electronics before dropping. Look for bait, fish marks, and activity around the reef instead of automatically fishing every number.

• Do not drop directly into the heaviest part of the structure every time. Larger fish may hold above the reef or along its outer edges.

• Use heavier vertical jigs when current is strong so the lure stays close to the fish instead of drifting away from the structure.

• Troll between reef locations instead of making every run with the rods stored. Kings, bonito, mahi, and other pelagic fish may be caught between bottom spots.

• Check weed lines, floating boards, buckets, buoys, and any other floating cover. Even a small piece of debris can hold bait and mahi.

• Watch for birds working over the water. Birds often reveal feeding bonito, tuna, kings, or mahi.

• Keep one casting rod ready while bottom fishing. Mahi, cobia, kings, or bonito can appear beside the boat without much warning.

• If a reef is covered with smaller fish, move to another piece of structure or fish farther away from the center of the reef.

Overall Outlook

Orange Beach is offering plenty of options for the middle of July. Surf fishermen can expect whiting, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, redfish, and other summer species. Perdido Pass and the back bays are producing redfish, trout, flounder, mangrove snapper, and fast-moving schools of jacks and Spanish mackerel.

Offshore fishing remains the strongest and most dependable option, with red snapper, vermilion snapper, mangrove snapper, king mackerel, and the possibility of mahi and other pelagic fish.

The biggest keys are getting an early start, fishing moving water, locating bait, and staying mobile. Do not spend half the day fishing an empty stretch of beach, a lifeless section of the pass, or an offshore reef that is not showing fish. Find the bait and signs of life, and you will give yourself a much better chance of putting fish in the boat.

Keep those lines tight.