Orange beach inshore/surf

Orange Beach Fishing Report – Spring

Here’s the latest if you’re looking to wet a line in Orange Beach this weekend. I’ve been talking to a few folks and checking on what’s biting, and overall, the fishing’s been solid — especially for this time of year.

Inshore Fishing:

Sheepshead are thick right now. They’re piling up around the bridges, docks, and jetties. They’re in spawn mode, so if you’ve got some fiddler crabs or shrimp, you’re in business. Just drop it down near structure and hang on.

Redfish are still holding strong in the back bays and rivers. The bite’s been good around docks and anywhere there’s bait moving. I’ve had luck with live shrimp and cut mullet, especially on a simple split-shot rig.

Trout are starting to make their way back out of the rivers and into the bays. Water temps are warming up, and they’re chasing bait in those transition zones. Early mornings with a topwater or a suspending twitch bait can get some action.

Surf Fishing:

The pompano bite has picked up real nice along the beaches. Folks using ghost shrimp, sand fleas, or Fishbites are doing well, especially near the first sandbar. You don’t need to cast a mile — they’re close in right now.

There’s been a good mix of black drum and red drum in the surf too. You’ll want to use shrimp or crab on a bottom rig, and fish those deeper holes along the beach.

A few early Spanish mackerel are showing up, especially on calmer days. Bring some flashy spoons or Got-Cha plugs if you’re looking to chase those.

Other Notes:

If you’re thinking offshore later this spring, just a heads up — triggerfish season is open now and runs through the end of May. And red snapper kicks off May 23rd, so start making those plans.

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Fishing Tips:

• Keep it simple. A lot of times, a live shrimp on a basic rig will out-fish all the fancy stuff. Don’t overthink it.

• Watch the tides. Moving water is your friend — slack tide usually means slow fishing. Plan your trips around the tide chart.

• Lighten up your leader. If you’re not getting bites, drop down to a lighter fluorocarbon leader. Especially helpful for pompano and trout.

• Use fresh bait. If your shrimp’s looking mushy or your mullet’s been thawed three times, you’re probably not getting bit.

• Be patient but ready. Sometimes the bite takes a while, but when it happens, it happens fast — stay alert, especially in the surf.

• Bring sunscreen. That spring sun can sneak up on you and ruin your weekend if you’re not careful.

Good luck out there, and tight lines. Let me know if you land a good one!