The brackish inshore waters of Orange Beach, Alabama, offer fishing in bays, bayous and backwater areas replete with dolphin, birds and fish including Gulf flounder, sheepshead, speckled trout, redfish, tripletail and bluefish. The fishing is enjoyable in a climate seemingly made for inshore fishing. The protected coastal waterways offer challenging inshore fishing against the backdrop of scenic beauty and abundant wildlife.
Walk the Back Bays
Inshore fishing in Orange Beach, Alabama, can be done year-round. Although summer has the distinct advantage of giving an angler more daylight, the fishing still is good at night and through all four seasons.
The last week of September marks the beginning of fall fishing and runs strong through the first half of December. Temperatures are warm enough for pleasant walks to your favorite fishing hole along rock jetties and at the base of bridges and structures of the back bays and canals.
Kayak
The inshore and back bay fish species for Orange Beach, Alabama, are diverse and reflect a rich eco-diversity. One of the most common fish, the Gulf flounder, inhabits the local waters of Orange Beach and is considered one of the best tasting fish in the ocean.
The gray colored, black-striped sheepshead is a popular fish that is also plentiful in early spring around the Perdido Pass jetties, as they show up in schools much to the delight of anglers and guides.
Kayaking to the fish is a great way to reach fish out of reach from the shoreline of bays and bayous.
A Ride to the Fish
The bays, backwater and bayous of Orange Beach, Alabama, offer stellar fishing in their own right, but Alabama fisheries have taken inshore fishing one step further by offering artificial reefs such as those found offshore.
Accessible by bike and on foot, the rock jetties, oyster beds, pilings, grass flats, canals, shallows and structures found in the backwater and inshore areas offer outstanding fishing as well.
Hoping on a bike with your tackle and bait is a great way to warm-up for the long day of fishing ahead. When tarpon, pompano and sheepshead school up around Perdido Pass and Perdido Bay, they produce a scenario where inshore fishing rivals the excitement of offshore fishing.
Running on the Beach
A quick run on the beach to warm-up for the days activities will put you in the right frame of mind for a long day of fishing. The beautiful white-sand beaches are great for an early morning stroll or run on your way to the Orange Beach Marina.
The inshore fishing charters in Orange Beach, Alabama, range from four to eight person charters and usually offer 4-, 6-and 8-hour trips. Most charters run boats ranging from 16 to 26 feet with special bottoms enabling the captain to navigate shallow waters.
Considerations
Coastal Alabama has been affected by the BP Deep Horizon oil spill and many far-reaching changes have been implemented to protect the waters of Orange Beach, the fish and the wildlife.
Fishing reports as of June 2010 have reported that fishing is strong and the oil affecting Orange Beach waterways intermittent. It is best to check conditions for any trip you may be planning.
As of June 24, 2010 the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources opened all state waters for catch-and-release fishing only.
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