Surf fishing---fishing from a beach shoreline---is one of the most relaxed ways to fish as it does not require that you hire out expensive boats and lots of cumbersome equipment. The Gulf Coast in Alabama is a good place to fish as the water is warm and generally calm for most of the year, allowing you to spend several hours fishing without getting cold.
Fishing Beaches
The best known beach on the coast is Orange Beach. Here you will find plenty of surf fishing as well as charter boats to take you into deeper water fishing. Despite the crowds, surf fishing is a popular activity here and you will find plenty of surf fishermen. However, according to site Ala Park, the best catches are to be found in less-crowded, less-developed beaches such as Gulf State Park beach, near Shelby Lakes. The Gulf State Park Pier is a popular fishing spot in the area. If you wish to fish from this site, then you can do so from midday Friday to midday Sunday.
What to Look For
The amount of fish you catch will depend greatly on where you're situated on the beach. The Gulf Coast Game Fish website recommends finding an irregular spot in the coastline such as points or ridges where fish may gather. If the beach is covered with seashells, this usually means that there is a hole in the surf where the fish are collecting. Locate this and you will have a better chance at your catch of the day.
Types of Fish
According to website Gulf Shores, the best time to fish is October. In this month shoals of bull red drum make their way to warmer waters and swim very close to the shore, making it possible to catch them with a normal line and bait. In the fall you will also find mackerel, red snapper and reef fish such as amberjacks, vermilion snapper, white snapper and triggerfish, which have grown large and plentiful from under-fishing in the summer months.
Bait
A usual bait for fishing is shrimp. However, according to the website Gulf Coast Game Fishing, shrimp can be a bad choice when surf fishing as it does not stay on the line when casting long distances. A better choice is squid as it has a strong smell and is tougher on the hook. When it's red drum season, cut fish bait such as mullet or ladyfish will attract plenty of red drum.
Licenses
According to the website Fishing Orange Beach, if you are fishing from the shore you will need a fishing license, which you can buy from local tackle shops or online from the state of Alabama's Outdoor website.
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