Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
By David “The Pierpounder” Thornton
Let’s hope this new month brings a break in having to deal with back to back storms along with the summer like heat and humidity. Overall the Emerald Coast escaped the worst of hurricane Zeta, but the beaches still took a beating from strong onshore winds and huge waves. About the only ‘good thing’ about a hurricane is when NOAA flies aerial photography of the affected coastline. The latest images can be found online at storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms.
Zeta’s furious winds swept a lot of beach sand inland, covering beach roads and parking lots in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Perdido Key. This left a sand deficit along many of those beaches and most of the shallow sandbars, just rebuilding from Sally were wiped out again. But the remaining ones, close enough to cast to from shore will become the primary feeding stations for pompano, whiting, redfish, drum and even permit through the upcoming weeks and months. These fish will congregate around the sandbars to feed during intermittent periods of moderately rough water. So now is a good time to scout these locations as they have changed dramatically overnight from the tumult wrought by Zeta.
Higher storm surge farther west from Gulf Shores along Fort Morgan’s beaches may have actually helped protect the beach sandbars along that area. As the storm tides receded, these shalcreate oases for colonies of beach ghost shrimp to flourish. Fish come to feed near these banks to take advantage of the nearby food source when higher tides allow them access.
These beach bars will be more accessible for anglers to gather ghost shrimp during the upcoming low tides while the surf is still relatively calm.
Many surf anglers will ‘scout out’ the best spots in the most accessible locations. But the most successful will often venture even farther down the beach to fish locations with less angling pressure. The more easily accessible spots will be the first to be ‘fished out’, especially on weekends. So, anglers able and willing to walk another quarter to half mile are often the ones catching more fish.
This fortnight features a waning moon which will be new on the 14th. The tide range will be strongest through the first week of the month with a NEAP tide period the 11th through the 12th. We are well into our Autumn tides which present the lowest water levels during mid day, and an incoming tide late in the day. Often this gives us two fishing windows to take advantage of.
Early to mid morning look for channels at least 4 to 8 feet deep between the beach and a nearby sandbar. Or fish the edges of the sand bar drop off on the beach side.
Late afternoon into evening, as the tide is beginning to rise, find a point along the beach where there is enough water to encourage fish to feed there (again at least 4 to 8 feet deep).
That may be a good location to soak some baits for pompano and whiting. Also red or black drum may be picked up ‘incidentally’ by anglers targeting pompano or whiting along these beach sand structures.
Cooler, drier air moved in behind Zeta and quickly calmed the Gulf. Now the water temperature is beginning to drop toward more seasonal levels in the middle 70s. Most of the pelagic fish in the jack species have vacated our waters with the notable exceptions of pompano and permit. These will become more prevalent catches in the coming weeks as the water clears and cools and the bite ‘cleans up’. Savvy anglers know this and venture forth with these target species in mind. Larger gulf kingfish (whiting) become more accessible this month as the water cools and competing species thin out.
While fresh dead or frozen shrimp is the most common bait for anglers bottom fishing from the beaches, there can be times when other baits will out perform.
Fishbites, especially in the bright colors can be a bait enhancement or even a viable replacement. Easy Flea is probably the Fishbite crowd favorite in this area. But shrimp, crab and clam flavor also produce well especially in orange or pink. Their newest product is the Bama Beach Bum endorsed Coquina Clam flavor available only online. One of the best things about these products (in the blue pack) is the mesh embedded in it that helps keep it on the hook until fully dissolved. These formulas have been the most successful innovations to surf fishing in the past 20 years.
Remember that flounder are closed the month of November in Alabama. Still the larger females often stage in the passes and just off the gulf beaches this time of year, and many are caught incidental to targeting other species. Slot-sized redfish, speckled trout and sheepshead are often targeted inshore this month. And once the water cools a bit more, those pesky pinfish and pigfish will be less of an issue for anglers seeking the gamier species with live shrimp, especially from the Perdido Pass seawall and jetty.
Meanwhile, some surf anglers target trophy sized bull redfish and black drum. These fish may weigh 20 pounds or more and live to be 40 or 50 years old. They don’t make the best table fare and are frankly more valuable to the resource as long term breeders to provide anglers with many more palatable smaller versions. The point at Fort Morgan. But Perdido Pass, Little Lagoon Pass and practically any other location may produce a large redfish or drum now.
Gulf State Park Pier Update
Sadly, no real progress has been made to the pier since Sally took out a 175 foot section near the end. So far, the State Park has devoted most of their efforts and resources to clearing, repairing and reopening the trails, public access areas and other facilities with far less damage. But as a result, ALL of the Gulf State Park facilities and accesses have reopened except for the Campground, and the Pier which of course had the most damage. The Campground is expected to reopen by the middle of this month, and it is hoped the pier (the part still attached to land) may be reopened soon after. Let’s hope this new month brings a break in having to deal with back to back storms along with the summer like heat and humidity. Overall the Emerald Coast escaped the worst of hurricane Zeta, but the beaches still took a beating from strong onshore winds and huge waves. About the only ‘good thing’ about a hurricane is when NOAA flies aerial photography of the affected coastline. The latest images can be found online at storms.ngs.noaa.gov/storms.
Zeta’s furious winds swept a lot of beach sand inland, covering beach roads and parking lots in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Perdido Key. This left a sand deficit along many of those beaches and most of the shallow sandbars, just rebuilding from Sally were wiped out again. But the remaining ones, close enough to cast to from shore will become the primary feeding stations for pompano, whiting, redfish, drum and even permit through the upcoming weeks and months. These fish will congregate around the sandbars to feed during intermittent periods of moderately rough water. So now is a good time to scout these locations as they have changed dramatically overnight from the tumult wrought by Zeta.
Higher storm surge farther west from Gulf Shores along Fort Morgan’s beaches may have actually helped protect the beach sandbars along that area. As the storm tides receded, these shalcreate oases for colonies of beach ghost shrimp to flourish. Fish come to feed near these banks to take advantage of the nearby food source when higher tides allow them access.
These beach bars will be more accessible for anglers to gather ghost shrimp during the upcoming low tides while the surf is still relatively calm.
Many surf anglers will ‘scout out’ the best spots in the most accessible locations. But the most successful will often venture even farther down the beach to fish locations with less angling pressure. The more easily accessible spots will be the first to be ‘fished out’, especially on weekends. So, anglers able and willing to walk another quarter to half mile are often the ones catching more fish.
This fortnight features a waning moon which will be new on the 14th. The tide range will be strongest through the first week of the month with a NEAP tide period the 11th through the 12th. We are well into our Autumn tides which present the lowest water levels during mid day, and an incoming tide late in the day. Often this gives us two fishing windows to take advantage of.
Early to mid morning look for channels at least 4 to 8 feet deep between the beach and a nearby sandbar. Or fish the edges of the sand bar drop off on the beach side.
Late afternoon into evening, as the tide is beginning to rise, find a point along the beach where there is enough water to encourage fish to feed there (again at least 4 to 8 feet deep).
That may be a good location to soak some baits for pompano and whiting. Also red or black drum may be picked up ‘incidentally’ by anglers targeting pompano or whiting along these beach sand structures.
Cooler, drier air moved in behind Zeta and quickly calmed the Gulf. Now the water temperature is beginning to drop toward more seasonal levels in the middle 70s. Most of the pelagic fish in the jack species have vacated our waters with the notable exceptions of pompano and permit. These will become more prevalent catches in the coming weeks as the water clears and cools and the bite ‘cleans up’. Savvy anglers know this and venture forth with these target species in mind. Larger gulf kingfish (whiting) become more accessible this month as the water cools and competing species thin out.
While fresh dead or frozen shrimp is the most common bait for anglers bottom fishing from the beaches, there can be times when other baits will out perform.
Fishbites, especially in the bright colors can be a bait enhancement or even a viable replacement. Easy Flea is probably the Fishbite crowd favorite in this area. But shrimp, crab and clam flavor also produce well especially in orange or pink. Their newest product is the Bama Beach Bum endorsed Coquina Clam flavor available only online. One of the best things about these products (in the blue pack) is the mesh embedded in it that helps keep it on the hook until fully dissolved. These formulas have been the most successful innovations to surf fishing in the past 20 years.
Remember that flounder are closed the month of November in Alabama. Still the larger females often stage in the passes and just off the gulf beaches this time of year, and many are caught incidental to targeting other species. Slot-sized redfish, speckled trout and sheepshead are often targeted inshore this month. And once the water cools a bit more, those pesky pinfish and pigfish will be less of an issue for anglers seeking the gamier species with live shrimp, especially from the Perdido Pass seawall and jetty.
Meanwhile, some surf anglers target trophy sized bull redfish and black drum. These fish may weigh 20 pounds or more and live to be 40 or 50 years old. They don’t make the best table fare and are frankly more valuable to the resource as long term breeders to provide anglers with many more palatable smaller versions. The point at Fort Morgan. But Perdido Pass, Little Lagoon Pass and practically any other location may produce a large redfish or drum now.
Gulf State Park Pier Update
Sadly, no real progress has been made to the pier since Sally took out a 175 foot section near the end. So far, the State Park has devoted most of their efforts and resources to clearing, repairing and reopening the trails, public access areas and other facilities with far less damage. But as a result, ALL of the Gulf State Park facilities and accesses have reopened except for the Campground, and the Pier which of course had the most damage. The Campground is expected to reopen by the middle of this month, and it is hoped the pier (the part still attached to land) may be reopened soon after.