Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
By David “The Pierpounder” Thornton
So far this month, the weather has been about what we would ordinarily expect to experience. The water temperature in the Gulf has moderated into the middle 60s after a series of cold fronts brought the first frost and freeze warnings to the region, even to the coast. The water has been relatively clear because many of the fronts have produced little precipitation and the winds have been mostly offshore or light. Still, a good amount of debris remains in the surfzone from the recent hurricanes (mostly sea oat root balls and some scattered pieces of wood). These can hinder angling at times, usually when the surf is running several feet high or more.
Bluefish have responded best to the cooler water, and at times might be about all anglers can muster around Perdido Pass and the surrounding beaches. But the sheepshead bite has really picked up now on live shrimp as fiddler crabs. It seems there aren’t near as many pinfish bothering the anglers trying their luck along the seawall. Also, a few flounder (once again in season in Alabama) are being caught from the seawall, and from the Gulf beaches by anglers using live shrimp, bull minnows or jigs.
The Gulf beaches from Perdido Key to Fort Morgan are once again producing some nice pompano. Many have been undersized (12 inches total length in Alabama, or 11 inches fork length in Florida), but many anglers have been getting their perspective limits. Many more have been at least catching a few of these tasty Gulf treats. Of course, whiting are the still the most common catch from shore, and many have been reported longer than the 12 inch average we usually see In Gulf Shores and along the Fort Morgan peninsula.
Certainly worth mentioning are the occasional bull redfish and large black drum that still prowl the surf zone this month. Anglers that connect with one of these ‘tanks’ are sure to remember the experience. Especially if it is hooked on lighter tackle intended for pompano or whiting!
With the low midday tides and recent cold fronts, the beach sandbars have been more exposed for anglers to explore the intricate cuts and holes that attract feeding fish. The beach points and shallow sandbars are great places to start fishing and to gather beach ghost shrimp for bait.
Days when the air temperature is relatively mild, say over 60 degrees, are not too uncomfortable for most anglers to wade bare legged in the surf for an hour to slurp up enough ghost shrimp for the rest of the day. Others may prefer donning waders, especially on chillier days, or when the wind is blowing more than about 15 miles per hour. The wind chill effect definitely comes into play as we approach the climatological start of winter, December 22. Coincidentally, the Winter Solstice occurs at the same time as the NEAP tide period for this fortnight. Just meaning there won’t be as much tidal current during the days leading up to Christmas. Also, anglers should keep in mind that bait shops may not be operating a full schedule during the holiday period. So call ahead to check their hours and live/fresh bait availability.
Another feature of cooler water is the way it affects our local, resident fish. Never forget, they are all ‘cold blooded’. And as such are inclined to react according to their environment. So when the water cools off, they slow down. And when it warms up (even a few degrees) they may be more actively feeding. Cooler water also affects fish’s overall metabolism and sense of smell. Scents don’t seem to permeate as well in cooler water. Especially the man-made attractants like Fishbites and Fish Gum many anglers are accustomed to using and depend on. Note that Fishbites has a “Fast-Acting” version (in the red packs) that is formulated to dissolve quicker in water below 70 degrees. So keep that in mind when restocking your supply.
I was honored with an opportunity to participate in the first of the guided tours of the Gulf State Park Pier. Park Naturalist Kelly Reetz and the staff at the park and Nature Center are doing a fine job in providing this service to the public. Besides hearing much about the history, geography and biology of the pier, we got a first hand look at the damage to the pier and how much repairs have been made. The date for reopening is not set, but they do expect most of the portion of the pier still connected to shore to be ready sometime late in the winter. Hopefully, it won’t take even that long. Details can be found on their Facebook page