Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook April 16, 2025

Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook April 16, 2025
By David “The Pierpounder” Thornton

The previous fortnight showed a lot of promise of better fishing as the sheepshead bite remained fairly strong right up to the April full moon. Plus there were more pompano and spanish mackerel reported in the area once the water temperature rose above 70 degrees in the Gulf. However, this was prior to the freshwater runoff from the April 6 flash flood event ruining much of the fun. So in such a situation, which may last a couple of weeks, the name of the game to finding fish often means finding clearer water. Stronger rising tides like we will see April 16th through the 22nd, and again April 27th through the end of the month may be the best chances of making that easier.
The NEAP tide period April 24th through 25th will have the weakest tide flow of this fortnight, but may be a better time to fish Seawall Park at Perdido Pass. The lights in the parking lot tend to draw baitfish to the seawall which may be followed by gamefish, and the slower current makes it easier to fish then. With a relatively drier period forecast, inland waters may trend toward clearing by the end of the month. A lot depends on the direction and speed of the prevailing winds and currents too, as well as how rough the Gulf might get.
Mid-April typically sees an influx of baitfish from the deeper Gulf such as Scaled and False herring, locally called LYs. Their appearance in sustained numbers is usually a strong signal of good fishing to come. This is true in Perdido Pass, but especially for the Gulf State Park Pier where pelagic predatory fish like king mackerel and jack crevelle may press these bait schools tightly around the pier.
Kings are a very popular target species from the south end octagon, but bycatch of other species really keeps the fishing interesting, especially when a cobia or a school of jacks comes by. Some days the catch is primarily spanish mackerel, or bluefish before ladyfish (skipjack) and blue runner (hardtail) show up in large numbers later in April. All can be caught on a variety of small lures, and live or dead baits.
Together these draw a lot of attention from anglers on the pier in addition to pompano, speckled trout, redfish, and flounder closer to shore. All these species are showing up just as the sheepshead spawn is winding down, then most of them leave the Gulf to return to the estuaries for the duration of the warm water season. Although along the way, these post-spawn sheepshead may occasionally pause to feed heavily in the surf on available ghost shrimp and sandfleas (mole crabs).
Of course sandfleas are very good bait for pompano too, and drum species relish them also.
Sandfleas are most visible to anglers on the beach face in the early morning as waves recede along what is referred to as the swash zone. Very specialized sea creatures, sandfleas wait mostly buried in the wet sand with their tail oriented down at an angle toward the gulf with just their eyes poking above the sand surface watching for danger from shorebirds such as curlew and yellowlegs.
Sandfleas make use of the wave action by extending their feathery antennae out of the front of their head as the wave recedes down the slope of the beach to catch food items. At the first sign of danger they attempt to elude it either by scurrying tail first to deeper water at the toe of the swash, or by quickly digging deeper under the sand. Their shovel-shaped tail can dig into soft, wet sand as faster than humans can dig it up. They are very elusive, but sandfleas do make great bait.
Pompano are the primary target species for beach side anglers now, though there are several different approaches toward success, or failure. Some anglers (mostly locals) have become quite specialized in their approach to surf fishing with their gear and tactics. Rods well over 10 feet long and double drop pompano rigs are standard equipment, and usually hauled with a wide-wheeled beach cart. First timers are not usually as focused, but this is the time of year when even so-called freshwater tackle can catch numbers of pompano from the beach for a number of reasons.
They tend to feed closer to shore on a rising tide, and there are many locations where sandbar configurations are arranged such to allow anglers access to these feeding zones within 50 yards of the shore. Also the water is warmer now, into the low 70s which allows fishermen more comfortable wading out to cast farther if need be. And bait is becoming more plentiful and easier to catch. Though it would still behoove inexperienced fisherfolks to visit nearby bait and tackle shops for advice on how to up their odds for success, as nothing can be guaranteed.
Spotted seatrout (speckled trout or specks) is a popular inshore species that often enters the Gulf this time of year as the waters warm, especially if the inland waters are inundated with fresh water as they are now. Specks are usually caught with live shrimp, especially from the pier. But along the beaches they are regularly caught on a variety of lures.
Topwater plugs like Heddon spook and Rapala Skitterwalk are a couple of favorites to throw at first light in the surf when the Gulf is relatively calm. Once the sun rises trout usually go a bit deeper in the water column, but they may still be caught on lures that get down to their level, especially if they imitate whatever trout are feeding on. MirrOlure’s MirrOdine and MirrOdine Heavy are highly popular, but the 4 inch plastic Zoom fluke on a ¼ or 1/8 leadhead jig work quite well too.
No matter what your target species or preferred method to catch them, don’t give up if they do not seem to be biting. Rather, keep experimenting with your tackle and tactics until finding what works, as this is prime fishing time!