John's Journal...

Fishing Alabama’s Gulf Coast After the Oil Spill on the Gulf of Mexico

Day 2: Good Fishing All Winter Long on the Gulf State Park Pier, the Longest Pier in the Gulf of Mexico

David Thornton of Mobile, Alabama, is a constant fixture on the Gulf State Park Pier every weekend. He belongs to a very-exclusive group of anglers known affectionately along Alabama’s Gulf Coast as the “Pier Rats.” Before he goes to the pier to fish each weekend, Thornton is constantly monitoring the fishing activity on the Gulf State Park Pier, which is the longest fishing pier on the Gulf of Mexico. One of the advantages of fishing on the Gulf State Park Pier is that there’s always some type of fish biting. This fall and winter, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, redfish, flounder, whiting and ground mullet will be the most-targeted species. As the weather begins to cool-down, large schools of big redfish will begin to make their annual run near shore at Orange Beach, Alabama. “We’ve seen acres of giant redfish from the pier,” Thornton reports. “And seeing eight to ten fishermen on the pier with their rods bent and their drags squalling as the schools of big bull reds pass by the pier isn’t uncommon. This time of year is when we also have a fall run of king mackerel. We’ll usually catch some of the biggest king mackerel of the year during October and November, due to a big push of baitfish moving toward the beach. The redfish, Spanish mackerel and king mackerel all will follow those baitfish. Even when the weather’s really rough, and the charter boats can’t get out to go fishing, we still can catch whiting and ground mullet and oftentimes redfish close to shore from the pier. Fishing off the Gulf State Park Pier is the least-expensive, most-productive way to catch saltwater fish in the Gulf of Mexico. I rarely miss a weekend of fishing from the pier.”

The good news for new visitors to the Gulf State Park Pier is that Thornton and the other Pier Rats (locals who fish the pier every weekend, and many who fish the pier every day) are always eager to help newcomers learn how to fish, what baits to use and how to catch the fish from the pier. Although you never may have fished the Gulf State Park Pier before, you’ll find anglers willing to help teach you how to rig and how to bait when you come to the Gulf State Park Pier.

To learn more about the Gulf State Park Pier, which is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, call 251-967-FISH (3474). For more information on fishing guides and charter boats, lodging accommodations, restaurants and entertainment on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, call Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism at 800-745-SAND (7263), or visit www.orangebeach.com. You also can get a fishing report three times each week by visiting the “What’s Biting?” column.

Last weekend we were on the pier with David Thornton, and below is a video of what took place.

Today's Video Clip:

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Tomorrow: Young People Enjoy a Red Snapper Birthday on Alabama’s Gulf Coast


Check back each day this week for more about "Fishing Alabama’s Gulf Coast After the Oil Spill on the Gulf of Mexico"

Day 1: Oil Spill on the Gulf – How’s the Fishing Now?
Day 2: Good Fishing All Winter Long on the Gulf State Park Pier, the Longest Pier in the Gulf of Mexico
Day 3: Young People Enjoy a Red Snapper Birthday on Alabama’s Gulf Coast
Day 4: Captain Johnny Greene’s 12-Hour Trip During the Fall Red Snapper Season at Alabama’s Gulf Coast
Day 5: The Oil Spill Off Alabama’s Gulf Coast Isn’t a Problem for Fishermen

 

Entry 585, Day 2