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I am new to this forum and have never been to Gulf Shores. I have always fished the FL panhandle piers, mainly because they are closer to where I live in Atlanta. What are some of the key differences, do you think, between fishing GS pier and the FL panhandle piers.
Speckled trout for one.
WELCOME Greg!
Greg,you have just created a thread that could last for days if people want to play.
The thing that stuck out to me was the water in Florida was a lot clearer most of the time than in GS. Lower salinity in GS means more speckled trout (they are very visible and stubborn and refuse to bite most of the time) and GS probably has more redfish. We don't see tuna, grouper, sailfish or mahi(once in a blue moon) from the GS pier and probably fewer pompano and kings. I know in Atlanta you are accustomed to heavy traffic but you usually don't have the bumper to bumper madness getting to the pier and back to your condo like I have experienced in Panama City. You are allowed to use a small ribbon-net rig to gill net live minnows for bait here and clean fish and dispose of the carcasses on the pier here. You can use treble hooks to fish for pompano. Sharks steal your Spanish and King mackerel here instead of dolphins. IMHO the people who fish this pier are a million times more fun to fish with, friendlier, more cooperative and more helpful than at PCB. You may see more bikinis in FL but we have some IGFA record class plumber's crack so its pretty much a wash. Hope you make it down and catch a bunch.
for me the local fisherman on Gulf Shores....I have fished them all....most nice people on Panama city piers are out of towners(regular ones).....most other pier regular fisherman don't want non locals there at all...... that is why there isn't any fishing reports from those piers when fishing is good or really any other time .....so you better have a buddy with you if you want to get a fish up with your own net or gaff....I have had other vacationers assist me before when the regulars wouldn't, even offering my gaff to do so .....there is clicks on the piers and if you don't know anyone you may be out of luck with any kind of help......comes down to Quality of people to me
what chillinfish said too
GregInAtl - Welcome to the forum! The fishing at Gulf Shore Pier is a lot different when it comes to both the fish and fellow fishermen. The fishermen on the Gulf Shores pier are generally kind and welcoming. The kids who fish on the Gulf Shores Pier are generally better mannered. There are exceptions, to be sure, but it's my perception that the locals on the panhandle piers tend to regard the piers as their personal property and non-locals are regarded as intruders. The young people on those piers are unsupervised and foul mouthed and generally unpleasant to be around. This attitude is intentional, in my opinion, as a way of making things so uncomfortable that the visitor goes elsewhere.
Gulf Shores Pier is, in more ways than one - a breath of fresh air! They're nice people who won't get into your business, but if you ask for help, you'll usually get what you need. If you're skilled, you typically don't need a whole lot of assistance, so it's just a really pleasant place to fish!
While the Gulf Shores Pier is pretty long, they're mostly short-pier fish (some king mackerel, spanish mackerel, whiting, flounder, redfish, etc.) You'll catch more gafftopsail catfish, perhaps because of the pier's proximity to mobile bay. The speckled trout fishing can be remarkable if you can get them to bite. There are some great big ones that cruise within casting distance!
Yes, I have experienced that first handQuote:
Originally Posted by eym_sirius
Welcome.....be warned though, it becomes an addiction! I use to go to Florida until I tried Gulf Shores 5 years ago. The people, the food, the fishing and the surrounding area all make it my choice. It's a warm friendly place even for a yankee from Indiana that wishes he was a damned yankee( the ones that come down and don't go back)
Hey Greg! Being a newbe to the forum and fishing the GS area for the first time last Winter, now I said fished I didn't say caught, guys, I can say that these Pier Rats are the most helpful guys in the whole Gulf area. He!!, I think they would even bait your hook with their bait for a cup of coffee & a donut. One can only imagine what they would do for a 6 pack. Winter fishing sucks, but Winter fishing sucks all over the Gulf. So, if you have great people around you, catching fish, is only a small part of fishing. You will enjoy the Gulf Shores area; GREAT people, good food, nice weather, they say that it is good fishing in the warmer months, BUTT the Plumber's crack leaves a little to be desired. My $.02 worth.
Welcome aboard Greg!
Come on down, you will enjoy it plus you might catch a few fish.
Bring the doughnuts; they will be eaten!