General Misc questions - First time going to Gulf Shores since I was 8....

I've never been on the old or new pier, but I thought I saw a video where it was stated that the pier was opened and extended out way past the old pier ?

The Gulf Park State Pier web page talks about restricting the number of people out there due to Covid. Are they still doing that or is it restriction free now ?

I'm coming down in the beginning of August and want to do some fishing and trying to figure out what all I need to bring......

I was hoping to do some surf fishing near where I'm staying by the City Beach at W. Beach Rd and 2nd, but I just found out I cant fish at the City Beach.... is the beach open behind other private properties ? Example, can I access the water front at the City Beach, then walk 100 yards away from the City property along the water line and then fish ?

Was going to bring a home made Sand Flea rake and try to catch some fleas to try to eat, and for bait. Are they ok for bait on pier and surf fishing ?

Thanks for any help.

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I've never been on the old or new pier, but I thought I saw a video where it was stated that the pier was opened and extended out way past the old pier ?

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Yes, it WAS extended farther out than the old pier...until last year when the hurricane took care of it and knocked out a good bit of the pier. It now extends just past the restrooms, about half the length of the pier when it was rebuilt.

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Was going to bring a home made Sand Flea rake and try to catch some fleas to try to eat, and for bait. Are they ok for bait on pier and surf fishing ?

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Yes, they are great for bait...don't know that I've ever heard of people eating them though.

As for the surf fishing, I'll let someone more familiar with it answer...about the only "surf fishing" I do is at Alabama Point (Perdido Pass).

People do eat sand fleas but then some people eat cicadas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o9qmHsX818

Lots of fish baits are edible; shrimp coming to mind. The first time I ate shrimp, as a teen, no one told me to remove the tail, shell, legs and vein. I suspect sand fleas have a similar texture. Of course you can deep-fry my wallet and hit it with hot sauce and it would taste better . . .

I would say yes for fishing a 100 yards past the city beach, as long as you weren’t in anybody’s way or being a nuisance, I don’t think anyone would give you any problems, but I would defer to some others on here.

Go down to Romar Beach parking area in Orange Beach and just avoid setting up near swimmers.

I've fished near Romar on numerous occasions over the past few years...May, June, October, November, and December timeframes (we use a condo in Phoenix 5)...most accessible times in terms of dealing with swimmers et al during the peak tourist season is zero early thirty (before dawn) until about 8 am or so, then again from about 7 pm until well after dark. In the fall and winter you can fish all day and not really have any conflicts. As far as access goes, my feeling is if you can walk on the beach, you can fish it. Sand fleas are sometimes plentiful, and I've also done well on fresh dead shrimp and cut bait when the fleas are hard to find. Fishbites have worked well periodically. Species include whiting, pomps, black drum, reds, croakers, pinfish, Spanish, ladyfish, rays, catfish...I've caught them all at various times. As always, try to fish the tides, but I've done well when I shouldn't have and vice versa. Main thing is to just get out, enjoy. and be grateful for the time you get to fish...you'll more than likely catch some fish if you halfway know what you're doing.

In Wisconsin, we can have up to three baits at a time, like either 3 hooks on three different poles, or 2 separate hooks on one pole and one on another pole...... I can't find anything on the Alabama regs that talk about how many lines / baits you can fish with at one time.. Like can I set up 3 rods with a double Pomp rig on each ?

Also, I see a creel limit listed for different fish, but nothing on a possession limit. Wondering if I can fish for 3 days, and have 3 days worth of limits in my freezer to take back home?

Thanks for the input.

Yes you can set up 3 rods with double pompano hooks on the line. Just be mindful of the people around you, setting up in a crowded beach, won’t fly with a lot of people. Sometimes, the fishing is too hot for 3 rods let alone 2. I don’t want to mislead anyone on your last question, so I’m going let others reply.

Take this as personal opinion and not legal advice. I am careful about daily limits when I am fishing. After I have cleaned them and frozen them for transport I consider them mine. Each year I spend a month on the coast and stock my freezer for the year. I usually have visitors several times during the month and send an ice chest home with them to store in their freezer until I return. I normally eat fish multiple times per week out of the freezer. I do not believe you will have a problem as long as you observe the daily limit. I believe the possession limit is more applicable to boat trips over multiple days and talking about quantity you are bringing back to the shore.