New to the pier

Hello. I am from Indiana and have been vacationing in Orange Beach in March for 11 years. I am an avid fresh water fisherman, bass, bluegill, crappier, salmon and walleye in Michigan. but saltwater / gulf fishing is new and I have been itching to try it for 11 years. Any suggestions on gear, bait, and species to fish for from the pier would be greatly appreciated. We love the gulf so much that I am hoping to find a job as an electric utility engineer in a few years and move down so I can fish year round.
Thanks in advance.

Welcome Casey :headbang:

In March about 90% of the species available can be caught with the same tackle you catch bass, panfish and walleye with. :fishing:
That includes sheepshead, whiting, drum, pompano, redfish and spanish mackerel.
Just about everything that swims or crawls in the gulf eats shrimp, so that is our most common 'go to' bait. The fresher the better, including LIVE! :eat:

Hope you have a GREAT time this year and get started on some saltwater fishing.
We'll leave the light on fer ya ;-) :D

[font=comic sans ms][size=12pt]Welcome aboard Casey!
If you want to really jump start your saltwater fishing experience; the best investment you can make is to hire Pier#r as your guide for a day.
You will catch fish and learn enough to be successful in the future.
http://www.gulfshoresfishing.com/Pie...hing-Guide.htm

Casey,

I'm from Wisconsin and have been fish'in the old and new piers for 40+ years and have used a variety of equiptment. I've found that the GSSP pier to be the friendliest around. And with the new pier the fishing is tremendous. Everything depends on water temp's and that usually means toward the end of March is better. My suggestion would be to visit the pier and ask questions and watch, then make a trip to J&M Tackle to get the terminal stuff you need. John and his staff will be very helpful. I know once you've tried it, you'll be hooked. Have fun, se ya on the pier.

Fshntime

welcome aboard casey... J&M will have everything you need. send me a pm when you come down and we can fish for a day! tight lines!!

+2 for J&M, just ask for John, he'll hook you up!

Agree whole heartedly with Fshntime. Watch....listen...ask if needed. Have fished the peirs for several years
and have learned alot from everyone, especially the locals, who are more than happy to help.

Have seen several people fishing with peir#r and at first was a little confused till I figured out he was
guiding and the people he was fishing with were doing real well!!!!

Thanks for all the replies and advice. Fortunately I am not a beginner and prefer to watch listen and learn. No plans to be a googan. I have been to J&M and talked to John last year just to get an idea of the difference between fresh ans salt. I am looking forward to meeting some of you. I will be there the last week of March and always wear a Purdue hat and or shirt. I am sure I will be one of the few if not the only Purdue guy in the area. Any more advice would be greatly appreciated.

Casey