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If you had to choose a different pier in the Gulf Coast other than "The Pier" what would they be? Any of them better? I know it all depends on what your looking to catch and at what time of year, but also considering the friendliness of the locals. Still most likely planning a Gulf Shores expedition but would like to keep all options open since I would be most likely traveling solo, which opens up more possibilities. Also keeping in mind surf fishing...
I know this is a bit of a travesty on this site, I'm sorry. LOL!
I've fished the Okoloosa island pier before and it is pretty nice. The people on the pier are pretty friendly.
I would recommend it.
Hey BDL1969,
I'm a yankee too, so I ain't skeert to talk wit ya. The road you need is I65 North.
No man I'm just kidding. Those are the only directions that a true southerner would give to a yankee.
The wife and I are heading down to Mexico Beach FL for spring break. There is a little pier there. We are going to fish the surf on the St Joe peninsula and prolly other places because we are bringing our dog with us. Navarre has the longest pier in the Gulf. There is always something going on there. Never been there but its big..................
I'm a beach guy. Just go down the beach at low tide and look for structure. Fish it as the tide comes in with good fresh bait and at different distances from beach. You don't hook up move to one of the other places you saw while it was low tide. Talk to the locals. You see the guy with Iowa license plates bowed up all the time................see what he is using for bait and he will prolly give you one or two of the river rigs he ties...................If your not lucky and his wife and daughter don't give him a dirty look he will talk to you about fishing all day..........
Just got a new pomp rod and I'm dying to try it out...... 11 ft CPS 2-5 once........
Good luck
I have fished every pier from Gulf shores to Panama City and I must say that if I were to choose any other pier besides Gulf shores it would be the County pier in PC. They don't have the array of species we see in Gulf Shores, but the locals are probably the second friendliest on the coast.
Hey DantheJDman, We stayed in Mexico Beach last year, Jan. & Feb. fished the canal going into the harbor and caught a lot of whitting, the best place was under the East side of the bridge going into St. Joe for drum and 100 to 150 yds So. of the bridge for Specks. The Pier didn't do anything for us during that time, a few whitting in the skinny water, but the locals where talking about catching a lot of sheeps in March. Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!!
Thanks Dan! From one yankee to another....
Is there that much difference in the water temps.from Mexico Beach to Gulf Shores ?
When you have to drive 18 hours to the beach there is not a lot of difference between Gulf Shores and Mexico Beach.
Mexico beach is pretty laid back and the pace is a lot slower than at the red neck Riviera. I mean that in a loving way we have been to Gulf Shores a bunch of times when we lived in Tennessee. And hey we are going to bring the dog. He is part of the family. We are going to try and train him to find sand fleas in the surf.........................When he sees us digging them out he will prolly figure out what we are after. Train him to bark when he sees a rod banging down.
Thanks for the info Flyguy. We will keep that information in mind.
The last time we were in Mexico beach we were escaping the rath of Sandy.
We had a condo rented and a bay fishing trip planned and got to Virginia Beach on the 28th of October and Sandy hit the 29th. We bailed and headed to Florida the same day we got there. Said hi to our son and said we don't need to be part of this disaster and headed out. VB had 100 mph winds forecast.
We pulled up to the condo we were supposed to stay at and the traffic light blew off the pole and landed in the street.
I caught some nice red fish off the beach at the peninsula park didn't get much time at it though.
Caught some croakers off the pier in Mexico Beach and a small shark. We had a good time. I've learned a lot more about surf fishing since then and have some better gear.
See you on the sand. Sometimes the planks.
DAN
My experience the last 41/2 years, for what it worth. Port Aransas, Tx. for three years. The first year, tons of redfish, one time I fished for 2 hrs. and caught a red on every cast then ran out of shrimp. The next 2 years they were hit by the Red Tide, NOTHING!!!!! For the Bride, shopping was 30 miles to Corpus or 10 miles to Aransas Pass by ferry. Last year Mexico Beach, fishing O.K., I would usually get something every time I went out. Shopping for the bride, terrible, they had to go to Panama City through Tyndall AFB at 45 mph. A 1 hour trip. This year at GS, the fishing has not been good so far, but it is an easy place to fish, and the people are GREAT!!!! Some of the locals are very colorful and full of BS. But that is an important part of it. Shopping!!!!! the Brides are in Heaven. Plan to be back next year, if you guys let come back.
I have fished them all. My top 2 are Navarre and gs for different reasons..pelagics navarre, flounder reds trout waiting,gs . too me people are about the same. I have met a lot of good people at both and never really had any problems at either.
Although I have not fished the county pier, I also would put Navarre and Gulf Shores up top of the rest for access and performance. There are no bad piers on the gulf coast, compared to those in other areas of the coast, but some are better than others.
Here is my super-quick rundown on the piers from east to west, I have fished them all. Best is in the eye of the beholder. Panama City piers are nice. The County pier maybe has more locals, seems like the City may have a few more macks at times. County has a bathroom mid pier. Okaloosa tends to be busier, and a lot of regulars. There are bathrooms on the end, and there are Coke machines out there. It is a shame that this design could not be duplicated, EPA stopped it. Flipper is a major pain. On the positive side it is probably the best pier for catching bait.I have fished it much more than the others since the 80's. Navarre is built in similar fashion to the PC piers, no restroom on the end. It is a bit farther to bays than the others thus and tends to be clearer in rough water. Bait can be an issue so bring it. Pensacola is OK, I gave up on it due to the step stool thing that they had going on, maybe that is done. The rail is a tad high so some people bring stools to get their arms comfortably over it. GSP is where I cut my teeth in the 60's. It is so much nicer now, similar home-style vibe. Bathroom mid pier. The end is HUGE, bait tends to be handy but not cigs. GSP is closer to Mobile Bay, and high surf kicks up the mud, so when it is windy, the water gets turbid the fastest. However, the location is so different from the others and as such there is a lot more variety of catch, and the cooler weather fishing to me seems much better.
Thanks for all the great info on other piers guys! Very much appreciated!
Lots of times I stay in pcola. Hotel prices are better and it gives you the choice of three piers. Gulf Shores is the best, hands down. I've fished Navarre enough that I have learned it fairly well and made a few fishing friends. Pcola has its days, too. Water is generally clearer. Higher off the water makes ultra light fishing very difficult. You need muscle. Its best to wait till cobia season is passed. It is crazy over there until then. It must be incredibly good to eat.
I understand they taste a lot like remora ;-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich1