New member seeking advice

Some background info:

We're planning on hitting the pier at sun-up Saturday or Sunday. I'm from Florida and usually fish the gulf in the big-bend area on my bay boat. I've fished off the Skyway pier in Tampa, so I imagine the atmosphere is similar. I have an arsenal of tackle at my disposal, but want to only bring what's necessary to catch some dinner and have a good time with my own kids and niece/nephew.

I haven't fished the AL shoreline for about 20 years, back when I was a kid. I'm not into Kings or Spanish, since we'll be on vacation and I don't have a smoker handy- we are staying at a condo 9 miles from the pier and plan on pan frying our catch.

I'd like to target grouper, snapper, redfish (red drum), speckled seatrout, flounder, and shark. Not so sure about the first 2- What is the depth at the end of the pier?

What other species should I expect? What style dropper rig? Do I need a hoop net or is the pier relatively close to sea level?

I've got rigs from 10lb to 100lb class, but only want to pack what we'll actually be using- I've done my share of reading here before posting, so please excuse me if I'm asking questions that had probably been asked before. My search-fu is very weak on these topics.

Grouper & Snapper not too likely, though a few species of Snapper are around the pier at times.
Not allowed to land sharks on the pier, which sucks in my opinion, as I like shark steaks.
A few Specks, Reds and Flounder to be had, as are Spades, I'd target these if I was you.
Carolina rig, Fish Finder and various traditional single/double drop rigs, jigs/spoons bounced along the bottom/between pilings.

Hoop net is recommended due to height of pier, pier gaff is a must for big/toothy fish.

10-20# will catch almost anything I've seen around the pier, except maybe bug sharks/rays.

G'luck.

Yeah, the end of the GSPPier is in about 27' deep water.
No sharks allowed to be landed on the pier or park beach.
There are a few specks hanging around, but they have 'lockjaw'.
The reds (bulls) are hit-or-miss (mostly miss lately).
A few good flounder on bull minnows (IF you can get them).
that might be your best bet... use a carolina rig.
the pier rail is about 24 feet above sea level.
Most of the time there is someone nearby with one to help.

Spadefish or Bluefish might fit the bill on the smoker ;-)
http://www.gulfshorespierfishing.com...tlantic-style/

:headbang:

Thanks you for the replies!

I'll pack the lighter tackle and fish the shallow ends. As for the 'bull red' deal, are there no slot reds to be had in the area? I'd prefer the slot size for flavor, bull reds tend to be hard to clean and kind of wasteful to kill, IMO.

We'll hit the flounder and reds as our main targets using Carolina rigs, given your input.

Is there a bait shop in the vicinity or a pier shop that will sell live shrimp? (I assume it all eats shrimp if things aren't too different from the area I usually fish)

I don't own a hoop net - so are there any chances one is available for rent at a nearby tackle shop? Maybe a stupid question- but I know a lot of piers rent tackle.

BTW, any restrictions on using braided line?

the pier sells hoop nets if you want to buy one. they are 45 bux. only problem you are going to have is the pinfish are so bad right now live shrimp dont stand a chance. the shop at the pier doesnt have live bait yet. J & M on canal road or top gun in orange beach or Friths at the corner of Canal and Fort Morgan Rd will be your best bet for live bait. no restriction on braid. perfectly fine for inshore fishing. only frowned upon on the end while live bait fishing for Kings cuz it causes more trouble than its worth.

How old are the kids you're bringing out and their experience level? Why not target Spanish if you're planning on pan frying your catch? Pan fried Spaniards are pretty decent eating IMO. As far as a net, I wouldn't invest in one just for a one time vacation trip, there are usually enough on the pier and people willing to help deck your fish. However if you feel that you would be imposing on others just invest in a cheap ring crab net and 30 feet of rope. Don't worry if it seems small, because if you use braid you won't be hand lining up those tweener sized fish and it would be easier handling than a larger bridge net.

OK, we'll forgo the net purchase. :)

If not shrimp, than what should we bring for bait? Do you recommend dropping a sibiki and using cut pinfish? I've got a ton of gulp in a container on my boat, but honestly if the pinfish are thick, they just get eaten up. I guess I'm asking since shrimp is apparently a bad idea, what would be best to target the specks/reds/flounder?

I'll have 2x 10 year-olds with me and 2 adults. My daughter is about as experienced as any 10 year old can be at saltwater fishing, she can cast, cut bait and tie her own knots, the other one is a boy who I'm sure will pick it up quickly. His father is rusty, but will be fine.

As for Spanish, I don't really care for them fried, I'll eat them smoked in fish dip, but it is too oily of a fish for me to enjoy fried- of course, that's personal opinion- I don't eat catfish of any kind either.

I'd fish finger mullet if you have/can throw a cast net....ly's are around the pier for bait also

IMHO 95% of the time this time of year, live shrimp is a waste of time and money on the pier at least during the day.
IF you see a school of specks or reds and can pinpoint cast a shrimp to them your odds are fairly good. Otherwise the pinfish population is just getting fatter ::)
Bull minnows (aka killifish fundulus grandis)are generally a good bet for flounder (still a LOT of bycatch though).
But much of what I've seen lately being sold as "bull minnows" is not the typical gulf killifsh fundulus grandis
[img width=703 height=266]http://www.bio.txstate.edu/~tbonner/txfishes/GULF%20KILLIFISH.jpg[/img]

but one of the smaller, less productive kilifish like fundulus chrysotus aka golden topwater
[img width=528 height=360]http://content63.eol.org/content/2011/10/14/18/67863_580_360.jpg[/img]

Anyway IMO, the "best bait" is likely the medium sized LYs (4") that are hanging around the pier.
Finger mullet might work well too, but you'd have to castnet them somewhere other than the pier.

The action with spanish, ladyfish, bluefish and hardtails (blue runner) would frankly be more than enough to keep most kids occupied.
Yours may be the exception to that rule if their patience level will support the much slower pace of inshore speck fishing which is primarily sightcasting.

Hope this helps and y'all can catch some good fish!
Let us know how it goes... :fishing:

:headbang:

[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=1546.msg14863#msg14863 date=1342127980]
The action with spanish, ladyfish, bluefish and hardtails (blue runner) would frankly be more than enough to keep most kids occupied.[/quote]

That is why I asked about the kids and brought up the possibility of pan frying Spanish. Action is where it's at for the kids eating the catch is an adult thing.

[quote author=DRH link=topic=1546.msg14869#msg14869 date=1342128672]
[quote author=Pier#r link=topic=1546.msg14863#msg14863 date=1342127980]
The action with spanish, ladyfish, bluefish and hardtails (blue runner) would frankly be more than enough to keep most kids occupied.[/quote]

That is why I asked about the kids and brought up the possibility of pan frying Spanish. Action is where it's at for the kids eating the catch is an adult thing.
[/quote]


Alrighty then, is dropping artificials worth the time or effort? (gulp for instance) I know that's kind of a shunned thought for most 'pier rats' :) We may in fact give up on dinner and just have some fun catch n release- you guys at the end of the pier run clark spoons fast, or are things done differently up here?

I assume those fish you linked are available for purchase at the pier or local shops, it should be known I'm a cut-bait kind of guy and have had issues freelining live bait, I'm just either not lucky or simply do it wrong, probably the latter.

BTW thank you all, this is quite a helpful community. and yes, i know I'm probably overthinking a couple of mornings at the pier. :P

From what I've fished, seen and heard...
Gulp & G. Alive shrimp work pretty good, so do the shad.
Plenty of spoons, jigs and lures get tossed, bubble rigs with straws, straws with rooster tails, Gotchas and spoons are popular.
Larger top-water & diving crankbaits such as Bomber, Rapala and Yo-Zuri are a go for Jacks & Kings.

Fast or slow will depend on the fish that day, but fast has done better for me with bubble rigs.

BEST BET WOULD PROBABLY BE GOING FOR THE SPANISH OR BLUE RUN LIKE OTHER FOLKS SAID . YOU COULD FLOUNDER FISH IN BETWEEN.LAST TIME I WAS THERE J A M WAS ONLY PLACE WITH BULL MINNOWS AND THEY ACTUALLY WERE BULL NOT TIGER MINNOWS, AT LEAST THATS WHAT I CALL THEM.PIER R HAD PICTURE OF THE BULL MINNOW LOOK ALIKES.I LIKE CAST NETTING THOSE LITTLE PINFISH AND FLOUNDER LIKE IT TOO!GOOD LUCK FISHING!

If i were you without a smoker as you stated, i would target the spadefish between 6" - 10" long and use them for panfrying if you don't want to fry spanish.

Dehead, gut and skin them. Panfry the rest whole in crispy southern and peanut oil. Quick, clean and easy.

Only need a 12" frying pan or better.

Larger 2-5lb spadefish you'll need to fillet if frying.

Tastes similar to flounder in texture and grouper in taste.

Let the kids catch and release the rest for the fun factor.

I felt like repaying the help I got here by displaying the results. The kids loved it- had a blast catching pins and a spadefish which my nephew insisted on keeping to pan fry. My daughter was less than thrilled, being spoiled with our boat trips- but it was his first fishing trip, he's definitely hooked.

[img width=720 height=514]http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j369/tekmunki/Gulf%20Shores%20Pier/IMG_0999.jpg[/img]
[img width=720 height=514]http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j369/tekmunki/Gulf%20Shores%20Pier/IMG_0998.jpg[/img]
[img width=720 height=540]http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j369/tekmunki/Gulf%20Shores%20Pier/IMG_0995.jpg[/img]

Great work. Looks like they had some fun! Perfect sized spadefish for frying too.

Good to see the kids got some action and edibles.

Great smiles! Passing the :fishing: passion on is great.

All right, I can't stand it.

How about it VG. Recipe for pinfish?

[quote author=Rich1 link=topic=1546.msg15328#msg15328 date=1342571878]
All right, I can't stand it.

How about it VG. Recipe for pinfish?
[/quote]LMAO... Lets have it :eat:

Haha, while i don't eat them, i have cooked them for people before--especially kids who wanted to eat their first salt-water catches.

I tried one many years ago. Tastes like dirt and microscopic intramuscular bones throughout.

Only way i could recommend it is deep fried until bones, fins and all turn to a crisp and all you can taste is the fry. Eat it like a candy bar.

I recommend not eating them, but using them bait to catch something edible. :fishing: