Surf Fishing June 1-7

Hello,

I am coming down from N. AL for the week to gulf shores with the family and plan on doing some surf fishing. Are there any pompano still hanging out in the surf? I have pompano rigs, sand flea catcher, and pompano jigs. Is there any topwater action going on early in the morning if its calm enough? What species should I expect to catch out there, besides whiting and catfish. I also have a rig for sharks to fish in the evening/night.

General tips to help me succeed would be greatly appreciated since I rarely have the opportunity to saltwater fish!

Are there any redfish hanging out in the surf? Ill be staying at a beach condo near the Sea'NSuds restaurant. thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum jrg!

There are a couple of good sandbars in that area but you'll have to contend with the jetski traffic on and off the beach between 8am and 4 pm.
Your best fishing will likely be before and after those times anyway.

Yes, topwater baits are a great way to great the sunrise.
You will likely find ladyfish, probably some bluefish and even a few spotted seatrout.
There should still be some nice pompano in the surf.
And you will cover more water with jigs ;-)

Your best bets for bait for pompano, whiting, black drum and slot reds are ghost shrimp and sandfleas.

Hope this helps!

P.S. you may want to slip off somewhere a little more remote to shark fish as that mode is not very popular in Gulf Shore proper ;-)

JRG, you don't happen to be Johnny Goss?

Sorry Jhatch thats not me!

Thanks for the info Pier! I really enjoy this forum. It reminds me of crappie.com which I use frequently up here in Huntsville. Lots of helpful members and advice.

Ive been surf fishing in Destin several times. Ive had success during May catching pompano, and I had a few bluefish absolutely Destroy my topwater. I am confident about catching catfish/whiting in the surf with shrimp, but that gets old after a while. And thanks for the headsup on shark fishing, i Did it down in destin and landed a 5.5ft spinner shark at night, thus no one complained to me!

I have never had success with those pompano jigs. Just sand fleas. Is their a technique and color that are more successful? I basically just bounced it off the bottom like a plastic worm.

Here is the jig I use-snap the rod tip up and let it fall to the bottom. Just like Guntersville Lake all surf isn't created equally. Look for places where the sandbar comes close to shore and the trough is deep.

pompano jig and fly - Bing Images

I have some sharking arranged for the 4th 5th & 6th, please see the thread Land Based Sharking.
You"re welcome to join us if you like.

Good day gentleman,

I will be down the 6th thru the 13th staying in the F. Morgan area. Just so im clear that catching sharks in that area isn't illegal but just frowned upon if others are onthe beach in close proximity?

That is correct.

Thanks Chile! I will be at the pier quite a bit but I would like to catch a few long tooth fast runners.

Crappie.com rocks..have learned a lot but a ways to go fo sure,,Alabama forum is like this one,,great current info!!!!

Hey bbrasher, I'll be down the 6-13th as well. Staying in the soldier's creek/perdido bay area. Maybe we could meet up if schedules allow and share some beach.

Sounds good Ill pm you my info when i get there.