Xmas Fishing Trip to Gulf Shores

I am will be bringing my family to Gulf Shores between Xmas and New Years. Renting a house on the S. Side of the Little Lagoon. I have no saltwater fishing experience and want to do some. We'll have a dock on the lagoon and can also walk 100 yrs to the gulf side. I'd really appreciate any guidance as to what's the best way to experience the fun of Gulf Shore fishing in late December!

I don't mind picking up a few items for fishing, but would prefer not to spend $100s creating a saltwater tackle box. I've been scouring Youtube, but very few videos are available for late December or early January. Sounds like the Specs and flounder are best eating options and Reds are the fun sporty catch. Dinner and some fun sounds great to me!

I do have a 9' ft rod with large spinning reel that might work as a surf rod. Otherwise I have medium to light spinning/baitcasting gear. I was thinking some gulp shrimp and a popping cork as starters. But looking for advice and guidance.

I am also searching for Charter options. But with a party of 8 and 5 kids ranging from 7-13 years old, I'm struggling to find options.

Thank you very much. Excited to leave WI during peak winter conditions!!

Offshore options I would rule out.....sea sickness can be awful for the experience, I have witnessed it and not pleasent for the individuals. ....bonine ? worked for me, just incase

Bonine worked for me too. It was supposed to be non drowsy BUT, now I use it when I'm going from nights back to days to get back to "normal" sleep pattern if there is such a thing for a 50 year old working swing shift with a bladder the size of a golf ball. Caribe and a few others have specials in the off season for 6 hour charters on party boats. Fish live shrimp on your big rod in the surf for redfish and small fingernail size pieces of fresh dead shrimp with a size 4 j hook or kahle hook in the trough just off the beach for whiting and pompano. Keep moving down the beach until you find the whiting. Buy or build a ghost shrimp pump and slurp them up for bait-your kids will have a blast catching them. The beach in the area across from Gulf Shores Surf and Raquet Club and Sea Oats is a great place to start. I do ok on small squares of "Fishbites" in pink shrimp flavor for whiting and it stays on the hook for a long time. Don't submerge your reels. Spray them with Reel Magic before you come down and rinse everything off gently with a freshwater hose after each days use and they will be fine. Make a few sand spike rod holders from scrap 1 1/2" pvc about 30" long. Good luck.


https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2403.../data=!3m1!1e3

Thank you very much for the Tip!. Our rental looks to be only a couple hundred yards from Sea Oats. Will fishing from the rental dock be a waste of time or would chucking soft baits or others create some hits?

Please keep the tips coming. I'm excited to visit this area. I've heard great things.

Speckled trout and redfish will be your best bet in the Lagoon, flounder are mostly gone offshore by late December.
Artificials may work (DOA shrimp, cockaho minnow, Gulp, etc.) work them deep and slow.
Live shrimp freelined or under a float may may work even better!

Like chillinfish mentioned, "whiting" will be your best option surfside and maybe bull reds on the your 'big' pole. By-catch might be drum, redfish, bluefish and even pompano.
You will not be far from Little Lagoon Pass which may give you more options depending on tide and weather conditions.

As far as charters Look up Distraction Charters in orange Beach (Capt. Troy Frady) is VERY family friendly.
Otherwise take a dolphin cruise inshore...