Orange Beach and Gulf Shores fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. October means the fall run along the Alabama coast. The water is cooling, the bait is moving along the beaches, and the pompano, reds, and kings are following it. It is a good time to fish from the sand or the boat.
What’s Hitting
What’s hot this week: pompano are starting their fall run along the beaches, feeding in the surf on sand fleas and small crustaceans. Bull redfish are stacked at Perdido Pass and along the beaches, especially on the outgoing tide. King mackerel are nearshore, feeding on bait around the artificial reefs and along the beach. Offshore, triggerfish and amberjack are on the reefs. Inside, speckled trout and slot reds are in Perdido Bay and Wolf Bay.
Where to Find Them
For pompano, fish the first trough along the beaches of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, especially near the pass. For bull reds, Perdido Pass and the beaches near the jetties. For kings, slow-troll live baits around the nearshore artificial reefs in 50 to 100 feet. For trout and reds, the grass edges and docks in Perdido Bay, Wolf Bay, and Bon Secour Bay.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are small along the Alabama coast, and the last quarter moon this weekend softens them. Water temperatures are in the upper 70s and dropping. October often brings the first cold fronts, which can trigger strong feeding. Watch the tropics through mid-October and check the marine forecast before heading offshore.
Tackle & Tactics
For pompano, a double-drop rig with small hooks baited with sand fleas, shrimp, or Fishbites, cast into the first trough. A small pompano jig in pink or yellow also works. For bull reds, a fish-finder rig with a chunk of cut bait or a live pinfish. For kings, slow-troll live cigar minnows or menhaden on a wire stinger rig. For trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Cotton Bayou boat ramp in Orange Beach, the Boggy Point boat launch, and the Gulf Shores area ramps on the Intracoastal. Shore anglers have good access at the Gulf State Park Pier, the Perdido Pass jetty areas, and the public beaches. Fish are concentrated along the beaches and around the pass. Check current Alabama Marine Resources and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish, especially reef fish, and release bull reds over the slot.
This Week’s Tip
Pompano feed in the first trough, often right at your feet. Do not make the mistake of casting too far. Look for the darker water of the trough close to the beach, and put your bait there. Fresh sand fleas, dug from the wash zone, are the best bait you can use.
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