Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, October 22, 2026
This Orange Beach/Gulf Shores fishing report covers mid-October, when fall arrives on the Alabama coast. Pompano are the lead target along the beaches, working the troughs with whiting, while bull reds gather at Perdido Pass and Alabama Point and king mackerel move nearshore. Flounder are staging near the passes, and speckled trout and Spanish mackerel round out the options. Plan around the outgoing tide at the pass, which is the key window on these easing tides.
What’s Hitting
Pompano and whiting are in the surf along the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach beaches, and pompano are the headline fish. Bull reds are at Perdido Pass and Alabama Point, and king mackerel are nearshore. Flounder are staging near the passes, speckled trout are on the grass flats, and Spanish mackerel are around the piers.
Expect the fall run of bull reds and flounder to build at the pass over the coming weeks, while pompano stay along the beach until water temperatures drop further.
Where to Find Them
Walk the beach at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach for pompano and fish the troughs. Fish Perdido Pass on the outgoing tide for bull reds and flounder, since a falling tide pulls bait out through the pass and gives predators an easy ambush along the rocks and current seams.
The Gulf State Park Pier is a good spot for mackerel, and the bays hold trout on the grass flats. Piers reach out to the clearer water where Spanish mackerel chase bait schools, which is why they draw mackerel consistently in the fall.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon heading toward first quarter, tides are easing. The outgoing tide at the pass is the key window. On softer tides, the strongest flow at a pass often concentrates into a shorter stretch of the falling tide, so timing matters more than usual.
Check a current tide chart and the marine forecast before any trip to the passes or nearshore.
Tackle & Tactics
- Pompano: pompano jigs and sand fleas in the surf.
- Bull reds: cut mullet on a stout rod and a quality reel.
- Flounder: live bait near the passes.
- Kings: a trolled live bait or a duster.
- Gear: medium spinning tackle fits most of the work.
For pompano, keep your bait right in the wash and watch for the subtle taps. For bull reds, be ready for hard runs in the current.
Local Intel This Week
Fish concentrate at the passes, the pier and the beach troughs, so shore anglers have real options alongside boaters. Launch at Cotton Bayou or the Perdido Pass boat launch to fish the pass on the falling tide, and use Gulf State Park Pier for mackerel and pompano without a boat. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Read the beach. Look for troughs and sandbars, and fish the cuts where pompano feed on sand fleas. Waves breaking over a bar and then going flat mark a deeper trough, and the cuts between bars are where moving water carries food to waiting fish.
Planning a trip to Orange Beach / Gulf Shores AL?
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