Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 5, 2026
This Orange Beach/Gulf Shores fishing report is a seasonal outlook for Perdido Pass, Wolf Bay and the Alabama beaches. Fall flounder are funneling through the pass, redfish work the jetties and surf, and pompano and whiting remain in the troughs along the beach. The tide at the pass is the main variable for the week.
What’s Hitting
Flounder are the highlight, staging near Perdido Pass and the bay channels ahead of their offshore run, with the best action expected into early November. Redfish are in the surf and around the jetties, and pompano and whiting are in the surf wash. Speckled trout are on the grass flats of Wolf Bay and Bayou St. John, and sheepshead hold on the bridges and the Gulf State Park Pier pilings. Spanish mackerel and bluefish may still show at the Gulf State Park Pier on warm days, adding variety for shore anglers.
Where to Find Them
Fish Perdido Pass and the Alabama Point jetties on the outgoing tide for flounder and redfish. The surf at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores holds pompano in the second trough. Wolf Bay and the Intracoastal near Orange Beach hold trout and redfish, and the Highway 182 bridge pilings hold sheepshead. Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and the Fort Morgan area offer additional surf and jetty fishing with less crowd pressure.
Tides & Conditions
With the moon waning, tide strength is easing, but Perdido Pass still moves strongly on the outgoing tide. The best flounder window is the outgoing tide at the pass. Surf conditions depend on swell and wind, and calm mornings produce the best pompano fishing. Even small swell can change the surf troughs, so walk the beach before you start fishing.
Tackle & Tactics
Mud minnows on a Carolina rig for flounder, cut mullet for redfish, and sand fleas or small jigs for pompano. Fiddler crabs or shrimp for sheepshead on a small hook. Use 15 to 20 pound fluorocarbon, and keep your bait low and slow near the pass bottom. A light jig head with a Gulp shrimp is a good option for pompano when sand fleas are scarce.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Cotton Bayou, the Perdido Pass boat launch and Gulf State Park Pier. Fish concentrate at the pass on the outgoing tide and in the surf troughs. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish, especially flounder and redfish. Another strong location is the Alabama Point bridge, a popular spot for flounder and sheepshead anglers.
This Week’s Tip
Walk the beach before you cast. Look for the darker, deeper lanes where pompano feed, and place your bait just beyond the break.
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