Updated: Historical report for the week of October 8, 2026 (original publication date preserved; reorganized October 27, 2026) · Next update: None. This archived week will not be updated again; for current conditions, read the latest Orange Beach/Gulf Shores fishing report.
This Orange Beach/Gulf Shores fishing report covers the week of October 8, 2026, when the fall pattern was starting on the Alabama coast. Pompano worked the beach, bull reds held in the passes and kings were nearshore. A new moon that weekend was expected to strengthen tides, and surf clarity was the condition most likely to decide beach success.
What’s Hitting
Pompano were working the surf and the pier, bull redfish were in Perdido Pass and around Fort Morgan, and king mackerel were nearshore. Spanish mackerel were active at the piers, flounder were beginning to move through the passes, and speckled trout were in the bays. Offshore, red snapper and amberjack were options depending on the regulations in effect. The mix reflected an early-fall transition, with surf and pass species leading.
Where to Find Them
Perdido Pass and Fort Morgan were prime for bull reds and flounder on the moving tide. The Gulf State Park Pier was a good place for pompano, mackerel and kings. The bays, including Wolf Bay and Bon Secour, held trout and slot reds, and the offshore artificial reefs held amberjack and snapper. In the surf, darker troughs between the sandbars were where pompano and whiting fed, because waves wash sand fleas and other food into them.
Tides & Conditions
The new moon meant stronger tides, and the passes could run hard, so caution was needed when entering or exiting. A front could bring rough surf and sudden wind shifts. For pompano, a clean, green surf with a light onshore breeze was ideal, while muddy, churned water after a front usually meant waiting a day or moving to the bays.
Tackle & Tactics
For pompano, a double-drop rig with fresh sand fleas or Fishbites was the standard. Bull reds took cut mullet or menhaden on a fish-finder rig. Kings were caught slow-trolling live bait or pulling spoons, and trout in the bays took live shrimp under a float. A long surf rod helps reach the second trough when pompano hold beyond the first bar. See our surf fishing guide for rigging and reading the beach.
Local Intel This Week
Public access included Perdido Pass, the Gulf State Park Pier, Fort Morgan State Park and the Billy Goat Hole area, with several public ramps on the bays. Fort Morgan’s beaches were less crowded than the main stretch. Fish were concentrating around the passes and the piers. Check current state and federal regulations and seasons before keeping fish, including Alabama rules. This report records conditions from that week and should not be read as current.
This Week’s Tip
Check the surf each morning before committing. Pompano come in on clean, green water with a mild surf; walk the beach at first light, find the troughs and the swash, and set up where the water looks right rather than where you parked.
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