Posted
2016-09-22 17:37:28 by: Johnny Gearfire
Photo by John E. Phillips
Redfish are hugely popular on the Gulf.
Midmorning under a cloudless sky, and Denise, who politely declined to give her last name, was 1,000 feet out and 20 feet above the Gulf of Mexico cleaning a saltwater catfish. Her boyfriend, Monte, thin as a Popsicle stick, was reeling up a bare hook.
“Felt like a mackerel,” he said. “First time I fished here I caught a cobia.” He checked his rig and re-baited with a thumb-size chunk of cut bait.
Denise, Monte, and 10 dozen or so other fishermen were scattered along the Gulf State Park fishing pier—a concrete and wooden monstrosity that juts 1,540 feet into the Gulf from the spit of sand that separates Gulf Shores, Alabama, from neighboring Orange Beach. The pier—and the surf—attracts a community of sorts: locals, vacationers, seasonal regulars. But all are do-it-yourselfers, fishermen who don’t need or want a guide or boat but who love to fish the salt. A few, like me, were first-time visitors wielding rented rods. But many were experienced regulars, generous with advice.
Pier PressureThe current pier opened in 2009, replacing the 825-foot wood structure that had served fishermen since 1968. It had survived a beating by Hurricane Frederic in 1979 but was reduced to splinters by Ivan in 1994. The new one is designed to withstand triple-digit winds, but it has yet to be tested.
If there is any doubt that this place favors fishermen, just read the off-limits list. No pets, bed rolls, cots, sleeping bags, skating, skateboards, bicycles, running, horseplay, beach umbrellas, or lounge chairs. Cast nets, gill nets, spears, spear guns, wire crab traps, and firearms are off limits, too. There are a few amenities available, including restrooms and a snack bar.
The pier is open 24 hours, but late-nighters should arrive fully prepared. The bait-and-tackle shop runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The gate booth is manned from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Third-shift anglers pay via an honor box. ...
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