Surf Fishing Dauphin Island

Surf Fishing
Dauphin Island
The Unofficial Guide
Surf fishing on Dauphin Island can be challenging
and rewarding. Diversity of fish and diversity of
surf fishing locations and conditions provide fishing
opportunities for everyone from families that
want to take the kids out to catch their first fishy to
the experienced angler looking to land a Bull Red.
Hopefully, this guide will provide you with some
of the how to’s, where at’s and what with’s to get
your line wet on Dauphin Island. This guide is not a
comprehensive guide to all saltwater fishing rather
it is a edited collection of post, tips and insights
mostly found on the Arkansas Fats’ Dauphin Island
BBS found at: www.di-bbs.com. Fishing folks, being
some of the friendliest people in the world, are
always willing to share what is working for them.
So if you don’t find the answers you are looking
for here, ask the person standing next to you at the
beach, pier or sitting out by the jetties. You will
probably learn more in five minutes talking with a
local than you will in reading this guide.
Tight lines!
(*This guide is not an endorsement any retailer or product. Links provided are for the purpose of information or illustration only.)
Skypig.info
Basic Fishing Tackle
Immediately after each and every time you go fishing in salt water,
throughly rinse the salt and sand from your reels in fresh water then
generously oil and lube.
You don’t need to buy specialized surf tackle to enjoy beach fishing
unless you’re going for big fish like Bull Redfish, Rays or Sharks.
Most fish that are easy to catch in the surf are less than 3 pounds and less
than 100' from shore when the surf is calm. Some of the piers on Dauphin
Island rent basic tackle. In addition to rods and reels, consider some creature
comforts. Make a sand spike from a 3 1/2 foot piece of 2” pvc. Cut the
bottom off at 45°. Push into the sand about 12” and the spike will hold your
rod. Now all you need is a chair, cooler and bait.
Rods and reels can run the full scale of prices, and you usually get what you
pay for. Zebco® makes combo packages for around $50.00 and you can
easily spend $200.00 to $300.00 for a rod and reel from Penn®. Below are
some guides to help you select three basic outfits. You can supply the dollar
amount and go shopping.
Three Basic Outfits:
1.) A LIGHT SPINNING RIG
8 lb line on a 6 1/2' to 8' rod. With this rig you can usually reach any of the
schooling species of Jacks, Bluefish, Mackerel and Sea Trout using a variety
of lures like white or yellow 1/2 ounce leadhead jig with a hair tail, or one of
the plastic minnow imitations in a silvery color
2.)BOTTOM FISHING RIG
A 7 to 8 foot rod with 8 lb to 12 lb line. A half ounce to one ounce egg weight
is enough when the surf is calm, but will likely need a pyramid sinker of at
least two ounces if there is much surf running. Use 1/2 of a fresh dead
shrimp or a slice of fresh dead fish on the bottom with a medium sized 4/0
circle hook. You will likely catch Catfish (be careful) but also Whiting, Ground
Mullet, and even an occasional Pompano.
3.) THE “BIG RIG”
An 8' to whatever sized surf fishing rod capable of casting a piece of dead or
small live fish out about 100 yards. 40 lb braided Spiderwire® line with 50 lb to
100 lb steel braided leaders and a 8/0 or 9/0 circle hook with all the lead your
rod will handle with bait. Use fish heads, cut or whole fish to bait. Keep your
drag set light, and don’t jerk the hook when you get a bite, just reel and let
the hook set itself.
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Natural and Live Baits
Always use the freshest bait you can get.
Live shrimp
Live shrimp is always a good bet. Use under a float for a variety of fish
including Speckled Trout, Spanish Mackerel and Bonitas.
Dead shrimp
Use large whole shrimp for big fish. Use a toothpick and straighten out
whole dead shrimp, it makes them look alive and the fish hit them better.
Smaller shrimp pieces work fine for small fish.
Fishing Line
There is a wide range of fishing line available. In general, 8 lb to 10 lb
monofilament line with a 40 lb monofilament leader can be used
for the smaller fish. For larger “toothy” fish like Mackerel or Shark,
use the heaviest braided line your rod will handle, Spiderwire® is
recommended, with a 50 lb to 100 lb steel leader.
Knot Tying
Regardless of the price or quality of your equipment, at the end of the day if
you can’t keep a hook on, you have no fish. Each fisherman has a favorite
knot and a favorite way to tie that knot so be sure to explore knot tying.
For starters though, the Palomar is the easiest and strongest to
hold terminal tackle and it is a great knot to introduce kids to knot tying.
1. Pass the line through the eye of the hook then back out of the eye of the
hook forming a 4 inch loop. Let the hook hang loose.
2. Tie an overhand knot in the doubled line. Don’t twist or tighten the line.
3. Pull the loop far enough to pass it completely over the hook.
4. Wet the line.
5. Hold the hook carefully, and pull the loose end with the standing
line slowly to tighten the loose end.
Skypig.info
Frozen shrimp
Buy frozen or fresh shrimp, shrimp for human consumption is better. Peel, clean
and cut the shrimp into two or three pieces. Spread out the pieces and
liberally sprinkle with salt. This toughens the shrimp. Put the shrimp in a
Ziploc® bag and put it in the freezer until you're ready to use it. By the time
you reach the beach it will be thawed. Frozen shrimp catches lots off fish,
especially Croakers, Blue Runners, Pompano, Pinfish, Sheepshead,
Spadefish, Speckled Trout, White Trout and Whiting
Squid
You can buy squid at most of the local bait stores and grocery stores.
The whole white squid is recommended. Squid comes in 1 and 3 pound
boxes of whole squid. You can either put the entire squid on the hook or
cut it into cross-sections. All fish like squid so you are liable to catch
anything from Shark to Bluefish to Catfish.
Live Fish and Minnows
Live Pin Fish and Croakers are good during the summer for Speckled Trout.
Bull minnows can be very effective for Flounder. Finger Mullet can be
caught if you are good with a cast net or they can be purchased locally at
most bait shops. Ladyfish are caught for bait right out of the surf using
a 2” chrome spoon.
Cut Fish
If you have some big gear for big fish like Bull Reds and Sharks, use fish
heads, cut or whole bait with a 8/0 or 9/0 circle hook and all the lead your
rod will handle with the bait. Keep your drag set light, and don’t jerk the
hook when you get a bite, just reel and let the hook set itself. Fish either in
the surf or try the jetties by Ft Gains. For cut bait use, Bluefish, Ladyfish,
Whiting, and Pinfish, in that order.
Lures
You can use soft plastics, jigs, hard lures and spoons effectively in the surf
but usually the surf needs to be really calm and the water fairly clear. It’s
often best to wade out into the water when fishing from the beach. The trick
with using lures is to cast as far out as possible, let it sink to the bottom and
give it a slow yet erratic retrieve that keeps the lure near the bottom, unless
you see fish striking the surface. Below are lures that have been used and
recommended with positive fishing result on Dauphin Island.
Plastic shad on jig head. Sliver or White
Leadhead jig with a hair tail - White or Yellow 1/2 ounce
If you’re looking for a bit of variety, and a good fight, you can use medium
range tackle to fish lures for Jacks (Ladyfish) at night and Blue Runners during
the day. All you need is some 1/4 to 1/2 ounce leadhead jigs on a single or
twin 'speck rig' 1/8 oz leadhead jigs with a monofilament leader. Jig heads
work well under the lights at the pier for Ladyfish. They also work pretty well
during the day and catch a variety of gamefish including Seatrout, Red Fish
and Flounder. Work them slower and deeper during the day.
Mirrolures - http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...5-_-mirrolures
Skitterwalk – http://www.basspro.com/servlet/catal...=SearchResults
Gotchas - http://www.seastriker.com/gotcha/
Spoons
Gold or Silver 3/4 ounce.
Skypig.info
Weights/Sinkers
A 2 oz pyramid weight is commonly used, but depending on the roughness
of the surf you can change the size. If the surf is breaking rough use a 3 oz
or 4 oz weight. The pyramid design causes the weight to dig into the sand
floor and not be affected by the waves.
Hooks
Circle hooks prevent the fish from throwing the hooks. Use 1/0 to 4/0 circle
hooks for smaller fish. Use 9/0 circle hooks for Bull Reds or Shark.
Float
Recommend small, medium or large painted styrofoam floats rather than
round bobbers because fish don't feel as much resistance pulling them
under. You may have to adjust the depth depending on where you are fishing.
Use a float to suspend the bait for species like Pinfish and Spadefish, small
but fun, about like saltwater ‘bream’. Also, floats are a good way to keep live
bait like shrimp away from Croakers and crabs so gamefish can find them.
There are a couple of ways to attach the weight. The first is to attach the line
to the leader by running the line through the loop at the top of the weight
and then tying it directly to the loop at the end of the leader. By doing this it
allows the weight to slide on the line. This allows the baited hook to move in
the surf and when a fish hits the bait it doesn't feel the weight. The second
way, you must build your own leaders. Run the leader line through
the weight before you create the loops on either end and attach the leader
sleeves. Again, this allows the weight to slide on the leader and has a
better chance of not rubbing the line.
PYRAMID SINKER
OFFSHORE ANGLER® SURF SINKERS
Pyramid sinkers are ideally suited
for beach surf fishing. The top
corners of the weight help it hold
position in the sand.
Great for beach surf. Copper
“legs” dig into the sand but easily
release when you are reeling in.
Leaders
For smaller fish a 45 lb monofilament line with a snap swivel works fine. Large
“toothy” fish like Sharks require 50 lb to 100 lb steel braid leaders so that your
line is not cut.
EGG SINKER
Rounded Egg Sinkers are ideally
suited for use inshore or near the
pier or jetties. The rounded ends
are less likely to get hung up on
rocks and snags than a pyramid.
WIRE RIG SURF SINKERS FROM
BREAKAWAY TACKLE®.
Very strong, good even for
Sharks, great for distance.
http://www.breakawayusa.com/
Game Fish
Your basic set up and baits work great for catching quantities of fish like
Croakers in the bay and White Trout and Ground Mullet from the Gulf Pier.
Gafftopsail Catfish and Hardhead Catfish
In dirty water you’ll get Catfish, in clean water you’ll get Catfish, in any water
unfortunately, you get Catfish. Beware of the barbs! The barbs of the
Hardhead Catfish are reportedly venomous and can pack a painful sting if
you get barbed. It is also reported that if you are barbed by a Hardhead
Catfish, the slimy under belly is a natural anti-venom that can be rubbed into
the wound.
Bluefish
Bait: Artificial lures (small spoons, feather lures, metal spoons and squids,
surface plugs) and cut bait.
Where and how to Catch: Trolling or casting to schools of fish with artificial
lures; surfcasting and bottom fishing with cut bait; surfcasting with artificial
lures in Gulf waters, surf, and around passes.
Season: March - November
Cobia/ Ling
Bait: Live bait (Pinfish, Mullet, Silver Eels); artificial lures (large spoons, white
bucktails, plastic eels, swimming plugs); cut bait (Menhaden or Cigar Minnows).
Where and how to Catch: Cast, drift or slow troll live baits around buoys,
floating and underwater obstructions and schools of fish swimming on the
surface; anchor, chum and fish live baits, fresh dead baits and cut bait in
chum slick; cast and troll lures around buoys, floating obstructions and to
schools, pods or individual cobia swimming on surface. Offshore reefs and
caught along Gulf beaches in the surf zone when migrating, usually mid-March.
Many fish are caught by sighting the fish on the surface and casting to them.
Season: March - October, Peak: mid May – mid September
Atlantic Croker
Croakers are primarily bottom feeders.
Bait: Cut bait, squid, dead shrimp
Where and how to Catch: Bottom fishing with dead or cut bait, anchored or
drifting from boats. Also caught from piers, docks, shore in Mobile Bay,
tributary rivers, coastal bays, coastal Gulf waters, inlets.
Season: April - October
Red Fish
Redfish run the gulf side on a calm day, but they are few and very far between.
Locals have been seen pulling in huge Redfish in from the pier and along
the jetties on the east end of Dauphin Island near Ft. Gaines late evening
into early night time using cut bait like a piece of croaker.
Bait: Cut bait fresh Mullet, Croaker, Menhaden, crabs, artificial lures spoons, large plugs, jigs.
Where and how to Catch: Bottom fishing, trolling and casting spoons, plugs
and jigs. Surfcasting with bait on barrier island beaches and bait fishing
along interior seaside marshes; bait fishing in Mobile Bay along Eastern
Shore and oyster reefs and shoal areas at the mouth of the Bay; trolling and
casting artificial lures for large “bull” reds.
Season: All Year
Flounder
Bait: Live bait (bull minnows and small croakers), artificial lures (bucktails);
big strip baits and live Croaker or small Mullet or Croakers often used for big
fish in lower Mobile Bay.
Where and how to Catch: Drift fishing with live or dead natural baits fished
on the bottom; slow trolling natural baits on bottom; jigging with live bait
along jetties, casting from beaches and piers; trolling small bucktails dressed
with strip baits (especially for big fish in lower Mobile Bay); and jigging along
all coastal shorelines on dark moon in calm waters. Coastal bays and inlets;
Mobile Bay area; lower Mobile Bay;
Season: April - October; peak May-July on Eastern Shore, Peak June October in Mobile Bay
Kingfish/Whiting/Ground Mullet
Range from 9-12", fight hard and taste good. Medium to medium light spincast
or spinning tackle, 8-10 lb. line. Rig Carolina style with a 1/4 to 1/2 oz. egg
or bullet sinker above a 15-18" leader of 8-10 lb. line, not wire! Tie a 4/0 gold
Aberdeen hook. Make sure your drag will give a little. Use frozen shrimp for
bait working it pretty slow and steady across the bottom, they're bottom
feeders. If they're there, they'll bite. Whiting bite best early and late in the
day and in clear water but Ground mullet don’t mind when the water is swift
or dingy. Stand at the edge of the water and toss the bait out; you don’t
have to cast far. Reel back slowly. Put the fish you catch in a bucket of water.
Don’t leave them in too long before you clean them.
Bait: Dead shrimp, small pieces of cut bait, squid fished on bottom.
Where and how to Catch: Whiting (Gulf Kingfish) are caught in the surf and
off piers and lower portions of the bays, including lower bay piers.
Ground Mullet (Southern Kingfish) are caught on the inshore artificial reefs
and around oyster reefs and tidal river mouths. Night fishing is productive.
Season: May – September
Ladyfish
Bait: Cut strips, small live fish or live shrimp. Ready strikers on artificial lures
of appropriate size; jigs and small top water plugs rate high as do popping
bugs and small white streamer flies.
Where and how to Catch: At night schools of ladyfish are attracted to the
baitfish swimming under the pier lights and are an easy target. Even though
they are not good eating, they are great gamefish (averaging about 1 1/2 to
2 pounds) and will make multiple runs and leaps attributing to their nickname
“poor man’s tarpon”. They make a fun ‘distraction’ while fishing for Ground
Mullet and White Trout. Ladyfish are also make an excellent cut fish bait.
Season: Year round
King Mackerel
Bait: Cigar minnows; artificial lures; spoons, feather lures, nylon jigs. Slow
trolling, drifting or anchoring with live bait; Mullet, Pinfish, Menhaden, trolling
with artificial lures, trip bait and balao
Where and how to Catch: Coastal and offshore Gulf waters, particularly
around wrecks, rigs, obstructions, ledges, lumps and other “structure”; and
off Gulf inlets. drifting live or cut bait, sometimes around shrimp boats or gas
platforms or by trolling. Both natural and artificial baits can be used for trolling.
Season: May - October; peak August - middle September
Spanish Mackerel
Bait: Small artificial lures; spoons, metal lures, feather and nylon lures, small
live baits; scaled sardines, mullet.
Where and how to Catch: Trolling; casting to schools of fish. Coastal Gulf
waters, particularly off inlets, along tide lines, fish under feeding birds. Lures
for Spanish mackerel work best with a high speed retrieve. Best color lures
are silver, white, and gold. Spanish readily take live shrimp or bait fish.
Short wire leaders will prevent these toothy fish from cutting your line. Black
swivels should be used or the Mackerel will strike at the swivel and cut your line.
Season: May - September, Peak: July - August
Pinfish
Bait: Cut shrimp, fish or bits of bacon. Small jigs on ultra-light spinning rod.
Where and how to Catch: Pinfish swarm over grass flats, rocks and bars.
Season: All Year.
Pompaon
Bait: Mole Crabs “sand fleas”, small bucktails, plastic tail jigs.
Where and how to Catch: Pompano frequent the surf zone right where the
waves break in “suds” on the beach. feeding on the sand fleas that live in
this high energy area. Live sand fleas fished on bottom in surf zone with a
1/0 or 2/0 hook weighted with a very small split shot along Gulf beaches.
Flip the baited hook in this area and allow it to be carried with the current.
Season: May - October; Peak: July - August.
Seatrout – Sand and Silver (White trout)
Bait: Small pieces of cut bait, dead shrimp or squid fished on bottom.
Where and how to Catch: White trout are caught on piers, around oyster
reefs. Often, night fishing is most productive.
Season: May - November - Peak: June and July.
Seatrout – Speckled
Bait: Artificial lures; mirror-sided plugs, bucktails, plastic tail jigs, live bait
fish; Croakers, Mullet, Menhaden; live shrimp.
Where and how to Catch: Along Gulf beaches in March. Spring method: live
shrimp or Croakers fished near shore of marshy or grassy areas and around
oyster reefs, inshore artificial reefs, rock jetties and shoal areas on flooding
tides; Late Fall/Winter method in rivers and above Mobile Bay Causeway
(deep holes, drop-offs, channels): casting artificial lures and also live bait
fishing, trolling and jigging. Spring: estuaries; submerged grass flats and
inshore artificial reefs.
Season: All Year.
SHARPNOSE SHARK
SAND SHARK
BLACK TIP SHARK
Sharks
Bait: Squid. Whole dead fish and cut fish. Live bait; fish
Where and how to Catch: Anchor, chum and fish dead and live fish baits
in chum slick and on bottom. Seaside coastal waters and around passes
and inlets.
Season: March - November
Sheepshead
Bait: Live shrimp, hermit crabs or fiddler crabs, fished on the bottom or with
a float.
Where and how to Catch: Fish around oyster reefs, bridge pilings, inshore
artificial reefs, rock jetties and oyster reef areas on flooding tides. A 1/0 hook
is just about right. Move from place to place along jetties to find.
Season: All Year
Spadefish
Bait: Pieces of peeled fresh shrimp and squid; or try small pieces of jellyfish
with small 5/0 or 6/0 double strength hooks.
Where and how to Catch: Fish visible schools of fish around obstructions
jetties and piers.
Season: All year
Where to Fish
Just be prepared to be mobile and have fun. The most productive areas
generally take a little work. With shore bound families try the fishing piers
with small hooks. The big DI Public Pier on the gulf side, the small free pier
near Little Billy Goat hole and the Cedar Point Pier at the north end of
the bridge are all good. For those willing to work a little harder, the jetties and
surf fishing the beaches can be very rewarding.
During the summer Speckled Trout, Redfish and Flounder can be just about
anywhere around the Island, early and late in the day. Some fish will go
shallow around the shoals just west of the DI Bridge and along the beaches
and jetties on the south side including Pelican Island and the west end of
Dauphin Island if the water is fairly calm.
Dauphin Island Public Pier
Sand from Pelican Island lying just south of Dauphin Island, was push north
by the pounding wave action of the 2005 hurricane season. The movement
of sand reached the end of the fishing pier causing less fishing area at the
pier and am more compressed current in the cut separating Pelican Island
and Dauphin Island. Beware of rip currents in this area. Fishing is reported
to be great! Ladyfish, Trout, Mullet, Spadefish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel.
Recommended baits include: live shrimp, rubber shad and 1/2 oz jig with skirts.
March - November open 24 hours a day. December open 7am to 11pm,
January and February 7am to 5pm. The fishing pier is located east of the
Water Tower with plenty of parking. The pier is 850' long with railing all
around. Concessions, snacks, cold drinks, and tackle available on the pier.
The pier is wheelchair accessible. Non Alcoholic beverages allowed on the
pier. The pier has bottom lights for Specked Trout fishing as well as overhead
lighting for night fishing.
Fish being caught: Late March thru April; Sheephead, April and May thru
October/early November; Speckled trout, Red Fish, Flounder, King
Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Ling, Shark-black tip, sand shark & hammerhead.
November thru February: Red Fish, Black Drum, Flounder, Sheephead.
Dauphin Island East End
“L” JETTY
LITTLE
BILLY GOAT
HOLE
PYRAMIDS
BILLY GOAT
HOLE
FERRY
DOCK
DI FREE
PIER
NE JETTY
ESTUARIUM
ENE JETTY
FT GAINES
CAMPGROUND
DAUPHIN ISLAND
SEALAB
E JETTY
PUBLIC
PARKING
AUDUBON PARK
BIRD SANCTUARY
LONG JETTY
LAST JETTY
WADING JETTIES
Free Pier at Little Billy Goat Hole
Located North of the Jetties on the east end. The best times to fish the pier
are the last few hours of a tide and the first after it changes. The rest of the
time the current is likely too strong, those may be good times to check out
the jetties. The best fishing times at the pier during the summer are early in
the morning and in the evening until just after dark. Drop by the pier and ask
if anything is biting, and if not go on to the jetties. The Free Pier is noted for
Bull Redfish, large Flounder, Ground Mullet and White Trout.
Cedar Point Pier
Longest privately owned fishing pier on the gulf coast! Located at the north
end of the Dauphin Island bridge. Food, bait, beer, tackle, ice and boat
launch are all available. Tackle for sale or rent. Clean restrooms. Plenty of
parking. Near hotels and RV sites. No fishing license required for Alabama
residents. Get expert fishing advice from the Cedar Point staff plus lots of
tall tales from the local “experts”. Call 1-251-873-4476 for the latest
fishing report and travel information. Call ahead for times during off season.
Pyramids
Concrete Pyramids are located just west of the ferry landing. You can wade out
and fish from the pyramids for Flounder, Redfish and small Speckled Trout.
Jetties East End
The jetties are good places to fish when the water is calm. To avoid twisted
ankles and busted gear it is recommended to fish between the jetties,
not out on the end of the rocks, near Ft. Gaines. Bull Redfish, Flounder,
Sheepshead, Speckled Trout and Ground Mullet can be caught.
Redfish seem to like the jetties on the east end, early morning, and at night.
Beach
Surf fishing on the beach during the summer can be productive on DI, but you
have to work for it. Once you learn to read the surf you will realize that most
casts for reds etc. don’t need to go that far on DI, you are already off-shore.
Trout, Catfish, Sand andAtlantic Sharpnose Sharks, and Rays are pretty
common along the beach. In some areas Bull Redfish are catchable. Speckled
Trout from the golf course eastward, Pompano, Whiting, Croakers,
Catfish, Flounder, Redfish, Black Drum and Ladyfish.
Reading The Beach
Beaches look the same if you don’t surf fish a lot. Breaking waves and churning
tides can be confusing. Each section of beach has a combination of obvious
and subtle characteristics that determine the presence of fish. The key to
reading the beach is locating sections of beach that attract fish.
Sandbars are key to telling where the fish will be. Between the beach and
the sandbar a trough develops that runs parallel to the beach. Small fish,
crabs and shellfish get trapped in this trough and attract larger fish for feeding.
Normally there are two sandbars. This may vary in some areas but normally
there is a sand bar about 50 yards off the beach and then another one about
50 the 100 yards past that one. The width of the trough is critical in
determining the types of fish you might catch. Larger fish such as Redfish
like a deep wide area to move. If the inner trough is shallow or narrow you may
need to try and cast past the first bars into the second trough. Whiting, Pompano,
Ladyfish, Flounder and smaller baitfish normally stay inside the first bar.
Next look for the way the fish get into these troughs from the open ocean.
Look for a break in the outer bar. If there is a break in the bar, a wave will
pass over the bar, but will not crest. If this occurres consistently, that indicates
a cut in the bar. Fast moving, rippling, or discolored water may also be seen
at these breaks or outflows when the tide is falling. Not only will wandering
fish come into the trough through these breaks, the fast moving water
around these breaks will often form rip currents that send food swirling past
the predator fish.
Currents and winds scallop out the beach and form points where fish like to
collect. Frequently, the water is deep on one side of a point. A perfect location
for fish to gather. A well defined point on an open beach may attract fish.
Concentrate your efforts in a location that is just a bit different from the rest
of the surrounding area.
Hard structures like jetties, piers, bridges, or inlets are locations that encourage
fish to stop and gather. These don’t change, while the beaches around them
changes regularly. Inlets can be very productive locations to fish the surf.
On a falling tide, the small baitfish and other sources of food are swept out
of the inlet, providing a natural chum line that attracts fish from miles away.
Fishing the Tides
The trick is to learn the tidal currents and keep moving until you locate feeding
fish. Fish on a moving out going high tide, not the low or high tide.
Observe tide chart below. The strength of the tides will increase slightly each
day July 18th thru 24th (the New moon). After the 24th the strength of the
tidal current will decrease a bit each day until the NEAP tides on July 30 &
31 when there will be little or no tidal movement most of the day.
Look for times with the favorable tidal movement: like early morning and
evening for Speckled Trout on the 19th thru the 22nd and look for Spanish
Mackerel midmorning at the pier from the 23rd thru the 29th.
The wind and sky conditions further complicate the variables, and too often
even when conditions seem ideal, the fish don't know it and nobody’s home.
ARTICLE FROM THE DAUPHIN ISLAND TIMES, SUMMER OF 2004.
A man reportedly fell off a boat near the Dauphin Island fishing pier about
3:30 p.m., prompting an hours-long search Saturday evening by the U.S.
Coast Guard, Mobile County Sheriff's Flotilla and Alabama State Marine Police.
Coast Guard Petty Officer John Parker said the man was ejected from a
20-foot wooden boat, in which two other men were also passengers. The
missing man's identity was being withheld pending more information and the
notification of his family.
Rip Currents
What is a Rip Current? A rip current, commonly called rip tides and incorrectly
called undertows, is like a shallow river or channel of water on the surface
of the ocean. Rip currents are strong, and can pull you out away from the
shore even if you are a good swimmer.
Parker said a 23-foot boat and a 41-foot boat from the Coast Guard's Dauphin
Island station, as well as a helicopter, participated in the search Saturday
night. Parker said a Coast Guard Falcon jet participated earlier in the day.
"We're going to continue searching until something comes up," Parker said
late Saturday night.
SIGNS THAT A RIP CURRENT MAY BE PRESENT
• A break in the incoming wave pattern.
• A channel of churning, choppy water.
• A line of foam or debris moving out to sea.
• A difference in water color.
BREAK THE GRIP OF THE RIP
Knowing what to do if caught in a rip current’s grip can save your life or the life
of a friend. Trying to swim straight to the beach against a rip current is just
too difficult. Even a good swimmer will become tired and might even drown.
IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT STAY CALM
• Don’t fight the current.
• Swim in a direction following the shoreline (parallel).
• Float or tread water if you’re unable to escape by swimming. When the
current weakens, swim at an angle (away from the current) toward shore.
• If you cannot reach shore, draw attention to yourself. Face the shore, call
or wave for help.
HELPING SOMEONE ELSE
Many people have died while trying to rescue others caught in rip currents.
Don’t become a victim yourself. If a lifeguard is not present, shout directions
on how to escape the current. If possible, throw something that floats to the
rip current victim. Call 911.
At the time of the accident, a weather station on the east end of Dauphin Island
was reporting relatively stiff winds between 10 and 20 miles per hour.
Though the beach near the pier is owned by the Dauphin Island Park and
Beach Board, no lifeguards are present. The board says it doesn't have
enough money to hire one. The board also doesn't post surf warning flags.
The tide was going out at the time the man went overboard. That, combined,
with the large amount of rain recently in areas north of Dauphin Island can
combine to increase the normal east-to-west current that flows just offshore.
Scientists at Dauphin Island Sea Lab have warned in the past that such a
scenario of an outgoing tide and a large flow of freshwater from the
mouth of Mobile Bay can make for heavy tides and strong rip currents. Such
situations can prove hazardous, even to strong swimmers.
One drowning was reported at Dauphin Island in 2003 and none so far this year.
There have been 20 non-boating drownings on Dauphin Island since 1989,
according to the Marine Police. The vast majority have taken place from the
pier eastward.
Since 1979, there have been 21 rip current deaths at the island's beaches,
said Gary Beeler, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather
Service in Mobile
Resources
Bait Shops
FISH BONES
Across the street from the Circle K.
JEMISON’S
Just north of the first short bridge to the north of the Causeway going to DI.
They are stocked with tackle like hooks, weight, jig heads, etc. Jemison's
also carries fishing licenses.
SHIP-N-SHORE
On the island. They are stocked with tackle like hooks, weight, jig heads and
frozen shrim and squid baits.
Fishing License
JEMISON’S
Just north of the first short bridge to the north of the Causeway going to DI.
DI Marine Resources office on the island (M-F 8-4)
Outdoor Alabama
Online fishing license are available if you want to purchase before your trip.
http://www.outdooralabama.com/fishin...water/license/
Online Resources
Arkansas Fats' Dauphin Island BBS http://www.di-bbs.com/
Wells Daily fishing forecast - http://gulffishing.com/fcstframe.html
Outdoor Alabama - http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/
Outdoor Alabama Saltwater Fishing Tips - http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/
fishing/saltwater/tips.cfm
Current Outdoor Alabama Tide Chart –
http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/fishing/...s05.cfm#August