Gulf Shores Public Beach fishing conditions · Alabama

Today 1 pm to tomorrow 7 pmSpotted seatrout

The bite peaks at 67. Water is 69°, close to the 72° spotted seatrout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Rip Current Statement until Monday 6 pm
Log a trip here
Right now: 53 for spotted seatrout, sit it outTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Spotted seatrout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 539 am
  2. 53
  3. 53
  4. 5712 pm
  5. 67
  6. 63
  7. 633 pm
  8. 63
  9. 63
  10. 676 pm
  11. 63
  12. 63
  13. 639 pm
  14. 63
  15. 63
  16. 63Tue
  17. 67
  18. 67
  19. 633 am
  20. 63
  21. 63
  22. 636 am
  23. 63
  24. 63
  25. 679 am
  26. 63
  27. 63
  28. 6312 pm
  29. 67
  30. 67
  31. 633 pm
  32. 63
  33. 63
  34. 636 pm
  35. 53
  36. 63
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
69°F

Spotted seatrout range 60–85°

Wind
15 mph

From the northeast

Light
Daylight

Sunset 6:08 pm

Sky
Mostly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
62°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Alabama regulations for these waters.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

67MarginalToday 1 pm to tomorrow 7 pm

Water

69°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in spotted seatrout's ideal range. Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 22" maximum · 6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 15–22" slot, 6/person/day (one over 22" allowed).

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Alabama

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on spotted seatrout

Black Drum

Black drum

Pogonias cromis

67MarginalToday 1 pm to tomorrow 7 pm

Water

69°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Right in black drum's ideal range. Black drum prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 2–40 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Alabama: no size or bag limit on black drum; it is not on the state saltwater creel and size list.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Alabama

Season here: Sep–May. More on black drum

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

55MarginalTonight, 1 am–3 am

Water

69°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum prefers incoming tide. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside red drum's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 16–26" slot, 3/person/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Alabama

Season here: Mar–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on red drum

Southern Flounder

Southern flounder

Paralichthys lethostigma

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

69°
48°58–82° · ideal 70°92°

Why

Right in southern flounder's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Building seas — uncomfortable and hard to hold position. Holds 1–20 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 14" minimum, 5/person/day. Closed Nov 1–30.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Alabama

Season here: Mar–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on southern flounder

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

69°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Right in sheepshead's ideal range. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Building seas — uncomfortable and hard to hold position. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 8 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 12" minimum, 8/person/day.

Verified Oct 21, 2026 · Alabama

Season here: Year-round, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

The water

  • Water temperature69°F
  • Seas4.9 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.27 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today6:08 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:01 am
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarToday 11:50 am–1:50 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:50 pm–6:50 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 12:20 am–2:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR) has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The main public beach at Gulf Shores, near the Gulf State Park pier. Red drum, speckled trout, sheepshead and black drum, and southern flounder (Alabama closes flounder in November).

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Orange Beach8 mi · AlabamaBest today 1 pm to tomorrow 7 pm
92Go
Dauphin Island Public Beach25 mi · AlabamaBest today 1 pm to tomorrow 7 pmRip Current Statement
75Worth the trip
Mobile Bay30 mi · AlabamaBest today 1 pm to tomorrow 5 pm
100Go
Pensacola Beach34 mi · FloridaBest today 12 pm to tomorrow 9 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Gulf Shores Public Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Gulf Shores Public Beach you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Gulf Shores Public Beach?

Gulf Shores Public Beach is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout, Southern Flounder, Sheepshead, and 1 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Gulf Shores Public Beach?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Gulf Shores Public Beach against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Gulf Shores Public Beach have?

Gulf Shores Public Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Gulf Shores Public Beach?

state agency regulations apply at Gulf Shores Public Beach. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Gulf Shores Public Beach tidal water?

Yes. Gulf Shores Public Beach sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.