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.
539 am
53
53
5712 pm
67
63
633 pm
63
63
676 pm
63
63
639 pm
63
63
63Tue
67
67
633 am
63
63
636 am
63
63
679 am
63
63
6312 pm
67
67
633 pm
63
63
636 pm
53
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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).
Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.
9 am
12 pm
3 pm
6 pm
9 pm
Tue
3 am
6 am
9 am
12 pm
3 pm
6 pm
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.
Press / anywhere to search. Towns list the closest spots.