Dauphin Island, with is beautiful white beaches, is located on the west side of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Alabama. Off Dauphin Island, you might have a fishing experience worth bragging about, whether you're fishing the Gulf surf from a boat, from the beach or from one of the jetties at the east end of the island. Pompano, king mackerel and red drum are just a few of the species found in the Gulf Coast surf. It's not unusual for fishing enthusiasts to catch a shark or two.
Use the right tackle. There are three basic fishing tackle: a light spinning rod (8 lb. line with 6 to 8 foot rod) that's good for catching jacks, bluefish, mackerel and sea trout with artificial bait. Second, there is a medium rod (8 to 12 lb. line with 7 to 8 foot rod) for bottom fishing for whiting, ground mullet and pompano using shrimp or dead fish as bait. The big tackle (8 feet and above rod with 50+ lb. line and leaders) is for the big fish; use whatever size you're capable of throwing 100 yards out into the Gulf. Use dead fish as bait on the big tackle.
Fish with light tackle in the surf and go after the smaller fish. They don't give up easily and their jumping and running gives you the excitement that makes fishing fun.
Throw the line of the big rig 100 feet into the Gulf. You may have to walk into the surf to get it that far out. Put the rod into a rod holder and lay back and enjoy the beach while you wait for the big one.
Fish at Little Billy Goat Hole on the northeast side of Dauphin Island at the last hours of high tide. The hole is located where the bay and Gulf come together. The current is too strong to fish when tide is moving out.
Try fishing at the jetties at the east end of the island when the water is calm. Large and small fish are at the mouth of the bay, so use any size tackle.
Buy a required saltwater fishing license. There is a seven-day license that can be bought online at Outdoor Alabama.
Charter a boat at Dauphin Island and spend a few hours or a few days in the Gulf. Fishing license, equipment and bait come with the boat. It's good to bring food and drink in a cooler.
