Along with a change in the weather to a ‘fallish’ chill, the water temperature drops quickly throughout the month of November. But fishing opportunities abound for shore bound anglers who ignore other distractions and brace against the cold and wind in continued pursuit of the plethora of species available. The bull redfish run is THE quintessential autumn activity at spots like Fort Morgan Point, Alabama Point, Dauphin Island’s west end and points, and at the end of the Gulf State Park Pier through the entire month. Patient bottom fishing with fresh cut mullet or pogies (Atlantic menhaden) is the traditional way to go. But baiting up with a live finger mullet, pinfish, croaker or other hand-sized baits is almost guaranteed to garner a strike from marauding redfish, jack Crevalle or sharks that oft en prowl the near shore waters. Long rods (often over 10’) and large spinning or conventional reels holding over 250 yards of 20#-30# mono or braid are standard equipment for these dedicated anglers looking for that “big pull”. Multiple rods are often set in a ‘picket line’ as improvised PVC rod holders are pushed into the sand at intervals down the beach around a likely looking spot near
a point or bar cut. These patient anglers often pass the time between bites using their lighter spinning tackle as a miniature bottom rig to fish for their bait or even catch whiting and ‘puppy’ drum that often lurk in nearby shallow water. Many days have incoming tides in the late afternoon into the evening and these smaller yet feisty and very tasty fish may venture into shallow ‘beach holes’ right along the shore.
Anywhere the water is even just a few feet deep (literally at the angler’s feet) can offer some great fishing opportunities for exceptional light and even ultra light tackle using standard Carolina rigged pieces of fresh shrimp or ghost shrimp on the bottom. ¼ ounce jigs or Sabiki rigs tipped with pieces of fresh shrimp, ghost shrimp, or even the artificial 2” Gulp Shrimp in ‘New Penny’ or ‘Molting’ colors also work well at times.
In contrast, a much more recently evolving fishing activity is the late ‘fall run’ of king mackerel from the new Gulf State Park Pier. It seems a combination of the longer pier into much deeper waters coupled with relatively mild autumn water temperatures has allowed king mackerel to be caught from the pier as late as Thanksgiving weekend (last year). For the most part, these diehard pier anglers were ‘snobbling’ frozen cigar minnows as few of the large live baits (like LYs) are available once the water temperature gets below 70 degrees. But on mild days some kings still venture by, and they are understandably hungry and ‘supercharged’ by the cool oxygen rich water.