Just iffen someone was to fish saltwater, say the week of Thanksgiving or thereabouts, along the Alabama gulf coast what should he target? Inshore? offshore? Trolling? Bottom fishing? Forget it and stay home?

A recommendation on a good guide/capt. for whichever type of fishing you suggest would be helpful also.

It looks like I'll be in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores about that time.

There should be some sails and blackfins within a few miles of the beach. That’s specifically what I’m going down for in October, not orange beach but close and I’ll be doing it from a kayak.

Well, that sounds pretty cool. I'll not be trying it in a kayak though. Thanks TFD.

We need to get together for that Oct trip down...

Bull redfish in all the passes. I fish for sailfish from Sept. thru Oct. on the piers from Panama City to Navarre. Kings usually make a good showing close to the beaches.

Let’s do it.

PM to you tfd...

Not an offshore guy, so no help. If you want to catch fish, the delta can be very productive during this time.
Everything is really predicated on upstate rain though. As long as there are not several weeks of flooding rain in November, there should be fish around the causeway. Call Captain Patric Garmeson with Ugly Fishing

Let us know what you do.

I wouldn't spend my time fishing for blackfins within sight of Gulf Shores or Orange Beach....a sporadic sailfish passes through though.

i won’t be in gulf shores or orange beach. I was watching blackfins bust bait last time i was out, the bad part was they were mixed in with 2 acre schools of bonitas so catching one would have been like hitting the lottery but they were there.

Even Bonitos would be fun in a kayak. I'd hope there are no Bull Sharks hanging around though. I love to fish, but I'm to old and fat to even consider paddling out into the Gulf. I think it would have been great to do back around 1986. These days I prefer the smell of diesel over the smell of icy-hot.

They are a blast. It’s not that bad at all if you have a pedal kayak. Shoot, i spend less on a 3 day trip than most folks do 1 day of fishing on a boat. And catch a lot of the same fish.

So how far out would you have to be to find Blackfins or Sails in November? Actually towards the end of November.

Are there still some Spanish or Kings around then? I don't even know what's open or closed season yet, but I will look before I go.

Since the GS pier reopened in 2008, there have no BFT's caught, only a couple schools seen and I think two sails hooked. As for mackerel, it depends on the temps. If dry an warm like three years, there will still be a few around. Whiting, redfish and pompano in the surf will be your best bet and if you bring a skiff, fishing the lights around Ono Island should be great the bull reds should be schooling close to the beach the end of Nov. A 2500 or 4000 size spinning reel loaded with 10 to 12lb mono on a 6'6 or 7' rod will be fine. If you need to borrow a cart or heavier gear let me know. BTW, there are a couple new regs in place this year, flounder is closed the month of November, trout is now 15 to 22'', one can be over and the limit is six per person.

There are quite a few blackfins in close from Panama city to Navarre. The piers catch a few but most are just out of range. We see them tearing up baits all the time. In the 70's, there were quite a few blackfin caught off Panama City Pier.

There are quite a few blackfins in close from Panama city to Navarre. The piers catch a few but most are just out of range. We see them tearing up baits all the time. In the 70's, there were quite a few blackfin caught off Panama City Pier.

Thanks a lot guys. That gives me something to start with. JohnG, I'll definitely check in with you before we hit the water.

I don't fish over there,but late November is speckled trout time in the bays,and/or creeks of Bay and Walton county...

Bull Reds should still be running the beaches around then I would think.