Orange Beach Fishing Report – Dec 2016

The December  Orange Beach Fishing Report is here and the baitfish will be leaving the bay for the winter and going out to sea.  This makes for tough fishing in the bay but GREAT FISHING in the gulf.  The Sheepshead will be following the bait out but they will do so to spawn on inshore shallow wrecks and reefs.  This will continue through the end of the month.

Red Drum Fishing

There will be good fishing for Red Drum (redfish) just off the beaches with fish up to 40lbs common.  This will last through February.  On good days there will be a North wind to lay down the wave height.  Most fish will be caught within 3 miles of the beach with most caught in 25ft or less of water.  2 oz bucktail jigs with plastic trailers work good for these fish.   Top water plugs can draw massive strikes.  Trolling up and down the beach with a stretch 20 type lure is a common practice.  Any live bait available will certainly be hammered.

Pompano Fishing

Pompano will show sporadically throughout the cooler months.  Some days will be great while others will not.  These fish move a lot, here today, gone tomorrow.  Live shrimp on Carolina rig and small jigs are the bait of choice.

Red Snapper Fishing

Plenty of Red Snapper for catch and release fishermen as the season will be closed until June.  These hard fighters are more fun than you can stand on light tackle.

King Mackerel Fishing

King Mackerel are here and there, scattered at best, but still in the mix.

Speckled Trout Fishing

Up in the bay,  in the creek and rivers, is where you will find the speckled trout.  They move here for warmer waters and will be in the deepest holes.  Fish with live shrimp or jigs with gulp and fish slow, very close to the bottom.  If you get 3-4 days of really warm weather these fish will move to the shallows where you can catch them on popping corks, twitching baits, grubs on light jig heads ⅛ oz.  Always make sure the presentation is slow …..