Orange Beach Vacation In Late July

[AuroraCanvas]

Hello, some friends of mine have a condo on Orange Beach. We are scheduled to go down and spend a week with them. Usually we walk on the beach and go out to fish for Red Snapper. I am getting conflicting reports as to the condition of the beach and what fishing locations are off limits. Can anybody help out. My friends parents said the beach was not terrible but had some tar spots here and there. They also have said they are able to go someplace (I don't know were) and fish. What are the locals thoughts?

thanks Brian

[285_PRO_XL]

I'm not for certain but I think all the state waters are closed. I've been hearing commercials everyday for FL fishing. If I'm off you can get with me and fresh water fishing.

[hammerhead]

As of 6-24-2010, state waters were open to fishing, catch and release only. State waters extend to 3 miles out (with certain boundaries on the E and W)...anything beyond 3 miles is federal waters and fishing is prohibited.
http://www.outdooralabama.com/...D=821

Little Lagoon is still open and fishable...speckled trout fishing should be really turning on by the end of July.

As far the beach conditions, it depends on the conditions in the gulf. If the wind is blowing out of the W/SW, it pushes the oil closer to the Alabama gulf coast and Florida panhandle. Winds blowing out of the E, push the oil toward the Mississippi coast and Lousiana. The beaches can be beautiful one day, and covered with the oil/tar balls the next day.

Your best bet would be to check the local news station web sites and Outdoor Alabama to keep up with the beach conditions and fishing/boating openings/closings before the trip. They are updated pretty regularly with everything on the oil spill.

Fox10Tv
WKRG
WPMI
WEAR
Outdoor Alabama
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Modified by hammerhead at 8:53 AM 7/14/2010


Modified by hammerhead at 8:54 AM 7/14/2010

[hammerhead]

Also, there are numerous areas off limits to boating due to the oil spill (to protect the areas from the oil). Perdido Pass (Alabama Point), Cotton Bayou, and all associated canals are all closed.

Outdoor Alabama has a link on their site with all information on the oil spill and the areas effected and openings/closings.
http://www.outdooralabama.com/...H.cfm

[AuroraCanvas]

Thanks so much for the update. Sounds like it is a day by day or hour by hour kind of deal. I think we will take our chances and go. We will be with friends and will have fun no matter what. We will play it by ear and see what it is like the day before we leave.

By the way thanks for the offer to go fishing. I will keep that in mind. They have a salt water boat, so I really hope to go out in the ocean. We will see.

Thanks Brian

[Super-Pro]

I just went for a short weekend trip last week. Only went to the beach for about 10 min on Friday but it didn't look too bad. Just as you said, there were little tar balls here and there. There was a multi color sheen in shallow water areas. It was still very pleasant and there were also a few people swimming in the ocean. Me and a couple buddies took my 16' center console down and fished for specks in the bay. We had a great time catching 50-60 fish around pier lights at night. I highly suggest trying the bay fishing. Overall a great trip. Good food and good fishing.

[NWFBOY]

I live in Pensacola about 20 miles away and the beaches are looking good right now. As far as the snapper fishing goes you can still fish and keep fish out of Destin pass. About 1.5 to 2hr drive from Orange Bch with plenty of party boats to take you snapper fishing. Yeah the speck fishing in the bay under the dock lights has been pretty good lately. Check out the Wharf while you are here and go eat at the Fish Camp. Awsome buffet on Saturday nights good home cooked seafood. Have fun. Oh yeah and dont forget to go to the Florabama atleast once!