The Gulf waters of Alabama boast 17,000 synthetic reef programs—probably the most of any state within the U.S.— which are residence to dozens of fascinating fish species, whether or not you’re fishing for enjoyable or for meals. The footprint of these 17,000 reefs equates to three, 594 soccer fields and, in consequence, the fishing grounds obtain considerably much less angling stress as a result of sheer quantity of construction. Again in late August, I had the pleasure of visiting Gulf Shores, Alabama, with the oldsters from Shimano to place a few of their latest slow-pitch jigging gear to the check. The fishing was unbelievable, nevertheless it’s simply a part of what makes this area such a fascinating place to go to.
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Sluggish-Pitch Jigging with Shimano
With so many potential locations to fish and so little time, we relied on native information to place us on the meat. Fortunately, our spirited guides, Captain Blake Brown and Captain Buddy Childress of Southern Bend Charters, knew precisely the place to start the search—to not point out, they’re a fantastic dangle. Every time I return to the Gulf Shores space, they’ll be the primary ones I name.
On day 1 of our two-day journey, captains Brown and Childress picked us up on the dock proper behind our resort which, for my part, was a degree of luxurious of which I’m fully undeserving. However, that’s simply southern hospitality for ya.
From the dock, it was a fast 5-minute experience via Perdido Move inlet. We stopped briefly on the mouth, simply off the tip of the jetty, to drop sabiki rigs for bait within the occasion that jigging didn’t produce outcomes. Dolphins cruised alongside the seaside as mullet fled from unknown predators simply alongside the jetty rocks, and small Spanish mackerel lept from the water after plucking hooks from our sabikis. We had been on the boat for not more than 20 minutes and there was already a lot life.
As soon as our group had secured variety of small jack crevalles and quite a lot of different baitfish within the livewell, we organized our beanbag seats within the stern of the middle console for a 40-mile run offshore. One hour later, we started dropping 200-gram sluggish pitch jigs in over 300 toes of water with the brand new Shimano Ocea Jigger LD 2500 and Ocea Jigger Infinity Motive rods. The delicate blanks have a stunning quantity of spine so as to impart motion on such heavy steel in deep water, however the entire energy comes from the reel.
The Ocea Jigger LD is available in two fashions: the 2500MG and 2500HG, which boast 44 kilos of drag stress and retrieve 42- and 46-inches of line per crank, respectively. The reel’s Hagane development makes it light-weight and sturdy, and with Shimano’s InfinityDrive expertise—which now options each drag washers on the handle-side of the reel— aspect stress is considerably lowered. Every of our reels was spooled with 20- to 30-pound check PowerPro Depth Hunter braided line, which modifications shade each 25 toes and contains black tick marks each 10 toes, making it straightforward to measure the depth of your jig within the water column.
The 2-piece Ocea Jigger Infinity Motive rods have been equally as spectacular because the reels. Every of the 4 fashions—medium gentle, medium, medium heavy, and heavy—is constructed with Shimano’s Spiral X Core expertise, which permits the clean to flex into an oval form, boosting breaking power underneath heavy hundreds. The sturdiness of those ultra-flexible rods was on full show once I hooked and battled a 7-foot bull shark to the boat in half-hour after it stole my dinner (and ultimately, my jig).
For a majority of our 6-hour journey on day one, we performed catch and launch with amberjacks as much as 50 kilos, with just a few of the blokes even tripling up.
Almaco jacks, scamp grouper, and crimson snapper have been additionally within the combine. Fortunate for us, it was the final day of crimson snapper season, and Kade Gewanter received one in on the buzzer that was destined to be dinner at Flora-Bama Yacht Membership in Pensacola, FL, later that night.
The following day, the plan was to fish even deeper. We made a barely longer run to a spot jig for snapper and grouper over a pipeline. On the way in which there, Captain Blaine Anderson of Shimano divvied up our lures, together with the Shimmerfall, Wing Fall, and Butterfly Flat Fall jigs. Every jig has a singular motion, and the plan was for the 6 of us to fish all 3 types in numerous weight increments to see what the fish wished. Seems, they responded to every little thing.
Vermilion snapper have been probably the most plentiful on day 2, and whereas we didn’t catch any jumbo amberjacks, we did handle a handful of almaco jacks, a few scamp, just a few rudderfish, and a white snapper—which is equal to a scup (or porgy) within the northeast.
All of that got here again to the dock with us, the place it was filleted by Captain Blake Brown whereas we helped Captain Buddy Childress with the boat cleanup.
Flora-Bama Shore: The Tradition and The Folks
As beforehand talked about, a part of the attract of fishing on this area is the southern hospitality and allure.
Native waterfront hook & cook dinner spots like Zeke’s Touchdown in Orange Seashore and Flora-Bama Yacht Membership in Pensacola, will gladly put together your catch of the day in various methods. We loved blackened scamp grouper—one of the delectable fish I’ve been blessed sufficient to dine on— together with almaco jack tacos, fried vermilion snapper and far more.
The meals was nearly as good because the fishing, however the individuals are what made this journey so unforgettable. We have been made to really feel proper at residence due to our unbelievable host, Easton Colvin of Alabama Seashores, who took trip of his week to indicate us across the native bars and eating places. And naturally, our captains, who have been always busting our chops and offering extra laughs than your common stand-up comedy present.
So, the subsequent time you’re contemplating a winter fishing journey to Florida, assume twice a couple of calmer, extra comfy vacation spot than Miami or Tampa. Between the fishing tradition, the meals, and the pleasant neighborhood, this space is, in my ebook, one of the underrated and under-the-radar fishing locations within the nation. I do know I’ll be heading again quickly.
