Pets are welcome at Gulf Place, but they may not travel on the sand beaches. No glass or breakable containers. No alcoholic beverages. No fishing at Gulf Place.
It's important to note that while alcohol is prohibited on public state beaches in Orange Beach, alcohol can still be consumed responsibly and within the law on private beaches in the city. Dear Guests, Underage drinking, illegal drug use, disorderly conduct or any disturbance of the peace is never tolerated here.
The Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act does not prohibit smoking in bars or restaurants, although designated smoking areas must be enclosed and well ventilated. No area designated as smoking shall contain common facilities which are expected to be used by the public.
No alcohol ban for Dauphin Island as town unveils a revitalized East End Beach. An alcohol ban in Gulf Shores during the month of Spring Break isn't going to extend to Dauphin Island, where officials are touting the completion of a project restoring one of its public beaches.
Beach, who ranks the most beautiful beaches, gives bonus points to smoke-free beaches. He believes if passed, this law would increase tourism. If the bill is passed, the new law allowing counties to ban smoking on beaches would go into effect on July 1. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc.
While Alabama does not have a statewide smoking ban, smoking is prohibited in many public places and meetings because of the Alabama Clean Indoor Act which was enacted in 2003. State local governments have their own bans against smoking in their counties.
39 per one thousand residents
The Gulf Shores ordinance represented the first time an Alabama governing body adopted a smoking ban to also include e-cigarettes, anywhere along a beachfront. Orange Beach and Gulf Shores both approved their ordinances in 2007. Dauphin Island does not have an ordinance in effect.
In general, fires are not permitted on beaches within national parks. This is usually regulated via signs or alert notices on the NSW National Parks website. Where no signs or other notice exists fires may be permitted (check with local area office) as long as there is not a total fire ban or park fire ban in place.
The beaches in the Fort Morgan area are beautiful with sugar white sand and the water is usually very clear. The water quality is also very high. Gulf Shores has been listed by the NRDC as one of only 35 "superstar beaches" throughout the country for water quality. 6.
Tour the Fort Morgan Historic SiteAdmission is $8 for adults and $5 for children; there is also a family admission option for $20.
The Dauphin Island Park and Beach website lists various rules. Clean up is essential, and no motor vehicles are allowed on the beach or dunes. Fires, grilling, glass, and metal detecting are also not allowed.
Sand Fleas are by far the best bait for surf fishing. You have heard the phrase, “Match the hatch” well, sand fleas are the most common food for fish in the surf. Other things that make good bait are live shrimp, fiddler crabs, and fresh peeled shrimp.
Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
| Species | Best time to catch | Offshore |
|---|
| King Mackerel | April - October: Peak August - mid September | X |
| Spanish Mackerel | March - September: Peak: July - August | |
| Pompano | March - October: Peak: July - August | |
| Sailfish, Atlantic | May - October: Peak: July - August | X |
Gulf Shores Deep Sea Fishing PricesThese can cost anything from $500 - $800 depending on the size of the boat. If you want to bottom fish, you should choose anything from a five to an eight hour trip. These will take you fishing the reefs for Snappers, Groupers, and Triggerfish and will cost between $650 and $1000.
It's not the official Orange Beach pier and you can't fish from it unless you're staying at the hotel, but the casting at the base of this pier at Cotton Bayou in Orange Beach is a hot spot for surf anglers. Fish tend to congregate around the pier, giving anglers lots of chances to pull in white fish and bait fish.
But we've drawn up a shortlist of some of the town's most popular catches.
- Redfish.
- Speckled Trout.
- Snappers.
- Cobia and Amberjack.
- Kingfish.
- Big Game Fish.
- Gulf Shores Pier Fishing.
- Gulf Shores Surf Fishing.
A saltwater fishing license is required for all of the waters in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. This includes the Intracoastal Waterway and the back bays. Residents and non-residents are exempt if they are under the age of 16 and residents are exempt at age 65 and older.
The best times to visit Gulf Shores are March through May and September through November. Travelers can take advantage of these sweet spots outside the busy (and more expensive) summertime and enjoy swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, which still offers pleasant temperatures in the late spring and early fall.
Best Alabama Beaches
- Gulf Shores.
- Orange Beach.
- Gulf State Park.
- Dauphin Island.
- Fort Morgan.
- West Beach.
- Fairhope.
- Robinson Island.
The shoreline at Orange Beach is indeed whiter than those on the Atlantic coast, and the water does have a slight greenish hue. The gulf waters in Destin are usually as clear as a swimming pool because it is far away from flowing tributaries.
Key West, Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, and Destin are consistently on the top of the list. There is a natural reason for this. The clarity of the water in any ocean or sea is influenced by how much sediment flows into them. The key quality for each of these places is a large bay adjacent to the shore.
Gulf Shores is very family oriented. Destin is a bit flashier, more upper class, a little more expensive, and as previously mentioned, more traffic and further from the river so clearer water often. Both have plenty of options for condos and houses right on the water.
Weather. From April to May, the weather is terrific. The high temperature hovers around 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and by late spring, the ocean is warm enough for swimming.
Not long ago it was a rarity to see American alligators lurking beneath the waters along the Gulf Coast, but now this once-endangered species has made a triumphant return with a booming population. There's a pretty good bet you will see one, or two, or more in the waters around Mobile.
The Gulf Coast boasts most of the true white sand beaches in the United States, from Gulf Shores to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Build a glistening white sand castle and take in the turquoise waves when you stay at one of our Gulf Shores condos or Orange Beach rentals!
The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are charming beach communities. They are alive and vibrant with a good mix of the young and old bringing excitement to the area. You'll find attractions, dining experiences, music venues and adventure both on and off the water.
