County Road 95 Park, Arnica Bay Fishing

County Road 95 Park is a pocket-sized public access on the shore of Arnica Bay, where the road simply runs out at the water. It is a place for a short, unhurried session on a bay corner that sees few other anglers.

• A road-end overlook on Arnica Bay beside the mouth of Stone Quarry Bayou
• Brackish to fairly salty water with speckled trout, redfish and flounder
• Winter waterfowl on the bay and pine woods around the access
• No facilities, and fishing is not listed by the county, so check the signs

The access is at the very southern end of County Road 95, reached from US 98 in Lillian by heading west and then turning south onto County Road 95 and following it to the end. Baldwin County maintains it as a small public access point overlooking Arnica Bay and Stone Quarry Bayou.

• The road ends in a small turnaround at the water's edge; homes line the last stretch
• No marked lot is listed, so park only where signs allow and keep the turnaround clear
• No entrance fee is listed
• Treat it as a daytime spot and check any posted hours
• Fish from the shoreline at the overlook; the banks either side are private

Arnica Bay is brackish and often fairly salty here, though a run of heavy rain sweetens it for a few days and pushes fish toward Perdido Bay.

• Spring (Mar-May): speckled trout and redfish move onto the shallow edges as the bay warms
• Summer (Jun-Aug): croaker, white trout and pinfish on bottom baits, with trout at daybreak
• Fall (Sep-Nov): redfish and southern flounder feed hard before the first fronts, the best time of year here
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum on mild days, and trout tucked into the deeper bayou mouth

Keep it light: a 7-foot spinning rod with 8 to 12 lb line and a small tackle bag is plenty for a short walk to the water.

• Speckled trout: a live shrimp or a paddle-tail soft plastic under a popping cork across the bayou mouth
• Redfish: cut mullet or shrimp on a Carolina rig, or a gold spoon along the grass
• Southern flounder: a bull minnow worked slowly over sand in fall
• Croaker and white trout: a two-hook bottom rig with small pieces of shrimp
• Sheepshead and black drum: fiddler crabs or shrimp near any hard bottom or debris in winter

The tide in Arnica Bay is small, mostly a single high and low each day, and on some days it hardly moves, so wind usually decides how the fishing goes.

• Moving water in either direction beats slack; plan around the stronger daily tide
• A light south breeze brings the cleanest water onto this shore
• North winds behind winter fronts lower the water and send fish into the deeper bayou mouth
• Strong winds of any kind muddy the shallow bay
• Heavy rain upstream freshens and darkens the water for a few days
• Use the tide tables for the Perdido Bay and Orange Beach area

It is a quiet, low-risk corner, but there is nothing here to help you if something goes wrong.

• No lights, restrooms or drinking water; carry what you need
• The shoreline can be soft, slippery or rocky, so wear sturdy shoes
• Watch for boat wakes and keep lines clear of passing boats
• Leave at the first thunder in summer; the overlook is open and exposed
• Hardhead catfish spines are sharp; handle them carefully
• Access: a short step from the road end to the water; uneven ground with no ramps or rails

There are no facilities at the access.

• No restrooms, lights, bait or shade that we could confirm
• No marked parking listed
• Restaurants, a marina and stores are a short drive back up County Road 95 and along US 98
• Bring bait from Elberta, Foley or Orange Beach before you come

• Come early on a weekday, when the road is quiet and the bay is calm
• Bring binoculars in winter; the bay fills with ducks and diving birds
• Watch for mullet showering and birds diving over the bayou mouth, where trout and reds feed
• A popping cork with live shrimp is the simplest way to find fish on this shore
• If the bay is blown out and muddy, try again after the wind drops

County Road 95 Park is a small public access maintained by Baldwin County. The county does not list fishing at this access, so read any posted signs and follow them.

• Respect the private property on either side of the overlook
• Park only where signs allow and do not block the road end
• An Alabama saltwater fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Alabama residents who are exempt (and anglers fishing only from a pier that holds a pier license) must still complete the free Saltwater Angler Registration
• Anglers under 16 are exempt from the license
• Check current Marine Resources Division rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything