Pine Beach, Bon Secour Refuge Fishing

Pine Beach is the wild end of the Alabama coast: a refuge beach with no road, no buildings and, on most days, no other anglers. It is worth the hike for anyone who wants surf to themselves.

• A two-mile trail to the Gulf through pines, dunes and marsh
• Pompano, Gulf kingfish and redfish in quiet surf
• Gator Lake, open to fishing, at about the halfway point
• Views over Little Lagoon and some of the best birding on the coast

The Pine Beach Trail starts at a parking lot on the south side of Fort Morgan Road (Highway 180), about 1.5 miles west of the refuge office, inside Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages it.

• Entry: free; the refuge is open sunrise to sunset
• The trail runs about two miles each way to the beach, rated moderate to strenuous with sandy stretches
• A kiosk at the trailhead has maps
• Gator Lake can also be reached by the Gator Lake Trail from Mobile Street
• Budget well over an hour for the walk out with gear

The surf here fishes like the rest of the Alabama coast, only quieter, and Gator Lake adds a mixed bag.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and Gulf kingfish in the troughs, redfish along the beach
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Gulf kingfish, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel when bait is close; trout in the surf at dawn
• Fall (Sep-Nov): the prime time, with pompano, big redfish and flounder moving along the shore
• Winter (Dec-Feb): a few redfish and Gulf kingfish on calm days
• Gator Lake: a mix of saltwater and freshwater fish, since storms have flooded it with salt water

Everything has to be carried two miles, so pack one rod and a small bag.

• A 9 foot surf rod with 15 lb line casts far enough to reach the first trough and doubles as a lure rod
• Bottom: a two-hook pompano rig, 2 to 3 oz pyramid sinker and shrimp or Fishbites
• Redfish: a chunk of cut mullet on a fish-finder rig
• Trout and mackerel: a 1/4 oz jig or small spoon worked through the wash
• Gator Lake: a live shrimp under a cork or a small soft plastic
• Bring bait in; do not dig or collect it on the refuge

The tide is modest here: one high and one low most days, only a foot or two apart, with a few slack days each fortnight.

• Moving water and light surf are best; time the walk so you fish the change
• Clear green water favors pompano, trout and mackerel
• Rough, murky surf after a south blow is better for redfish
• After a winter front the beach is calm and cold; fish the middle of the day
• Check the tide for the Gulf Shores area

Help is far away, so prepare as for a hike.

• Carry plenty of water and sun protection; there is no shade on the beach
• Rip currents can form along this surf; never wade deep
• Watch the sky in summer and start back early if storms build, since the walk out takes time
• Ticks, insects and snakes live along the trail
• Stingrays rest in the shallows; shuffle your feet
• Accessibility: poor; the trail is long and sandy

There are almost none.

• A trailhead parking lot with a map kiosk
• An observation deck by the bridge at Gator Lake
• Picnic tables and a viewing platform along the trail
• No restrooms, water, bait or shade at the beach that we could confirm
• Buy bait and supplies in Gulf Shores before you drive out

• A beach cart with wide wheels makes the sandy walk far easier
• Fish the Gator Lake bridge area on the way out, then the surf
• Stay on the trail and obey closed-area signs: snowy plovers nest on this beach
• Leave the dog at home; pets are not allowed anywhere on the refuge
• Allow time to walk back before sunset, when the refuge closes

Pine Beach and Gator Lake are part of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Open sunrise to sunset; no entry fee
• Stay on the trail and out of areas posted closed for nesting birds
• No pets except service dogs, and no bicycles on the trails
• A valid Alabama saltwater fishing license is required on the refuge, including at Gator Lake
• 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
• Check current Marine Resources Division rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything