East End Beach, Dauphin Island Fishing

East End Beach puts you on the sand where the Gulf meets the mouth of Mobile Bay, with the walls of Fort Gaines behind you and Fort Morgan across the pass. Surf, current and rocks all lie within a short walk, which makes it one of the most varied shore spots on the island.

• Gulf surf on the south side of Pelican Point and the pass current on the east
• Breakwaters and groins that hold sheepshead and trout
• Speckled trout, redfish, pompano, Gulf kingfish and Spanish mackerel
• Paid public parking right behind the beach

The beach is at the east end of Bienville Boulevard beside Fort Gaines, reached from the East End Beach public parking lot. The Town of Dauphin Island manages it.

• Parking: a paid town beach lot, paid through the ParkMobile app during the day; one day's payment also covers the town's other beach lots, and illegally parked cars are booted or towed
• Hours: not published; check the signs at the lot
• The walk: a short walk over sand from the lot; stay on the paths, as the dunes and sea oats are federally protected
• No vehicles on the dunes or the beach
• Fort Gaines next door is a separate historic site with its own admission

Clearer Gulf water and the pass current bring a wider mix of fish here than anywhere up the bay.

• Spring (Mar-May): pompano and Gulf kingfish in the surf, sheepshead on the rocks, trout arriving on the bars
• Summer (Jun-Aug): Spanish mackerel, hardtails and ladyfish chase bait; trout at first light, and the odd tripletail near the breakwaters
• Fall (Sep-Nov): schools of redfish cruise the beachfront ahead of their spawning run, flounder head out through the pass, and pompano return
• Winter (Dec-Feb): sheepshead and black drum near the rocks, with redfish on calm, mild days

A 7 to 9 foot spinning rod with 15 lb line covers the beach and the rocks; a longer surf rod reaches the deeper water toward the pass.

• Trout: soft plastics on 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig heads, heavier when wind or current is strong, worked through the guts between the bars
• Redfish: a live baitfish or a chunk of crab on a fish-finder rig in the surf and toward the pass
• Pompano and kingfish: a double-drop rig with shrimp or sand fleas cast past the first bar
• Spanish mackerel: small spoons or jigs retrieved fast when birds are working
• Sheepshead: fiddler crabs or shrimp cast beside the rocks from the sand

The island sees one high and one low tide on most days, with a small range, but the whole bay drains through this pass, so the current can be strong; the Dauphin Island NOAA station sits just up the shore.

• The first hours of the incoming tide bring the cleanest Gulf water
• A falling tide carries bait out of the bay past the point
• Light northerly winds flatten the surf and clear the water
• Strong south winds build a rough, dirty surf
• After big rains upstate a brown plume pours out of the bay; fish the cleaner Gulf side of the point

Treat the water at the eastern tip with respect.

• Currents near the pass are strong; do not wade beyond your knees
• Rip currents form along the beach; obey the beach flags
• The breakwater and groin rocks are slick and uneven; do not climb them
• Shuffle your feet when wading, as stingrays bury in the sand
• Leave the beach at the first thunder
• Access: soft sand from the parking lot with no confirmed boardwalk to the water, so it is hard going for wheelchairs

Facilities at this beach are limited, so come prepared.

• A paid public parking lot
• Restrooms, showers and food are not confirmed at this beach; West End Beach has the island's fuller facilities
• Pets on a leash are allowed here, unlike at West End Beach
• No bait shop at the beach; bring bait
• Fires, grilling and glass are not allowed

• Look for slicks and rafts of nervous baitfish over the bars: trout are usually feeding underneath
• Arrive early on summer weekends, as the lot fills; the same day's parking payment works at the town's other beaches if you move on
• Keep to the paths through the dunes, which are protected
• Leave the dog on a leash; this is one of the island beaches where dogs are allowed
• Pair a morning session with a visit to Fort Gaines next door
• When south winds make the surf rough, try the bay side at East End Landing instead

East End Beach is run by the Town of Dauphin Island.

• Parking is paid; illegally parked vehicles are booted or towed
• No vehicles on the beach or dunes; the dunes and sea oats are federally protected
• No fires, grilling, glass or metal detecting; pets on a leash only
• 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.
• Check current Marine Resources Division rules for size, bag and season limits before keeping anything