Fishing, boating, the ferry and nature

Red snapper and saltwater licenses

• Alabama's 2026 private-angler red snapper season opened May 22 and runs through Dec. 31 or until the state's quota is met, seven days a week (ADCNR).
• Federally permitted for-hire vessels: the federal season closes at 12:01 a.m. local time Oct. 26, 2026 (ADCNR, citing NOAA Fisheries).
• You need an Alabama saltwater fishing license or saltwater angler registry, plus a Reef Fish Endorsement to land reef fish.

• Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR Marine Resources): Red snapper season and Snapper Check (opens in a new tab)
• Outdoor Alabama: License information (opens in a new tab)
• Outdoor Alabama: Saltwater fishing (opens in a new tab)

Source: outdooralabama.com

Gulf State Park Pier

• The public fishing and education pier at Gulf State Park. Check the park's page for hours, fees and storm closures.

Source: alapark.com

Boating and the Intracoastal

• Orange Beach posts no-wake zone maps for its waterways.
• NOAA posts tide predictions for Alabama Point (Perdido Pass), Mobile Point at Fort Morgan and the Gulf State Park Pier.
• Check the National Weather Service marine forecast before you go out.

• City of Orange Beach: No wake zone maps (opens in a new tab)
• NOAA Tides & Currents: Alabama Point (8730667) tide predictions (opens in a new tab)
• NOAA Tides & Currents: Mobile Point, Fort Morgan (8734635) tide predictions (opens in a new tab)
• NOAA Tides & Currents: Gulf State Park Pier (8731269) tide predictions (opens in a new tab)
• NWS Mobile: Marine forecasts (opens in a new tab)

Source: orangebeachal.gov + 4 more

Mobile Bay Ferry (Fort Morgan to Dauphin Island)

• Year-round, seven days a week, weather permitting; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• Until daylight saving time ends (Nov. 1), boats leave Fort Morgan at 8:45, 10:15 and 11:45 a.m. and 1:15, 2:45, 4:15, 5:45 and 7:15 p.m. CT. After that, the last Fort Morgan departure is 5:45 p.m.
• The schedule changes with weather and maintenance: call 251-861-3000 or check the ferry's Facebook page.

Source: mobilebayferry.com

Swimming water quality (ADEM/ADPH)

• The state samples 25 high-use public swimming sites from Perdido Bay to Dauphin Island and posts a three-tier color status for each.
• In Gulf Shores, monitored sites include Gulf Shores Public Beach, Gulf State Park Pavilion Beach, Little Lagoon Pass and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Beach. Signs at each site show the latest result.
• A repeat result over the EPA threshold of 104 enterococci per 100 mL brings a public-health advisory. Questions: ADEM 251-304-1176; ADPH 251-947-3618.

• ADEM/ADPH Coastal Alabama Beach Monitoring Program (opens in a new tab)
• City of Gulf Shores: Beach water quality (opens in a new tab)
• Alabama Department of Public Health: Beach monitoring (opens in a new tab)

Source: adem.alabama.gov + 1 more

Sea turtle nesting (Share the Beach)

• Volunteers with the Alabama Coastal Foundation's Share the Beach program find and protect sea turtle nests on Alabama beaches.
• In 2025, 96 nests were documented on Alabama beaches, the first April 30 at Fort Morgan, and 6,336 hatchlings reached the water. Hatchlings at 48 nests were disoriented by artificial lighting on or near the beach (ACF).
• Gulf Shores beach rules: leave only footprints. Don't leave structures or equipment on the beach, and fill in holes you dig.

• Alabama Coastal Foundation: Share the Beach (sea turtle volunteers) (opens in a new tab)
• Alabama Coastal Foundation: Sea turtle nesting statistics (opens in a new tab)

Source: joinacf.org + 2 more