That Perfect Souvenir

I developed a habit as a kid where every time I took a trip somewhere, I had to find the perfect souvenir. For years, sand castles, sharks’ teeth, and those small bottles of sand with tiny seashells constituted “perfect” souvenirs in my mind.

Now that I’m older, I’ve (mostly) outgrown my childish taste for silly little trinkets, but not my desire for souvenir shopping. Fortunately, the Alabama Gulf Coast has lots of options when it comes to shopping. San Roc Cay is a personal favorite—I’ve found everything from cool beachwear to artwork. The Wharf is also a great shopping spot, and you can’t beat the window shopping experience along the quaint streets of Fairhope.

Brett/Robinson’s Orange Beach Today website lists several shopping options under the “Shopping Daycations” itinerary. With all the choices, it’s easy to find that perfect souvenir—even if it’s a tiny bottle of sand.

Sheepshead Fishing

Orange Beach has long been known as one of the premier areas on the Gulf coast for offshore fishing. Many have forgotten or just don’t know how awesome of an inshore fishing that we have.

In the spring of the year as the water starts to warm up sheepshead, a black and white convict striped fish that can steal a shrimp without the slightest hint to the angler, spawn in the inshore and near shore waters of Alabama. After they spawn, the ravenous fish can be caught around the inlets, jetties and piers on live shrimp and fiddler crabs. For what they may lack in beauty they sure make-up for in their stubborn fight and they are quiet delicious as table fare. This is a fairly easy fish to locate (any structure from a piling to a pile of rocks will hold these fish in the spring).

Sheepshead are a great fish to target with your children as they do not require specialized equipment. The same tackle that you use for bass fishing will work quite nicely. No long offshore runs are required; just a short trip to the Perdido Pass Bridge or the jetties, and let the fun begin.

PS….As a bonus while you are trying to catch a sheepshead, don’t be surprised to find a red fish or a pompano on the end of your line.

Thanks to Capt Brad Johnson with Triple C Charters for taking my wife and daughter inshore fishing. Hope you enjoy the video.

Capt. Randy Boggs

Reel Surprise Charters @ SanRoc Cay Marina

www.sanrocfishing.com

251-981-7173 or 1-800-806-7889