Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Dauphin Island, Alabama

Anyone ever been there?? Going with kids in two weeks. Thanks.

Yea.....but
It was about half a century ago.
I would like to hear your thoughts on what it's like now.

I have been to Fort Morgan and looked across the bay at it. Know someone that lived there and they loved it there.

I worked there for a year, back in 2010-2011. During BP oil spill, so prices were waaay down and hardly any tourist. I liked it. People were friendly, nice beaches, good fresh seafood. Only been back one time for an afternoon visit, so I really dont know what it's like now.

Yes. Been about 10 years. Back then Dauphin was pretty low key. Not much going on besides fishing and hanging out. Might have been a restaurant or 2. But the island struck me as more of a hideaway than a vacation spot.

Was nice though, we were getting in my buddy's boat and a guy boats up alongside and sold us fresh bait right there, boat to boat. Pretty handy.

Spent 4-5 days there about 40 years ago. All I recall is it was stifling hot and humid.

Cousin went there regularly. Sold his motor home and bought a cottage there. They’re now pretty much 1/2 there and 1/2 back home.

Not nearly as commercial as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, etc,,,yet.

We always stop on our way back from vacation at Fort Morgan. Some good fishing there and kind of laid back environment.

I plan on some beach fishing for kids 9 and 11. They have never been saltwater fishing. We hope to catch some pompano. Not really looking to do the tourist stuff just hang at the beach and eat some good shrimp.

Older fellow with a canopy over his boat? If so, that was Chief!

Unless it's changed, Dauphin Island will never get as commercial as Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. The members of the town council have got a strangle hold on what businesses can come on the island.

Good spot.

Of course anything along the gulf coast is bonkers these days. It's non-stop all summer.

It hasn’t changed of late.

They like the planned rural, small town atmosphere there.

Where are you staying on the island? I was stationed there for 3 years with the Coast Guard. In some ways it's like a place frozen in time. Pompano action will likely be very spotty. You can probably catch some whiting though. Use these https://www.hhlure.com/products/speck-redfish-rig. Go as far west as you can and focus on the Gulf side.

Take a high intensity LED light and go out at night shining in the water. The kids will love it. You could even do some flounder gigging. They'll want a long handle tight mesh dip net to play with.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Why in God’s name would you want to go there? Lived in Mobile for two years growing up, or as my dad used to say, held prisoner of war. Nasty area.

We used to stop at the Dog River Marina on the way out there and get crab. Nice place to kill an afternoon drinking long necks

That was far enough out of the way for us, I went to Dauphin Island maybe twice, wasn't much going on there

He's right ya'll. BP was lying when they started promoting Alabama's world class beaches. Phenomenal population growth is just a myth. Everything south of I-10 from Biloxi to Pensacola is nasty.

Can’t tell you much about it now……but, in the ‘60’s as close to heaven thst yo7 could get while alive! memtb

I'm sure this is true. Nevertheless, I have such a warm, nostalgic memory of Sunday breakfast downtown Mobile, on the water, I will probably have to go there to dispel and ruin it like every other childhood historical experience.

Mobile proper is like any large city. It has its good and bad. The waterfront area is nice and safe as is the immediate surrounding area. Dauphin Island is really unlike any other area between Panama City and Gulfport. One way in and one way out (unless you count the ferry.) No major chain stores. A vibe that can be perceived as anything in between run-down/redneck to quaint/charming. There are just a few small condo complexes. None of the massive skyrise that dominate much of the remainder of the coast. The fishing is exceptional. The sand is nice and white, though not quite like Destin. The Gulf water color can go from pretty green to chocolate milk. The largest and second largest river delta's in the US, coupled with the currents and the shape of the shoreline factor into that. The crowds are NOTHING like they are to the east.

Whupnaders have beat the stuffin out of it!!