Gulf State Park Fishing Pier Reviews

Enjoyed walking the pier twice during our stay in January. Alway busy with people fishing, but easy to stroll along pier and watch for fish, dolphins and birds.

Apparently, a lottery takes place to enable a small number of people to fish for sharks on Sunday and Thursday nights. The Park Rangers are present. Obey the rules. Spectators are allowed to watch from afar. Additionally, it is wonderful to observe the birdlife and scenery. Nearby, is a small eatery. Public lavatories are available.

Friends and I were just exploring things to do. Happened up on the pier. $3 admission to walk the pier but great view and fun to watch all the people fishing from it. We actually could see fish, sting rays and even a small shark from the pier. Great Beach area around the pier and places to take family photos.

We walked out onto the pier and watched everyone fishing. We were able to spot jelly fish and see sting ray. On a previous visit we even saw a shark swimming near the pier. It’s a neat place to learn about the beach and the wild life you can find in the area.

We were very surprised that after we paid to park we had to also pay per person to walk on the pier. There are plenty of City beaches that are free to use with piers.

We went to fish. It was super crowded. Parking was free at the time but now they are charging for it. Between parking and admission it just really isnt worth it. Fishing is hit or miss at the pier and it is extremely crowded. Do yourself a favor and pay to park and pay the sightseeing price for admission and say you did it once.

Gorgeous views of the Gulf, best place to be to see a beautiful sunset and almost certain to see a shark or 2!

The lights of the city are nice and its very relaxing to stroll to the end of the pier and talk to the people fishing along the way. There are restrooms on the pier, as well as a place to get bait and tackle. The end section of the pier was closed to the public to let some pros try to catch some of the sharks that are becoming over populated in the area.

Wife and I in GS for bb tournament so decided to try it while sightseeing. Unfortunately, we went in the middle of the hot afternoon and with little shade pretty darn hot. There was also a small fish kill underway due to depleted oxygen in the water so the beach area was smelly with rotting fish. We did see pelicans and gulls enjoying the millions of small bait fish trying to survive the heat. One guy did hook a small shark, but it broke his line. I understand the small fee to stroll the pier and don't mind it to help keep up the facility. Wish we could have seen more variety of fish and other creatures, but understand since so hot during the day. It could certainly use
more shade in the summer, but hard to do on a fishing pier. The view looking back to the hotels & condos on the beach is awesome. Thanks for the hospitality of the folks in the office.

This pier is ordinary and average. Pedestrians are charged a nominal entrance fee, which I normally don’t mind, but a large portion of the pier is closed for repairs/renovations.

We walked the pier , its so amazing to be far above the ocean waves. We talked with a couple fisher people, catch was slow that day.

Just happened upon the place as we were walking on the beach. There is a small fee for access ($3) for those who just want to walk to end of the pier. Charge is more if you want to fish. It’s free for veterans😀 There were pelicans galore here waiting for the leftovers from the fish that were being cleaned. We also saw dolphins playing close by. There was parking available which we didn’t need. Nice little stop which also had restrooms.

We enjoyed the stroll down the pier. There is interesting, informative signage and a beautiful view of the gulf. We watched families fishing and looked for sharks and dolphins in the water. Sadly we saw neither when we were there, but it was fun!

Just enjoyed talking to fishermen that were fishing off the pier. If you go here be sure to talk to whoever is fishing for some interesting conversation.

Veterans and their significant other are allowed to enter the pier for free for thier service to our nation!

A portion of the pier is under construction so you don't really get to far out in the gulf. And you have to pay to park there.

Visited the pier at sunset. There were quite a few people fishing. They were catching lots of red fish. Someone said they had caught a 5 foot shark a few minutes before we got there. We felt prices were reasonable. Would definitely like to go back in the morning in a calm day and check out what’s below!

We visited this site a couple of times during our visit to Gulf Shores. Both times that we were there we saw dolphins and sharks swimming very close to the pier. There were some very large sharks swimming around this pier. That was exciting and a little scary to see. There is also a very nice open air bar/cafe that is adjacent to this pier. The lemonade was fresh squeezed (I'm pretty sure) and delicious. They also had a wonderful pulled pork sandwich. It was a nice place to sit in the shade, enjoy the Gulf breeze and enjoy some music. This is a must do when in Gulf Shores.

We had fun. We are a family of 6- 7 years to 12 months. It a few dollars to park and a few dollars to get into the pier adults only have to pay. It was a very windy day. So extra windy and cold on the pier. I’m not sure what we expecting exactly but we did walk all the way out. The very end was damaged and closed off due to damage- hurricane I was told by a fisherman. We saw a lot of people fishing. And one fish that someone caught. My kids liked that. Overall just walking and looking. We did have a few cool/fun photo ops. We didn’t stay too long maybe around 30 minutes.
Maybe if it wasn’t so cold/windy we would have stayed longer.
Overall glad we had the experience.

We saw some very big Sharks. People fishing were very nice, mostly tourists, only a few people knew what they were doing. Water is very beautiful and beach sand is very White. Just beautiful!!

Fun to see fish from the pier. The kids were excited to see the sharks! It was a lot of fun and I would recommend going if only for the day.

We absolutely love the pier and have to go at least once while we are in town. We usually go at night to see all the lights on the strip and to see what people are catching. Great way to wind the kids down!

High winds but because of the hurricane coming. Will look really nice when the pier gets finished. The winds blowing really made the splashes of water off the waves look awesome . Grabbed a hot chocolate for our 7 year old.

We got a free passes because we were camping in the Gulf State Park campground. It was nice and the view is great. I did notice the fee was $3.00 a person to sight see. Dont think it would be worth that.

This is the second Christmas we spent at Orange Beach. Last year the fishing was spectacular off the pier when we were here! This year, a big cold front move through and mostly shut the fishing down. There were a few fish, including one big drum, and a nice red fish, but usually this pier produces a lot of fish year round. There is a fee to fish, and a lesser fee to watch and sightsee off the pier. Well worth the money.. Neat, well-lit, safe. Saw part of about 10 dolphins swimming up and down by the pier on one side. Strongly recommend walking out on the pier, or going fishing there

Been fishing this pier for several years. the fishing seems hit or miss most of the time & the last few trips have been a miss but we keep coming back.

This peir is a must stop for us when we travel through. You pay to get on the pier and it's good for all day. We love to walk and See and the wildlife. On the day we were there there were sharks it is a long pier with Bathrooms half way through and a fish cleaning station. Lost of fishing being done and if you want to fish you have to pay to fish. But it is worth it. Free parking. Also a restaurant and cold drinks are also available.

Long fishing Pier where you can watch fishermen catch all different types of fish. I really enjoyed myself here. Just make sure you stay well behind those casting their lines. There is a nominal fee to enter.

We always take a walk down the pier when we are at the gulf. We enjoy see what the fishermen are catching that day! The view is beautiful while the sun is setting!

Every year we visit the Alabama Coast the kids always ask to go there. We live it because it is so long and FREE. The last two years we have gone at night to watch all the night fisherman and see what they catch. Last year someon caught a shark!

As far as fishing piers go, this is about the best one i have been on. lots of services like food, drink, bar, bait, tackle, etc.

First trip to Gulf Shores. Fishing pier is a must. Minimal cost. Military friendly. Food available, but don't expect fine dining. Husband had a microwave hamburger which was sufficient as a mid-afternoon snack. Staff is polite and helpful. Restrooms and gift shop. Bar. Vending machines. It is a fishing pier, so expect a fishy smell. Variety of ocean life observed - crabs, jellyfish, sea turtle, fish, birds, and dolphins who try to and are often successful at stealing fish as fishermen are reeling them in. Husband spotted a small shark. Most fishermen were friendly and happy to allow pictures and answer questions. Be sure to give them plenty of space to cast their lines. We spent the better part of an afternoon here; returned in the evening to take family pictures in front of the nearby dunes. If we get the opportunity to return, I would like to go to the pier in the evening and watch the fishermen clean fish.

We enjoyed our walk out onto the pier. We did have to pay $3.00 to park, and then it is another $2.00 a person to walk out onto the pier. There is also a nice beach (not sure if you can swim right there though) you could sit at and relax a bit if you wanted.

Was disappointed we could not even walk out on the pier without a fee. Wanted grandson to watch the fishermen for a few minutes.

This was an amazing spot to stop and enjoy the water. The birds are entertaining and wait to be fed by the fishermen cleaning their catch.

Went for a walk on pier after Dinner. Lot's of Fishing going on. Cost $3 per person. Discount's for Service men.

You don’t have to fish to enjoy a nice walk at sunset. Place has everything you need if want to fish but it’s just as fun to watch

We went here to have fun and tried to catch fish. We did catched a couple medium size fishes because we were amateurs, but other fishermen have caught a lot of big ones. Highly recommended if you want to have fun and enjoy yourselves catching fish.

Walked out the pier which is pretty long. It seems to be a very popular place. There were a lot of people fishing but the only thing we saw caught were some sharks about 6 feet long.It cost $3 to walk.

Fairly level pier with washrooms at two different spots as well as plenty of room to swing a rod without catching other people.

One of the nicest piers I've been on. We fished off it for hours and amazingly, caught a lot of fish.

I was actually surprised at the amount of people fishing from the pier. It was really fun to watch a visiting teenager reel in an 18 lb red drum and another man wrestling his prize catch. We saw sting rays close to the shore, dolphins, and even a shark! It was great fun and I could have stayed on the pier much longer just watching the people and wildlife.

Visited on Thanksgiving 2017. Chilly, windy day. But we loved seeing the pelicans and all the fishermen.

We always like to walk down the piers when ever we go to the beaches. We had a great wall and seen some dolphins swimming and jelly fish. A few people was fishing but didnt see any catch anything. At still needs to be finished the pier still closed off. But a great walk

The cost was $3 a person to get in. We did see several people catching fish and several pelicans just walking on the pier. Nice walk on the pier. Lots of free parking

We visited the pier 3 times on our trip. We saw lots of marine life, sharks, dolphins, sting rays, and my 1st sea turtle. We enjoyed watching the vast array of fish being caught. It was also the perfect spot for family pics around 8pm.

Nice pier to walk or fish from. Really long and your able to see dolphins swimming.
Does have a bar and grill.
Food was really good.
3.00 just to walk pier.

Nice pier to get in some saltwater fishing but the regulars act like they own the pier. Not friendly to most and very unwilling to give advice.

Visited on a cloudy day, didn’t see much sea life. Still enjoyable would recommend for a quick side stop

Every summer when we go to the beach, we always make it a goal to go to the Fishing Pier at night. At nighttime when you walk down the pier, the hotels are all lit up at night and it truly is beautiful.

The hubby went out on this pier to go night fishing and it was very safe and he had plenty of other people there to keep him company. He was able to catch a ton of catfish, pulling them in practically every few minutes! Downside is that once the sun goes down, the pier was covered in HUGE COCKROACHES trying to steal his bait!

The next day, we went swimming on the beach and was able to set up chairs and a blanket under the pier for shade right next to the water - perfect spot to watch the kiddos play in the sand. It was very convenient to have the restaurant and bait shop on the pier to order food and snacks - we plan to return the next time we vacation in Gulf Shores

We participated in a tour given by State Parks people about the pier. Learned quite a few interesting points about it's construction, safeguards against hurricanes, the sharks, and fishing requirements. I liked to hear that there is a one pole in the water maximum per fisherman since I have seen some fisherman on the beach with 5 or more poles.

We stayed at Gulf State Park which includes a free voucher to walk on the pier (and a discount to fish). We went at night and it was neat to see so many hundreds of fish gathered under the pier lights. It also provided a different perspective to the shoreline because we could see the beach from the other direction which made for an interesting perspective. Otherwise, the experience was rather mediocre.... i would have been disappointed had we actually had to pay for the experience- which you will need to do if you don't stay at the state park.

My wife and I took our four kids on the Pier and while we were there, we could see several fisherman catching fish, sharks swimming in the water, and even sting rays. We really enjoyed being out there, and as an added bonus, there's a bar at the entrance/exit! If you're in one of the condo's near by or the state park, spend an hour or two on the pier. It will add to your memories!

My husband is an avid fisherman so staying close to a pier is a must. This pier is very long so plenty of space for all of the fishermen and women. There are also bathrooms halfway down which is nice. It’s kept up and clean as well.

We went to fish and also watch other people fish. We did more fishing than catching as we are use to going out fishing on a boat. It was however a fun experience as we saw other people catch a myriad of fish. There were a few caught that looked like 15# plus.

You can pay a $3 to go down to the end of the pier or $9 for all day pass. If you don’t want to fish the views are still excellent from the first part of the pier that is free. You are able to park right at the entrance for anyone with mobility issues.

The beach is beautiful and all of our family found something to watch or do.

We didn't fish at all, but we loved our walks out on the pier. Went one morning to see the dolphins jumping in the distance and jellyfish floating nearby. Went one night to see the city skylines and lights at night. We also went midday one day and saw stingrays swimming right by the pier. Beautiful sights!

Excellent small adventure! Cheap prices and pay once for 12 hours!! Friendly staff too! There's information boards along the walk about all sorts of different animals. Great time, worth a stop!!

While there is a small fee ($3/person) to enter the pier, it's totally worth it. If we had time, we would have back to fish- you can rent gear there. The pier is well set up for fishermen, and it was fun for us to look over the side and see the jellyfish and sharks. A fisherman nearby let us know he was getting ready to throw his unwanted fish parts in so we could get a better look at the sharks (black tip, and quite large!) Be careful if wearing open foot wear- the places set up for fish cleaning have quite a bit of water around them on the ground.

We stopped one day and really enjoyed the views. It does cost, I think $3. If you stay at the Lodge it is free. This is a very long pier and the day we stopped it was insanely windy. We were able to take amazing Pelican pics as they sit right on the pier and do not appear to be afraid. I would recommend as a stop while in the area.

I debated whether this was worth paying $3 per person to do. Was very much worth it. We saw pelicans, herons, a few fish being caught. The highlight was a shark being caught.

We last visited the park in 2003. The pier that was there then was destroyed by a hurricane, but has been replaced. We enjoyed walking the pier, sitting a bit, seeing the scenery and watching the world go by. Its well worth your time for the views.

$3 to get in, gets you beautiful views and fun watching sea life. Didn’t see many fish getting caught, but did see one man catch a large mackerel. We saw a sea turtle and several pelicans. Overall it was a nice walk and fun to see!

We were disappointed that they charge $3 to walk out on the pier. Sure there were discounts to Vets, and disabled persons, but the wife and I just wanted to look at the ocean from the pier. We did not qualify for a discount and it was nearly dark... so we turned around and left. I would have paid a buck, but not $3 or $6

First time fishing....3 families....5 young boys and a teenage girl. Everyone was very nice and helpful in the office. The fishermen were amazing helping us. They helped the boys bait the hook and remove the fish. Another family gave us live bait....could not have asked for a better first time experience! So many friendly people! It was great having a place to eat and having a snack bar. Highly recommend !

For only $3 for a whole day pass we saw dolphins, sharks, rays and a huge sea turtle. There are numerous locals fishing and equipment available to rent. The bar had good service and was clean.

Wife and i walked the pier on a brisk cold day. To our surprise we saw a bunch of dolphins chasing after all the whiting in the area. Shocked to see people fishing with how cold it was. Thank you for the veterans discount. Can't wait to come back in the summer.

We got to go out on the ward for free because we were staying at The Lodge, otherwise I think they said $3 per person! It was fun to see the variety of people fishing! A man caught a big catfish at the end of the pier. He was leaving and had a stringer full of nice ones! He couldn’t take them with him but Offered them to anyone who wanted one and then threw the rest back in. We really enjoyed the walk!

Good walk to pier from our condo on the beach. Interesting facts on wildlife and fish in the area. The store has fishing equipment and other things to purchase. You can get something there to drink as well. Beautiful views from the pier. A must walk to from your condo!

I have gone here since I was a kid and still love it. You can normally see sharks, dolphins, and sea turtles. You will see serious fisherman but you wouldn’t feel out of place with a couple of rods.

Longest pier in the area. Has restrooms in 2 areas, a small store, fish cleaning station. There is a charge to walk or fish from the pier but its worth every penny. Fun to watch the many people fishing. Also saw dolphins and lots of sea birds. Gorgeous scenery!

The pier was included in the price of our camp site. We went everyday. We loved watching the fishermen and women. The view is very nice. Highly recommend especially for sunset

We stopped here whole waiting for our condo to be ready. I thi k it cost $3 per person to walk out on the pier, the younger kids were free. We saw a pretty big shark swimming around & large & small stingrays from the pier!! There were lots of people fishing. Everyone was very friendly. I would recommend it. There are restrooms before you get on the pier & then some midway on the pier.

There were lots of people fishing here. You have to have a fishing license and pay more to fish here. Just entrance without fishing is $3. There's a different all day rate to come and go. Free for military and veterans. Lots of pelicans and other birds. Cool views.

Nice place to stop and visit for an hour or two. Interesting to watch the fisherman and seeing what they catch. One pulled in a small shark. Pelicans and seagulls are watching with you. Nice walk.

Our whole week in gulf shores had 25-35mph winds. This is not ideal for a beach experience. With that caveat we still had a great time. Got a little coaching from the bait shop, rented some poles and got some bait. We had a good time and caught a couple fish even in the windy wavy conditions. Definitely will go back. Pay for all day parking and you get one person in for free.

We went there Sunday afternoon as it was a beautiful day. There is a very nice beach and a long fishing pier.To walk out on the pier or to fish, there is a charge but there is a store, a hotdog and ice cream stand, and a bar that sells drinks, sandwiches, and snacks before you have to pay to go farther out. The bar had live music so we stopped and had a drink and snack, watched the beach and the waves, and listened to the music. Nice afternoon.

We arrived two days after Hurricane Nate and the Pier was closed for minor repairs. We did get to go on October 14 when they re-opened. Loved it...

The pier is busy, well lite for a coastal area at night with a large parking area and beach accuses. The pier has a 5 dollar walk fee, was rather expensive for the size of our group to just walk out for a quick look.

We went to the pier for an evening walk. The views are great. You can fish here if you would like, but we did not partake in the fishing. This is a good place to take an evening or morning walk. You can catch a good view of the sunset as well. If fishing is your thing it’s a great spot to catch some fish as well. We recommend checking this out if you’re in the area.

We just took a stroll and watched people fishing from the pier. Lots of marine life to see if you stop and watch... we saw jellyfish, stingrays and sharks.

I am trying to do more to support the local parks and restaurants while I’m here, and you can’t beat $3 to hang out on the pier for hours! It’s beautiful even though it’s not currently as long as usual due to hurricane sally damage. There are food and bathrooms available, so makes it convenient to hang out and enjoy a while. It’s like being out on the water a little bit without a boat. My picture was from around half way out.

Nice long fishing pier in state park. 3 bucks to walk out on it. Watched locals catch fish on end of pier for an hour. Wife walked back to condo 1.5 miles on white sand beach

Fun place to come fish and enjoy the great outdoors. A learning experience tip one pick up some frozen squid for bait. Tip two if you pay to fish after 7:00 am you can fish until 7:00 am next day. Tip three if you pay after 7:00 pm fish until 7:00 pm next day. Cost 49.00

You have to pay to go out here and we just walked out for the view. You can fish out here if you have a salt water license. we saw three dolphins while we were out here. It's the longest pier in the gulf.

We went out on this pier and watched Hurricane Barry pass by the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area. It offered an amazing view of the waves coming in as well as a nice view of the beaches. Only a $3 fee for a 24 hour pass. The pier is open 24 hours a day unless closed for public safety.

What a monster pier. We just visited, but, it's worth the $3 to walk out over 1500 feet over the Gulf.

Nice pier. Fun fishing place. Workers are friendly and have good advice. Beautiful. Good family fun.

Lots of parking. Access to beach and pier. Water available for clean up and bait prep tables. Restmooms on pier. Plenty of room. Nice cleaning station. Enjoyed our visit.

I visited the pier with my ecotourism class from University of South Alabama. The efforts to preserve the beach and marine life were clearly present. Fisherman are allowed multiple poles but only allowed to cast one at a time to prevent overfishing. There are also cleaning stations along the pier to clean your big catch. I saw dolphins, and pelicans during my short time there. It is a prime location to witness the wildlife.

We went on the Saturday of Memorial Weekend. Parking was available and the beach was not terribly crowded for the holiday weekend. The end of the pier still needs some repair from the hurricane, but we only use the beach so no big deal.

Lots of pelicans sitting on the railings, preening waiting to have their pictures taken. They were also waiting for the scraps of fish from men cleaning their fish. More interesting were the 5 sand sharks swimming below the pelicans, nipping at them and getting the scraps! It was a delightful afternoon.

Fishing wasn’t very good the 2 mornings we fished but we did catch our first salt water fishes. Also so sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, rays, and jelly fish from the pier.

Views beautiful metal grated boardwalk easily drop things in really cold out there glad we wore coats 2.00 each for walking out and stamped so can come back anytime during day til 9

A visit to this Pier will not disappoint! If you are a fishing enthusiast you will find this to be one of the best piers on the gulf coast. Excellent construction and reasonable fees for fishing. On my recent visit I landed a 16.5 lb Redfish and saw numerous King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel caught. I saw large schools of Rays, and Jacks swim by. The facilities are clean and designed to make your fishing outing enjoyable.

This is definitely worth stopping. We stopped after breakfast to walk the pier and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth the $3 per person fee. Having been rebuilt after Hurricane Irma, this is now the longest pier in the gulf. It was interesting seeing the fishermen and all of their “gear”. Also helped me get my steps in for the day!

Beautiful beach, lots of fish to see (we saw sharks, jellyfish, crabs and lots of other small creatures). The guys who rent out fishing gear were super friendly and helpful for clueless fishermen like our family. Little bar on the pier to grab a bite to eat. Bathrooms were clean. Note you do have to pay a small fee to walk right out onto the pier and you need a fishing license to fish which you can buy on the spot for about 11.

Stopped by for a few photos. On way to pier walked by the bar (lots of smokers), and the smack bar, $3 to pass thru to rest of pier. Got there too late sun going down, and rain was coming ...so left earlier than planned. Beautiful views and the dunes look so gorgeous! A great quick stop for all ages.

There is a fee (all day) to walk on it, but worth it. There are bathrooms and access to the beach. The beach was pretty much empty when we went there at 4:00 pm, and we found lots of nice shells. There is a portion of the pier that is disconnected, but still a large portion that extends into the gulf. Many people getting family photos (professionally) taken here.

For $3 for adults you can walk the whole pier. Pretty good deal to kill some time. Kids liked to watch the people fish and all the pelicans. We wanted to get closer to the railing at the end of the pier but you are not suppose to cross the red line where people are fishing, which makes sense we just didn't know a head of time. I would recommend checking it out.

Stopped for a walk along the fishing pier. For older folks, it may be a long walk, but there are plenty of places to stop and rest. We were amazed at how fearless the Pelicans and great blue herons were around people. Thrilled to see 2sharks circling under one of the cleaning stations waiting for scraps. Unfortunately for the Sharks, the gulls are a lot faster. It was fun to watch! The view of the beach from the pier is breathtaking. Did not see anyone bring in a fish, but there were plenty out there trying. Admission rates varied depending on how long/often you want to go. We opted for the $3 one-time fee.

The bar had some great drinks and the view was amazing! There is also a gift shop for shopping! Convient parking.

The gulf pier has been shortened due to a hurricane damage. Still good for a walk, just a shorter one. There is a fair bit of paid parking by the pier. There is also a fee to walk the pier - funds go to restoring the pier. Lots of regular fisherman with their poles out, friendly and will chat on how the fish are biting. Nice stop with ok views.

This is a really nice pier to walk out onto. Easy access and very clean. There are lots of birds and people fishing. It gives you a great view of the coast and is well worth the walk. There is a small fee to park and go out on the pier, but that helps support this area.

You have to pay a fee to walk on the pier and just look. it's a pretty busy place in the morning when the fishermen are there.

For $3, you can have all day accress walk the pier. Great views with bathrooms half way down. Attendant was super nice. Fun to watch people fishing (it cost more to fish here).

You won’t be here long but it was a break from the beach.

This was a last minute choice but glad we did. Very nice walk out on the pier in the evening and seeing the lights of Orange Beach/Gulf Shores. Also you can fish from the pier(for a small fee). The admission is $3.00 since it's a state run pier. I'm not sure if it's strictly enforced as people just walked in.

You pay to get on the pier. But if you are staying at the Gulf State Park RV you get in Free. It's nice at night.

We always like to walk out on piers when we visit a beach area. We got some great photos of the water and beach. There were a few people fishing but the pier was clean for the most part.

This was a nice pier with great views. Pay the $3 and take a look. It's not something I would pay for all the time but as a tourist it was worth it. Be sure to stay behind the indicated lines as not to annoy the fishermen. I did not notice and apparently was in the way. Oh well. There are pelicans that roam around too. Do not feed them however. Apparently on some days you can see sharks and what not. We only saw jellyfish but the view was still great.

We noticed a lot of cars in the parking lot so we decided to take a look. Access to the pier is not free and it'll be up to you if the entry fee is worth paying. If you're going to fish, the entry fee is a little (but reasonable in my opinion) higher. Not Recommended

Want to fish? This is a great pier. You are able to see for miles while enjoying your catch. I am so glad they have this pier for us! A lot of people seem to enjoy it because there is always a crowd there when we go.

Took the family to the pier to spend sometime before we met family for dinner. It was nice to walk on the pier and look out across the beach and the clear water. The down side was they charge to access the pier.

The pier is open 24 hours. If you buy an armband after 7pm, it is good until the next night at 7pm. My husband and kids fished there after dark a couple of times. They really enjoyed it. The fishing permit is $9, 12 and under are free. You can get an AL fishing license at Walmart.

The day we decided to go it poured down rain. So we all took cover by the restrooms on the pier. Once the rain eased up a bit we went ahead and walked the rest pier. Definitely worth checking out. It is part of the state park, so there is a $3 fee.

We took a stroll down the pier. It was one of the most enjoyable activities of our vacation. We saw sharks, dolphins, and jellyfish. We liked watching people reeling in various kinds of fish. A great activity for any age.

Veterans get on for free. Always something interesting to see. Fun to watch the fishermen and pelicans.

We loved this area so much. Well worth the stop to go down the pier. The beaches here in May are very laid back, too. Fun to watch people fish. We didn't actually fish.

Very pretty view but high price fishing with little rods that you can buy at Walmart. Nice place to take pictures!

We wanted to check this out. Very long wooden pier, where fishermen and fisherwomen are trying to catch fish. Didn't see anybody catch anything though. Several benches to sit on and their are picnic tables on the very end so you can picnic. View is amazing of course. There is a restaurant at the pier, which opens at 11:00. The beach is also public there, great beaches and beautiful sand dunes. There is a $3.00 per person to walk onto the pier.

First for the view, but we spent as much time watching ramoras and the pelicans. One pelican on the pier was having a time rearranging his fish to swallow head-first and the seagulls were hoping they could snatch it while he tried. Gives new appreciation for the rest of the job- catching a fish is only the first part.
As for being only the 2nd longest pier now, the difference is what- about 5 feet? Hardly matters at all. The view is great.

I went on a tour of the Gulf State Pier with my college Hospitality and Tourism class March 26th, 2019 and we had an absolute blast! The tour guides were so friendly and gave us a lot of knowledge about the pier and the park itself. We were able to see dolphins and other wildlife as well. Overall I had a wonderful experience, and it is very family friendly!

Even though fog had crept in on the day we visited the pier, we had a good time watching the fishermen and the birds. There is a sightseeing fee of $3.00 for a one-time visit or $4.00 for the entire day. The pier bathrooms were clean and convenient. We spent time picking up fishing line and hooks left on the pier by careless fishermen. The pelicans, blue heron, seagulls, and other birds will flock to the cleaning tables and wait for morsels of food, tossed aside by fishermen. Overall, our visit to the pier was worth $3.00.

You walk out, try not to get hit by a fishing pole, look at the waves, and walk back. It was interesting to see a 7 year old girl hook a 2 foot shark from the pier though

No question this is one of the best. It is the longest and widest i have ever seen and has a takle and bait shop and a pizza burger place near the entrance. Halfway is a bathroom facility with drink machines. $9 to fish all day and a 3$ or $4 fee to sight see. The pier is well lit at night and was not crowded when I was there. It is open 24 hours a day too.

Very nice pier but not without issues.

If you just want to walk on the pier .. You pay $3.00. If you fish .. You pay $9.00. Because this pier is a Alabama State Park Pier, you have to have a fishing license.

Other wise it a nice pier

Such a great trip - we took our sweet dachshund's to the beach - let's just say they loved the sand as much as we do. Beach house was pet friendly as well as close to the beach so our pups got their daily exercise on the way to the beach. The boy's had a great time fishing while us girls just laid out in the sun. Definitely a trip worth having a "do over"!

We didn’t go out on pier but checked out park picnic area and camping area. Very picturesque. Nice pool and camp store. Road under construction making one lane alternating so long delays. Will go back to see rest of resort.

We enjoyed the pier so much, that we actually walked it two days in a row. The first day, the water was so clear that we could see the sharks and stingrays swimming below us!! The second day was a bit windier, so the water was not as clear. However, it was still fun to watch the locals fish and the pelicans stroll along the pier.

Very nice and it is beautiful to see the coastline lit up at night. There are restrooms in 2 spots. And bar/pub or a little store grill.

We tried to walk the pier two separate times and while I understand a lot of people go there to fish, you could barely walk the pier without being yelled at by rude people fishing. Was way too difficult to walk the pier due to everyone casting their poles and giving you dirty looks and mean comments. Sadly disappointed in all the rudeness. We just wanted to walk the pier and look at the Gulf. 😞

I've been here twice now, 2019 and 2022...just incredible to see hammerhead and black-tip sharks, green and loggerhead sea turtles, watch people fishing and just an amazing place!

Be prepared to pay for everything. You pay to just walk on the pier, you pay to fish on the pier. When we were there a group was fishing for sharks and you had to pay just to watch.

Nice pier that extends 2000 feet into the gulf. It could use some more sitting benches for the sightseers since a lot of the fisherman pile their gear up on the benches and then sit there and watch for a bite. 9 bucks to fish off the pier.

We took family pics at sunset!! It was beautiful!!! The pier in the background is gorgeous and the cleanliness was great. It does cost to go out on the pier so we passed on that but enjoyed the lovely sunset.

Nice pier for a walk or for fishing. I think it's like 1500 feet long! Beautiful water and beach views. Has food, a little store, restrooms, and covered picnic area. Veterans visit for FREE!

So, this is a fishing pier first and foremost, so expect all that goes with fishing...smells, blood...well, you get the idea. You can almost bet on seeing sharks swimming below which is both creepy and cool. They have shark fishing two nights a week. We went to watch once. Will not go again. Found it very sad....There is a small fee to go on the pier. If you're at the state park Campground, it's free.

While in the area on a quick getaway we knew we had to go see the beach/ocean so we went here. We do not fish, and did not fish. There were lots of people there fishing. We didn't walk out on the pier as they wanted to charge, just for us to walk out and back so we opt'ed to just walk on the beach and take pictures near and under the pier. This is a very nice area, and when spring/summer gets here would be a great place to go and chill for a day! Sand Beautiful, and Waves were Gorgeous! Recommend!

It was fun to see all the fish that were being caught on the pier. We watched for a few hours and the kids enjoyed seeing all the different fish

We visited the pier over spring break with three kids (15, 13, 10). There was a small fee to see the pier but it was worth it! We saw people catching fish, tons of dolphins, stingrays, and pelicans. The pelican was right on the railing waiting to be thrown food when the fishermen cleaned their fish. It was very entertaining for all ages!

Peaceful way to kill an hour. We were able to see a shark and plenty of Brown Pelicans . Lots of people fishing

Took an hour to get quesadillas that were high priced and mediocre. I wouldn’t eat there again. Disappointed.

We stayed at The Lodge and add access to the pier. Great little walk over to the pier, we saw dolphins and fish under the pier.

We enjoyed watching the birds and watching people fishing. It is the longest pier on the Gulf Coast There is a nominal fee for using it, but it is free if you are camped in the RV Park.

So I should start by saying I've never had the pleasure of paying to access a public pier in my life but apparently the State Park wants you to cough up $3 per person to watch people fish. There is a bar, some food, dippin dots, etc. at the beginning before the paid section but on the day we went about half of the things were closed. The kids were disappointed in no dippin dots. The pier itself is fine, a little weather worn. If they are charging people they probably should have invested in better synthetic decking instead of wood that needs constant replacing. There is plenty of parking. The beach is nice all around but there are signs that say no swimming within 100 feet, or yards, I don't recall, of the pier.

The pier is too costly for a simple stroll. We did not fish but were required to pay for parking which is 10.00 and another 3.00 a person for admission to the pier which we thought was ridiculous after paying so much to park. The prices should reflect whether you are fishing and staying over an hour or if you are just passing by for a stroll.

Went for a walk with the kids. Long pier and nice people fishing that we met. Enjoyed it.

Good place to fish if I had my gear.

The pier is nice, big enough to be able to fish comfortably. Great to just hangout on and enjoy the beautiful beach. Getting a fishing license was a little time consuming and the young girls working didn’t offer much help. Very convenient because you can park for free and just enjoy the beach or go on pier. Definitely worth a visit.

The pier is a beautiful, relaxing place for a walk. It's well worth the $3 cost. Also, the fisherman were having good success when we were there. The Pelicans are hamming it up all along the pier as they beg for forbidden treats. Enjoy the beautiful view and cooling sea breeze.

This was such a highlight for our little ones. It was nice to walk on the dock and our children watch all the fishing going on with a beautiful view of the ocean and beach.

Go here. Pay the fee to go for the walk. The fishermen will show you what they caught, the pelicans hang around for scraps and sometimes walk on the pier with you, and sharks come for scraps too. You get to see all that for $3/adult.

You pay $3 per adult to walk the pier . Worth the price. We did not fish . Plenty of people fishing from the pier. Parking free.

We just happened to stumble upon this pier. It was fun watching the fisherman catch fish. One man caught a baby shark, which he obviously threw back in. It was oddly exciting watching the fisherman. The view was very nice as well. There is a restaurant but we didn’t eat at it. It’s really cheap to get in and the staff are very nice.

I love walking and watching all the people fish. Made me wish I had my fishing gear with me. You can rent fishing gear so maybe next time I'm here I will be fishing too

We spent the $3 per person to wander out on the pier. It was fun to see the people fishing and check out what they were catching. We were able to see several people pull up some big fish --- one lady caught a 30lb fish while we were there. :) We were hoping to see some dolphins swimming around, but didn't. There were two groups of sting rays underneath the pier though. Overall, we spent about a hour there.

I love walking the pier. There are people fishing and just watching the fish in the water. Kids running around.

We went to the pier as a family while on vacation in Gulf Shores. It was neat to see the fisherman catching fish and some of them even took time to show my son the fish and explain what they are. We did also see some pretty large jellyfish on out in the water! We would visit again. It's neat to get that far off the shore without being all the way out in the water.

It was really fun to walk out over the ocean with the sun shining and the birds flying overhead.We visited with the fishermen and learned a lot about the fish and we saw lots of sharks while walking out on the pier.We got to see what everyone was catching that day and it was mostly Remoras a very strange fish!!!It was fun so give it a try😁

Fee based Pier (3$ each) but worthit. Watch pods of dolphins and shark. Fisherfolks were catching and cleaning. Pelicans were begging. I have some wonderful pics! Glad we walker there.

There is a nominal charge of $2 to walk on the pier, unless you are a veteran and then you are free! It was very interesting to walk out on the pier and view the sights. We really enjoyed watching the fisherman and the pelicans! We would have stayed longer but the wind was very strong the day we went. The staff answered a number of questions we had and were kind and courteous.

Great place to visit and get a a new view of the Gulf and the Beach in that area. Most days there are many fishing and you never know just what they might catch

We always enjoy a walk out on the pier. Watching those fishing on the pier is fun - especially when they make a great catch (or when the sharks steal their catch mid-air!). They are also always kind and willing to answer questions.

Excellent views of the Gulf. The Pier offers fishing, restaurant, and gift shop. Parking is free and there is a minimal fee to walk all the way down the pier. Great place to bring the family. After enjoying the pier you can walk on the beach.

Our first visit to the pier was late in the day and brief but WOW! what a sunset! Campers staying at the state park can park and walk out on the pier for free. There were folks catching fish when we were there, nothing big though.

When we visited the area last year, Dan and I decided not to pay the $3 per person to walk out on this pier. The fact that it was a cool windy day had a part in our decision. This year we decided to do it even though it again was a cool windy day. The highlights in addition to the gorgeous views of the Gulf shoreline were watching fishermen feeding fish scraps to the pelicans and seeing porpoises playing around the end of the pier. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Well worth the minimal fee

Took advantage of a tour of this amazing fishing pier on the beach at Gulf Shores, AL. Young Naturalist Intern did an excellent job. A great tour for adults and children with hands on with Pelicans mooching at the fish cleaning station. Learned the history of the pier including its destruction by hurricane Ivan and the reconstruction that will hopefully protect it in future hurricanes.

This Public Fishing Pier is fun whether or not you go fishing. For $3 you can spend the day watching and talking to people from all over the world. Fishing is only $7. The pelicans that hang out are very entertaining and watching someone hook a shark is very exciting.

This was fun and affordable for our entire family. We were able to watch dolphins swimming from the pier. The workers were helpful and we will definitely be back!!

Visiting the Pier is a ritual with each group of friends that travel to the beach with us at least 4 times a year, for the last 10 years. This year was no different. Part of the ritual, is to take a picture seated on the large turtle at the mouth of the pier. The renovations and upkeep of the Pier are justified by the fee required to walk out onto the pier. However, we pause at the open area next to the snack bar, and have our dawn devotions there. Much to our surprise, on any given morning, we're not the only ones that come there to greet the dawn of a new day.

You have to pay a few dollars to walk out on the pier and a few dollars more if you want to fish. Our family did both. They have fishing tackle and bait right at the first building that you can rent if you want. There were a lot of people fishing along the pier. We didn't catch anything but we saw several folks catch and release and catch and keep fish. They have nice public restrooms in the main building and the building half way out on the pier. They also have a cleaning station(with water) to clean any fish you want to keep. A guy thru over some fish guts he wasn't keeping and my son got to see a shark come take it! if you didn't want to fish there were several benches to just sit and watch the water. We enjoyed it!

A very nice pier for fishing or walking. Saw a lot of marine life while out there. Sharks, sea turtles and all kinds of fish.

A great place to lookout over the ocean. Pretty area and is nice to just stop by and take pictures. You should take a quick visit if in orange beach

I guess the fee is justifiable if you're fishing but I couldn't see the fee just to walk out on the pier.

Your values could be different!

We go to Gulf Shores every year, and the Pier is one of our first stops. we always see different wildlife and love to watch people fish.

We walked the pier and watched the fisherman. There is damage at the end of the pier due to the hurricane, so we could not walk all the way out to the end. The rest of the pier is very nice and clean. Military Vets get in for free. Otherwise there is a modest fee. There is a gift shop and bathrooms.

We stayed about two hours looking into the water and out to the horizon! In the water, we saw sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and fish! I was hoping to see a dolphin and/or manatee, but wasn't lucky enough this time.

My first time in Gulf shores and my first time fishing here, I loved this pier! Long, clean, comfy ! I had so much fun with the whitings, just be careful with the pelicans ! One of them got almost hooked when I was casting !

We visited the fishing pier based on reviews I read on TripAdvisor. I'm so glad we did! We just went to sight see but would love to go back and try fishing. The bar and grill at the pier was very nice and the bartender was very friendly! We only had drinks so don't know about the food.

Great place to visit at night on the weekends. busy with activity. Interesting to watch all the different fish caught

My wife and I visited the pier and decided to try the fishing. You can rent fishing rods for $10. We both caught several fish and had a great time. It’s a very large pier and set up for fishing. Already planning to try it again next time we visit.

We were fishing on Christmas Day. Bought all of the appropriate permits and wristbands the day before. Fished all day and all night for the next two days. We come here very often, and the folks that work there are the most down to earth, wonderful people. I've been laid off from my job of 20 years. I think I'll apply for job here. Stress free, It appears. We love the pier!

For $3 you can walk all the way out on the pier. It was fun to watch all the fishermen. We were able to see schools of fish next to the pier and even saw some dolphin.

This is an annual event for us when in Gulf Shores. Amazing catches and even more amazing local people who fish in the Alabama coastal waters. All ages are welcome and the young learn to love to fish.

This rather large pier is a real go to place for locals and visitors. There is a nominal admission fee to access the entire pier, whether just sightseeing or fishing. Many locals and visitors use the pier to nab their favorite Gulf of Mexico seafood from the many fishing vantage points that the pier offers. It is also a great place to watch birds (the pier is one of the sites on the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail) or just enjoy the gorgeous Gulf views.

We visited the pier right before tropical storm Alberto came up so it was raining off and on but it was still very nice and a great place to view the ocean. We didn’t know we had to pay till we got to the front counter but our 2 boys got in free because they are under the age of 6. I would be careful because their are a lot of fishermen on the pier so there are fishing hooks, fish guts, and other fishing equipment all over.

Their resident Pelican, we nicknamed Fred, was very entertaining. We also got to see some dolphins swim by. The rest of the pier is much like any other.

We enjoyed walking out over the water and watching the avid fishermen and all their setups. Super interesting. It’s got restrooms, snack bar, and bar. We had dippin dots. There is a tackle/bait shop. It’s worth the small fee.

Even on a windy rainy colder day, it’s fun to see. Be sure to pencil in a quick visit. Looks like it would be fun on a sunny day since there is a bar!

We were on our way to Orange Beach and decided to check out the pier. It was a bright sunny day and the breeze off the water was delightful. The local fishermen were friendly and many of them had fish they had caught. The view is superb and it's a good place to stretch your legs if you are driving. It was also a nice to look back and see the local shoreline.
Oh and the sharks. Lots of sharks. Well worth the $3.

I have been to scores of piers and this is the best.....super wide...and super long......restrooms....snacks...drinks.....bait....tackle and more....employees very informative....fisherman on pier always happy to give advice and knowledge on fishing.....place is totally secure and well lit with fish cleaning stations and many benchs to sit upon......even better....it is now undergoing g a total renovation to make a great pier even better....look for to going back there.....a real gem

This was our third trip to the pier and we enjoyed it as always. We got to see fishermen catch a variety of fish. We watched numerous sharks eating scraps fishermen were throwing in the water. We enjoyed lunch at the pier bar area.

Cool place to check out. We were able to see large water birds, large sharks, several stingrays.
They have a place to get snacks and drinks as well as a bait shop/store.

This was a nice stop on our way back from Fort Morgan- we were pleased to see that it was handicap accessible ( although a somewhat steep ramp) We spent a good amount of time visiting with some local fishermen.

Easy to get to, ample parking, and it's a nice view. Other than that, it's a little boring if you don't plan to fish. Looked like there was a little snack shop and gift shop on site, neither of which were open when we were there in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. I was surprised when we were charged $6 per person, especially when all we did was walk the pier.

Pier was well kept, clean, no "fishy" smell. While we did not fish we watched others and took in the view. Great photo opportunities to be had. Well worth the $3 adult admission.

We decided to visit this beach so my daughter could enjoy the sand and beach and my son could go fishing. Both were happy!

Paid parking lot in front so not too far of a walk.

The sand is clean, white, and sugary. Many people had pop up canopies for shade or were under the pier. The ocean water was warm - 87 degrees! The shoreline had some rocks up close, but was mostly sand after a few steps into the water. There was a fair amount of floating seaweed in the water. Definitely seemed like a family friendly beach with crashing waves.

The pier was nice also. There are public bathrooms up there along with a bar area. There’s a bait and tackle store with the ability to rent poles and get a fishing license. You do have to pay to fish on the pier or to walk / sightsee on the pier. We thought we saw dolphins while walking out there. Some fishers caught fish, but it’s a long reel up to the pier. Not many were successful on the day we were there.

I would recommend this beach.

Went to fish. Lot of fishing NO catching. Spent approx 4 hours fishing. My guess is 25 - 30 people fishing. I saw one sting ray and three undersized flounders total caught. Had one regular say 'the ole saying', You should have been there yesterday. I wasn't so I did not catch any fish.

Beautiful views off of the pier. The staff were friendly. The bar staff were also very friendly. Lots of fun watching the fisherman.

Saw a spinner shark out of the end of pier. Many dolphins, pelicans, seagulls, and bait balls of fish where the birds are circling and diving into the ocean.

Spent about an hour and a half here. There were too many jellyfish in the water so didn't try swimming. Cost $3 a person to walk the pier. Had a birds eye view of many crabs, lots of jellyfish, fish of different sizes, and even 2 small sharks. There were even a couple pelicans on the pier. Didn't fish ourselves but watched others pulling in fish.There is even a bar and a store at the start of the pier if interested.

I loved going to the pier! The smell of the ocean, the sound of the waves and the birds diving in the water to get fish is so relaxing to me. Walk down to the end of the pier and along the way people are fishing and enjoying themselves. I saw an entire family, from 2 and up out there fishing. The pier is in great shape, they take good care of it. There is a shop as you enter the pier and also a snack bar before heading on to the pier. People are friendly and I cant wait to go back.

Giving this review 4 stars instead of 5 because several boards need to be replaced. This is a must visit when in Gulf Shores! It was packed with people fishing despite the heat that day. (The real feel heat index was 102.) A kind man even let my 4 year old reel in a fish, which he LOVED. They also have RV parking. We were staying at the State Park so we had a pass for free parking and free entrance to go on the pier so I'm not sure how much it would cost otherwise.

Lots of fun. Reasonable parking fee. Nice beach. Clean. Lots to see when snorkeling…kids saw rays, crabs, fish and even a small shark.

My husband and I visited this pier with friends while staying at the state park. I thought I read that it is the longest pier on the Gulf coast. We watched the sun set and people fishing. A perfect way to end the day!

We could have spent hours out on the pier. It was beautiful!!! We saw a shark, jellyfish, and sting ray.

Even for sightseers this is a must see. We visit it at least once in the day and once at night every time we visit GS. There is always interesting wildlife to see - sharks, stingrays, crabs. Amazing

The fisher persons were catching. The sunset viewers were happy. Looked a lot longer from the beach but it’s the 2nd longest on the gulf shore.

My family and I try to visit the pier every time we come to Gulf Shores. Although we don’t fish, we enjoy watching all the people fish off the pier. We all find it very relaxing.

1/4 mile long pier with seating, water, cleaning areas. They even have monofilament line recycling. People were quiet and peaceful.

The pier is so very nice! We went on a Tuesday night and was able to watch some lucky fishermen catch a few sharks!! So cool to watch!

We visited this pier several times during our trip (twice during the day and once late at night) and loved it. The guy working in the bait shop wasn't very knowledgeable, but was super nice. We asked if they had any hand towels because we had forgotten ours and he gave us one for free. The shop had the frozen bait we needed as well as other essentials, like sunglasses (mine had just broken), and everything seemed reasonably priced. The entry fee for fishing was $9 per person plus you have to pay separately for your license online, which added up quick since there were two of us and we went more than once, but it's still way cheaper than a fishing charter so it was well worth it. If you are a veteran or active duty military, they will give you $3 off pier entry (which makes it free if you are just sight seeing, not fishing), and they have discounts for others as well. The pier is super long so dragging a bunch of gear back and forth is quite a workout. After doing that a couple of times, we ended up buying a cart to haul our fishing stuff and it made things much easier. I would highly recommend bringing some type of wagon or cart if you have a lot of stuff to carry. Other good things about this pier: they're open 24 hours, your entry is good until 7 am the next morning so you can visit during the day and at night or early the next morning without having to pay again, there are water hoses and fillet stations all the way down the pier, there are bathrooms and shade halfway down the pier, and there are plenty of benches so no need to bring chairs unless you just want your own. The first day we visited, we had a hot dog and some nachos, which were good and not overly expensive. While on the pier mid-late morning/early afternoon, we saw tons of dolphins, a pretty large shark, several large skates/rays, a huge manta ray, a couple of large sea turtles, and some jelly fish. We caught about 10 fish each time we visited, including bluefish, whitefish, pinfish, hardhead catfish, sea trout, and a lookdown. We would definitely recommend this pier for fishing or sight seeing.

If you like fishing or just enjoy watching others catch GULF OF MEXICO fish then this is the place,It only cost a few bucks to enjoy a day and the varity of fish that are caught and the sharks you see make it worth the walk..

Nice pier to walk out on & try to get a glimpse of dolphins or turtles. We didn't see any this time, but enjoyed watching the people fishing and reading the informational signs along the way. Nice bathrooms & concession stand. Fee of $3.

We visited the pier on a Monday morning probably around 7:30am. There was plenty of parking available. There are kiosks that accept cash or card for your hourly or daily parking passes. I chose the full day pass so that I didn't have to watch the time for one. Also, however when you buy the daily pass you get one free fishing pier permit for the day attached onto your parking ticket. It was $10 for the full day pass. When we met the staff on the pier they couldn't be more friendly and helpful. The gentleman at the window helped me and my family (two young kids included) get all set up to do some fishing for a little bit before it was too hot. There were all ready a lot of fisherman on the pier hard at it by this time in the AM. We rented two poles, and they recommended and grabbed some frozen shrimp as bait for us to use. I am an avid freshwater fisherman in Missouri and Kentucky but haven't ocean fished before. I didn't bring all my gear for the family trip but do believe I will bring some next time. I think I spent around $32 for two poles and bait or 4 hours. We did end up catching a fish, had bites every cast. Saw others around us catching as well. I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would've liked due to enjoying the fishing so much. My son was tired and we had to cut things short, my only regret is that I didn't get to catch more and try spots further along the pier. I definitely recommend and would go back asap. 5 out of 5 for me. Yes, you have to also pay to view the pier and there is a cost with most of it but you kind of expect that when in a vacation spot like this.

Great access to fun fishing for the family. Conveniently located in Gulf Shores near the Lighthouse Condominiums. Plenty of parking and handicap accessible. The pier is a great place to enjoy fishing as well as all the panoramic views of the Gulf.

For a small $3 fee, you can spend time on the pier and watch the fishers catch some cool fish. They have cleaning stations where you see the variety of fish. There are places to get food and drink, and restrooms...so you can make a day out of it or just watch for an hour or so. Lots of pelicans perched on the lights, but don't stand below them! For obvious reasons. Also a great place to see sunsets.

My wife has always wante to fish in the ocean, but never had the chance until we visited the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier. They made it SO easy for us to fish. The very nice lady working in the bait shop told us to to buy a non-resident fishing license, which was a snap after her instructions. She then rented us poles, sold us some bait, and wished us good luck. There is an additional charge to access the pier, but altogether, it only cost $70 for both of us to get set up and begin fishing. During my 4 hour time of having my rental pole, I had to cut my line once, so went back to the bait shop to buy some tackle. The same nice lady said, “wait, didn’t you rent a pole?” I replied I did, and she told me to just bring the pole back and she would give me a different one, already set up to go - no additional charge. We fished for 4 hours and didn’t catch anything, but that is probably more our fault than the pier’ as some people were catching fish. They have bathrooms on the pier, as well as a snack shop and a bar with a bigger dining menu. Very nice!

My better half and I took a nice stroll along the pier as we walked the fishermen were pulling airlines out of the water somewhere successful somewhere not but the weather was awesome and appear made a great place to stand and look out on the Gulf and watch the waves come crashing in. It was very romantic and we enjoyed the experience

We had fun watching people reel in their catch and we saw several dolphins and lots of jelly fish in the water!

The longest pier in the Gulf of Mexico, it’s worth a visit. They offer fishing passes, or a small admission enables you to walk the pier for a short time, or all day. I could just sit and people watch, and of course keep an eye on the waters - rumor has it sharks love the brackish waters here.

The hubs had a nice time fishing on the pier. You are able to see the fish, stingrays, etc., swimming by. We visited during the offseason, so the pier was not crowded. It's a great place to talk a stroll, fish or just enjoy the sea air!

Very impressive. I had never been on a pier before but the view was awesome! Right down the road from our room. Very friendly atmosphere.

Wasn't expecting a lot, admission is $3 each, free if you are a veteran, but I was surprised. We really enjoyed it, we stayed about an hour and got to see schools of flounder, sharks, some stingrays, jelly fish, thousands of sardine and various other sea life. Being above the water lets you see so much more than you see from shore.

We just went in the evening to hang out and see the spectacular full moon. But go to see the sharks and jelly fish. Get your fishing license and rent some equipment and fish. Really cool place.
There is a restaurant on the pier.
Great views. Worth it.

Very nice well kept pier. Didn't smell all fishy like most piers do. Located pretty central between Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Lots of nice parking and has beach showers. However the shower drains were clogged and flooded so to rinse off yourself you have to stand in ankle deep water.

I liked the store on the peir and they rented rods and sold rods. Bath rooms were clean and nice. Pier was crowded not very many fish caught and were very small. Beach at the pier was very nice and didn't have many people on the beach all in all ok but nothing special.

If you have 30-60 minutes pay the 3 dollars and visit the Pier. Between watching all of the fishermen, birds, and other visitors this is an enjoyable experience in Gulf Shores. The Pier is flat and easy to walk. There are multiple places to stop and rest if needed. Great views of both the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach's beaches. A must visit.

We paid the admission to go out & explore the pier and watch the people fish off the sides. It was cool but a little unnerving as well because it was high enough up that we could see sharks swimming below us which also meant they were swimming near the beach goers. Yikes!

Strolled at night and could see tons of fish. They have lights so you can see. It’s a huge wide pier and very nice. Husband and son went fishing this morning and enjoyed it. Didn’t really catch much but still fun. If you want to see fish this is the place

We went out late in the afternoon close to sunset and watched them pull in a bull shark it was awesome!

The pier needs some maintenance. The bathrooms were very dirty and not well kept. Also there were nails sticking up out of the boards that I tripped on.

We walked on the pier since we were staying at the lodge. Some of the pier was taken out by a hurricane a few years back and it has not been repaired.
It is fun to watch the birds on the pier and feel the wind.

My family comes to gulf shores many times a year. Each time we walk the pier. Love watching the sharks and other fish on calm water days Once we saw a Manatee. Boardwalk is closed now for renovations until????

The pier is very nice but there is a charge to walk out onto the pier. Shame on them.... Orange Beach should not be charging to walk out onto a pier. The city wants to the tourism but charging to go on a pier???? Really People????????!!!!!!!

We took a relaxing walk on the pier right before sunset one night. It was interesting to see and talk to the people fishing there. The sunset that night was amazing and I think this is one of the best locations to see it.

Plenty of parking, a short walk to the pier. Admission is $3. Many fisherman lining the pier, and pelicans up close and personal. We watched dolphins swimming, talked to the fisherman and enjoyed the view.

One of the best fishing piers.very long with rest rooms half way out. Plenty of benches to sit,and lots of places to fish.

Visited the pier and walked the beach as we did a few years ago- very nice with several small shells to collect. Two days later, we were concerned when a Mobile, AL TV station reported that three men from Mobile were arrested on 3/19/18 for allegedly breaking into vehicles parked in the pier's parking lot. They criminals drove over 50 miles to break into cars on the beach. Be careful.

Awesome fishing pier that is very clean and well maintained. Pier extends close to a 1/4 mile out into the Gulf of Mexico. They also have a bar at the main entrance for food and beverages.

Daughter and I visited, walked to the end. Great view and clear water. Restroom nicely placed. Returned that evening for shark fishing tournament. Nicely lighted water so you can actually see the fish.

We just went to the pier and it was so nice and the cool breeze was wonderful. The waves were high and choppy but it was beautiful. I got some really pretty pictures. After going up to where the pier begins they have a nice place to sit and take pics. They also have a bar and s gift shop. If you would like to go to the end it’s a six dollar fee.

What fun it was to go on this pier. It was worth the price of admission. Pelicans were in abundance and afforded lots of photographic opportunities. It was very relaxing and peaceful and we enjoyed walking the pier.

Only sad part was the poor beach patrol having to tell the ding dongs to get out of the water. Those people would go right back out. Guess they wanted to be bait. Purple flag people. Pay attention. Bad to swim when you are told sharks and rays present. The pie itself was really interesting. The fishermen and women were really friendly

Great view, lots of birds and fish, sunsets, sand, waves. You might even get to watch a pelican try to steal a fish from another bird

The view from the pier is amazing. We had a good time, and even saw a dolphin playing. We are looking forward to the next trip to the beach and the pier.

We all went one morning to walk the pier after breakfast. It is much bigger than you think when passing by. Many people fishing and plenty catching. Came back at 5 p.m. for feeding time and saw the dolphins, lots of schools of fish, jelly fish, pelicans, seagulls, and several people were pulling in fish I had not seen before. Interesting that they have information boards educating people on how to identify fish and species details. Beautiful views and you can stay as long as you like. It's a must see while you are there.

Nice pier for fisherman, I guess, but it is just a pier. Not really worth it for anyone else. Not free unless you stay at the State Park. Nothing impressive. It's amazing that they actually charge you to go on it.

The Gulf State Park Fishing Pier is an ideal place to take great photos, watch the waves roll in, and to take a stroll to the end. Do take enough cash with you, though. The first time we walked, we were ready to pay a couple dollars to walk out to the end (not fish) but when we got there, the fee was $3. I had only brought a five dollar bill with me and of course, not enough for the two of us. We understand the fee is needed to maintain the pier; however, I wish our motel could have let us know how much to take. We were about two beach-walking miles away. The next time we walked to the pier, my husband came along as well, That is when we found out that veterans did not need to pay. That is amazing and he felt honored. I will say that you can also drive to the pier. There is free parking so that one does not have to walk on the beach to get to the pier. And if you do go down to the sand and water, there are water faucets at the end of the pier for which to wash off feet. There are also modern bathrooms with plumbing if you walk up to the pier and these are accessible without paying the fee. The next time I visit Gulf Shores, I hope to be closer to the pier. There are many kind people to chat with at sunrise - some are locals and some are regular visitors. So, even if you are not fishing, the pier is a great place to go.

Had great time on Pier!! Fun place to hang out and enjoy the ocean view and breeze and atmosphere. Excellent bartender named Toni!! Thank you!!

Wonderful pier to see great views and watch fisherman reel in their catch! You can also fish here yourself, which we have done once. You can rent gear from the shop and obtain a permit. Staff are helpful and nice. When we went, the small restaurant was closed, but it does appear that is is open with limited hours. We watched the water below and saw large jellyfish and turtles. It costs about $5 a person to get in. It is a nice afternoon excursion.

We walked to pier and were able to fish. Friendly people and we could see Marinelife from pier. Make sure your fishing license is current

We always have to stop in at the pier.. it was beautiful. The scenery is gorgeous. People fishing.. and just visiting. Great place to take the kids.

We visited this very clean pier and watched fishermen catch fish, children play and nurse sharks swim. It was very clean and we enjoyed this visit. We also enjoyed lunch right on the pier. A good bbq sandwich. Recommend sitting at the restaurant and enjoying a meal.

My 17 year old son had a blast fishing off the pier this past weekend! He can't wait to come back! I don't fish but I really enjoyed being on the pier! Will definitely be back when we are in Gulf Shores again! Our family made lot's of great memories and had a great time!

a walk on the pier is warm and relaxing, you might even see someone catch a fish, the ambitious pelicans can be fun for kids as well.

If you didn't come here before Ivan destroyed the old pier then you won't have the full appreciation of the newly designed and appointed and just how much nicer it is but you  will enjoy it nonetheless. I really love what they've done with the new and improved 1540' pier. It's double the length of the old pier (nearly a quarter mile) and it's much wider at 20' and there's more free parking. It's very nicely conceived and executed. I will end the comparison here and just talk about what you can expect. 

First off the pier is nestled among and surrounded by dunes, beach and water. The only interruption to that is the lovely new Gulf State Park Resort and the very nice new nature wakways that go on for very long stretches that are connected on both sides of Beach Highway by a new catwalk, it is very tastefully done with protections and in harmony with the wildlife. It is referred to as the fishing and education pier and you will see signs along the pier that have interesting information about a lot of different  marine life, it's cool. Depending on the day you could see dolphins, jellyfish, sharks, rays, turtles, random fish of various sizes and on most days you'll very likely to see any number of pelicans and seagulls, they're year-round residents who also like to fish by the pier :-)

Naturally fishing is a big attraction from the pier and indeed all sorts of fish can be caught all along because the topography and depths vary greatly from one place to the next. On any given day you could see small flounder to pretty big sharks and some days there's a lot of pretty big fighters like Spanish mackerel being reeled in and others there might just be a lot of people just catching some sun, but that's fishing for ya'. Normally you will see specific announcements posted of what is biting and that is updated and maintained by the fine folks that man the store and the gate by the entrance to the pier. 

Where there used to only be open space and a couple benches there is now a full service bar that also has food. The back story is it's operated by the same folks that owned and operated Bywater Bistro that under the canal bridge in Gulf Shores. This comfy new place for food and drink is called ByWater Beachside Restaurant open 11am-7pm and even features 8live music (specific dates & times) You can get some pretty tasty gumbo and they've got a decent pizza and burger. As for drinks they have cold beer and frozen daiquiri's plus more. The bottom line for Bywater it's comfy, the view is awesome, the food is good and the people are really friendly and take good care of you. There's also some nice cool sweets available at   Repicci's Italian Ice and Gelato but I'm not sure about the hours. 

Very nicely and tastefully lit at night and what I mean by that is you have plenty of light if you are out there fishing anywhere along the pier but it's not harsh lighting.

The is a charge to associated of $3 per entry $4 for the day for adults but no charge for children under 12 however veterans never have to pay. That's a very nice tip of that hat for us because both my wife and I are Navy vets. You will also see a section of wall at the beginning of the pavilion that has individual dedications to several veterans. There's also a fee for fishing and it's currently $10 for 4 hours or $20 and you get a wristband that covers 12 hours ( 7am-7am & 7pm-7pm) and kids 11 and under fish for free with a fishing adult. (Vetrans get a discoint) I know there's some exceptions or differences that I don't have all the specifics on but you could call ahead or inquire on site. The website does have more information.

There's also a very cool new offering, it's called the pier walk, it's a guided walk. 

The newer entrance is at the light and is actually shared with newly opened and lovely Gulf State Resort. 

Speaking of the resort it's managed by Hilton and the very attractive restaurant by the lobby is called FOODCRAFT. It has one if the very best views on the Gulf and diners are provided with complimentary valet parking. Check Yelp for Foodcraft and some pretty nice reviews.

It's always been a great place for both sunrise and sunsets but now it's even better because it's much further out into the Gulf. I really like the newly designed pier and appreciate all of the thought that went into making this a really great place to walk, sit, sightsee, dolphin watch,   take pictures, fish, have a pizza or burger, relax and enjoy nature. It's perfect if you just want to spend some me-time or for an outing with the whole family. 

Nicely done!!

Got to the pier about an hour before sunset. Walked down and took in the great views. Lots of fisherman on the dock but most didn't seem to be catching anything. Got in for free because we were camping at a nearby campground but I believe it does cost to get in.

Reasonable parking and low admission cost. It's not a very long pier, but if you're in the area, it's worth the trip just to see the beach and area from a different perspective. If you're lucky, the fishermen will catch something unique in front of you.

My husband & I visited the pier for something do in the early evening, just before sunset. We stayed about 1-1/2 hours. The fishermen were very friendly and shared a lot of information about what to catch, baid equipment and so on. There are also very helpful signs about the types of fishing you can expect off the pier, as well as signs telling about the types of water fowl you might expect to see near the pier. To our surprise, we were able to see dolphins frollicking in the water near the end of the pier. The pier and the surrounding part are very nicely maintained and very well lit. It costs $6 per person to go out on the pier.

Best pier I have ever been on. It was worth the 3 dollars to walk it and watch all the activity. Well kept and managed. Bathrooms were clean.

Just visited this week. Great place for fishing. Smells bad in spots but that can’t be helped because it is a fishing spot after all. Only problem I have with it is the boards feel loose in paces so it get like you might fall through. Just need to have someone come through and check it out. Otherwise a must see place morning or night

You can not simply walk out on this pier. You must pay $3/person or $4/person for all day access. All we wanted to do was walk to the end and back for a few mins.

Great for pictures and to enjoy the ocean. We did not fish on it but we did walk along it. A little unfortunate you have to pay just to walk along but it was very pretty

This place is great! where else can you go night fishing on a pier! I have been coming here for years. Hint , the fireworks from the Hangout festival can be viewed here nicely.

We visited a couple of times during out stay using our free passeswe received during check-in at Gulf State Park Campground. I can't believe I've never visited this pier during my many previous visits to this area. It's well-kept and well worth a visit. We enjoyed watching the fishermen and saw a couple of sharks and a stingray, as well as many pelicans and other birds. A great experience and beautiful views. If you don't have a free pass it's two or three dollars and supports the park, so visit and enjoy!

It was neat for a quick visit to the pier. We could see fish swimming below us and even saw a shark! Saw some birds up close too. The kids seemed to enjoy it!

We cruised over to gulf shores for lunch road the beach stoped at the pier it was very nice we end up hangin around and eating we had pizza pull pork sandwich yummieee...

We had the best time we come every year and this year my 2nephews came and the got to see someone get a stingray

Great fishing pier - had shaded area with picnic tables to rest at - had some benches along the pier area - people seemed to be catching fish - I enjoyed our visit a lot! Great place for a walk.

We saw a baby shark jump out of wzter! Truly amazing kids loved it. Watched people fishing and catching stuff pretty neat

Very well kept, Clean, Lots of people fishing. Nice signage to help you identify fish as well as proper keeper sizes & seasons. The Pelicans are fun to watch & don't mind people at all.

Went to pair great place to fish having flown down didn’t have fishing Equipment. Went in at 4pm and couldn’t rent because closing at 430. Nice pier though

This is an amazing place for all ages and types. Be prepared for a big hello from the local pelicans. We enjoyed a delightful stroll to the end over looking the massive Gulf ov Mexico. People are so friendly in the south, talked with several fisherman, some from our home state. This place is a fishermans paradise. As well as, fun for birders and breathing the fresh air.

Went to check it out very nice view. A lot of fishing from the pier. Nice clear water, saw lots of fish. Friendly people all along the way.

We visited thinking it would be a nice free thing to take the kids to. The parking is free, however it cost $3 per person to walk the pier, that isn't even finished. If you're not fishing it is not worth the $3.

We just got from a week in Gulf Shores and hit the pier several times with both the guys for just fishing and the fam for a little fishing, sight seeing and swimming. Good times were had by all!

Great pier and lots to look at. Bring plenty of fluids.....its hot!!! We didn't catch anything worth keeping but we caught some crazy stargazer fish. They also offer guided tours

Nice, long pier. There is a charge of about three bucks to walk out as a spectator. Fishing costs about $9. If you're a veteran you get a break and was told that Veterans spouses do also.

Stopped in here, had a couple drinks and watched the people fishing and on the beach. Staff was all very friendly.

This was an exceptional walk that I wasn't expecting. The pier seemed well maintained with a few concession stands. I walked out mid afternoon to view the shore birds/ocean and returned later for the sunset. As this is a popular fishing pier, an extra treat were the sharks. The fishermen were cleaning their catch which attracted three sharks and later, pelicans.

We stopped to view this pier as it was highly recommended. Military Veterans are able to enter the pier with no charge. I am the wife of Veteran and the attendant said to me $3. Usually I can accompany my husband when the policy is for Veterans. The attendant sharply said it’s only $3! Forget when so rude which is what this kid was. Not very friendly or cordial!!

Any trip to orange beach and gulf shores must include a trip to this pier. It is a shining example of appropriate use of state dollars to allow experiences and conserve property! This place had superior customer service, very high value for experience provided, unique experience observing LoTS of sharks in action! Any family with kids will find this to be a highlight of your whole visit to the area. I understand that the night experience is even better, we will see tomorrow! We did spend some time fishing, not much luck but would come back again and try without any hesitation ! As a side note...vets are free also...what a very special surprise!

So much interesting information about the Gulf as you walk the pier. Take the time to read all the signs!! Also so fun to watch the fishermen and visit with them.

Kids enjoyed it. Go late in afternoon when fishermen are cleaning their catch and look for sharks as they toss the scraps.

A walk on the Pier is great after dinner to watch the sunset. The cost is $3.00 per adult person, the money helps maintain the pier. It is fun to watch the fishermen catching fish. You can always see wildlife such as sting rays, sharks and more.

I stayed at Gulf State Park for 4 months, the Pier is part of the park. I visited the Pier on multiple occasions. I believe it is the second longest fishing pier in the Gulf of Mexico.
Great wild life views. I saw a shark swimming looking over the edge of the pier. Great Blue Herons, seagulls, and pelicans are always there.

Great views of Gulf Shores from the pier. Does cost to go out $2 per person. Lot of ppl fishing and having good conversation. Also at night you can enjoy the local Karaoke Bar

We had a great time on this Pier from Fishing, watching the Sunsets and visiting the Cantina. The Chicken Quesadilla was great!

Nice beach, and good fishing pier. Price on pier is reasonable. Can fish or just sightsee. Plenty of parking at no cost.

Cool pier located near our hotel.Unless you’re a veteran or guest at The Lodge (Hilton) you will have to pay a fee. Kids are free, I think it was $3 for sightsee and $9 to fish, there are other fees also I just can’t remember how much as we were guests at The Lodge so we didn’t have to pay anything.

We saw so many educational posters and exhibits. Also, TONS of fishermen reeling in fish for the kids to see. We were able to video a shark cruising the area around the pier. FYI- parking is $5 per car and admission to the pier is $2 per person. That doesn’t include fishing the pier or a license to fish from the state.

Nice pier with bathrooms. Bathrooms were 1/2 down pier, so didn’t have to exit pier to use bathroom. Cost $3 for adults and free for kids <12 years old. Pier had a bar area before entering pier entrance.

My wife and I went to the pier to see what it took to fish there and ended up staying there for the beach. It wasn't crowded at all and the pier gives you some shade if you want it. The water is also shallower there than other places so it is a good place for kids.

I don't fish, but enjoy the pier because there is always something to see. People reel in sharks, octopi, and an assortment of fish. Pelicans and other birds like to hangout when fish are being cleaned to beg for treats. The pier people are friendly and the price is reasonable. You can walk the pier or find a bench, sit a spell, and enjoy the views and salty air.

Even just walking out to the end of the pier for an hour was a great time. The sun and salt air really feels great after a Midwestern winter. Parking is easy and free at this location. 3$ entry fee was another nickel and dimer, put it was worth it if it keeps the bathrooms clean and the pier staffed!

Bring your rod & Reel and catch fish. 1540 Ft of Pier and lots of fish. There are the locals, which I found out are called "Pier Rats" that do not disrespect the Beginner and offer help when needed. We saw all kinds of fish caught and they even have a cleaning station at mid point. Two sets of bathrooms and a restaurant to serve. The only beer allowed is consumed in the eating area. NONE allowed on the pier, Come enjoy as we did.

Great place for ocean views. Part of the pier was closed off so we couldn’t fully enjoy it. It was a little dirty from the fisherman’s bait that was left behind.

We stopped by the pier one night on our way back to our condo. There wasnt much going on or to do but fishing and there was a ton of fishermen. We did walk to the end and back. On our way back we watched a man gutting a huge fish he caught. It was pretty cool. The bracelets were good until the next night so we could have gone back during the day but we never did make it back.

$3.00 per person to take a one-time trip on the pier. We saw pelicans, sharks, and other birds. Also saw a guy reeling in a fish. As soon as it hit the water line a shark snuck up and had his fish for lunch. Mitral of the story...he should have reeled it in faster. ☺