How to Make the Most of the Gulf State Park Pier

Gulf State Park Pier
The vast and biologically diverse sanctuary that is Gulf State Park features some of the area’s best opportunities to spot flora and fauna like nowhere else. Features of the park, like the Gulf State Park Pier, allow you to soak it all in and take advantage of some of the best scenery and fishing the park has to offer. So, when you plan your visit to the Gulf Shores area, be sure to make the most of your trip with a stop at the Gulf State Park Pier.

Gulf State Park and the Gulf State Park Pier are a couple of great things to do on Alabama’s Gulf Coast! Fortunately for you, there’s plenty more where those come from. Here at Sunset Properties, we want you to have the best vacation ever. So, we’ve put together a free, downloadable Vacation Guide, just for you! It’s the best way to plan and see all the great things our area has to offer. You’re going to love it!

What’s There to Do at the Gulf State Park Pier?

The Gulf State Park Fishing and Education Pier is one of the park’s focal points, and it offers some of the best views along the Gulf Coast. It is the second longest pier along the entire Gulf Coast at 2,448 feet of available fishing space. So, what’s the best way to enjoy the pier? Here are a few options.

Fishing

The obvious answer. With 2,448 feet of fishable pier, all you have to do is pay a small daily fee to enjoy great pier fishing. You can fish off the pier for just $9.00 per day, and you can rent a fishing rod for $20.00 per day. Children under 11 may fish for free when accompanied by a paying adult. And, for your fishing needs, the indoor retail area on the pier has you covered. Be sure to get your Alabama saltwater fishing license before you go!

Photography and Sightseeing

The second longest pier on the Gulf Coast is naturally a wonderful scenic vantage point. Bring your camera or enjoy a moment of tranquility on one of the pier’s benches, and you’ll know what we mean. This is a spectacular sunset view whether you want a picture or just want to relax. There is a small fee for sightseeing on the pier, just $3.

Other Things to Do at Gulf State Park

Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail

This is your opportunity to see the beauty of the park up close and personal. Wonderful hiking and biking trails and paths wind through the park, highlighting the waterways, wooded areas, and dunes the park contains.

Nature Center

Gulf State Park’s Nature Center features plants and animals native to the park and the Gulf Coast region. Whether it’s the turtles, the snakes, the trees, or the taxidermy, there’s something to enjoy for everyone in the family!

Beautiful Beaches

Over three and a half miles of white sand beaches will capture your attention and delight your toes. And, these family-friendly beaches are ideal for beach days full of fun and relaxation. Cool off in the water or lay out and get a tan, it doesn’t matter! You’ll love these beaches!

The Perfect Vacation for Utter Relaxation

When you consider all the incredible experiences you can have along Alabama’s Gulf Coast, it’s a no-brainer to book your summer vacation here. So, get to planning! Here at Sunset Properties, we’re ready for you! Our beautiful condos and beach houses are the best way to make beachy memories you and yours will never forget. So, browse our available properties and see for yourself how great a vacation here can be. Contact us today to book your beach getaway!

18th Annual Orange Beach Billfish Classic

Are you ready for a new adventure?  Join the top anglers in the country and lots of cheering fans at the 18th Annual Orange Beach Billfish Classic.  This event takes place out of the marina at The Wharf.  The events start on the 18th of May and go through the 22nd.  You can keep track of your favorite team and check often for their weigh-ins.  The fishing starts at noon on the 19th and goes until weigh in on at 11 AM on the 22nd. There is a Weigh in on Saturday also on Saturday from 6 until 10 PM.  So come enjoy all the fun activities at The wharf and then see if your favorite team won the big prize!  Below are all the details from the Orange Beach Billfish Classic Website.

First of the Gulf Coast tournament season and the kickoff tournament of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship series.  The Orange Beach Billfish Classic was formed in 1998 for the express purpose of providing financial support for organizations that speak effectively for all recreational fishermen. The OBBC quickly became a top event on the Gulf Coast tournament circuit and serves as an important fundraiser for The Billfish Foundation and the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). In 2011, over $50,000 was donated to these organizations, bringing the total contributed over the history of the tournament to over $500,000.

2014- Triple Crown trophy
2014- Triple Crown trophy

The OBBC is the country’s only non-profit billfish tournament with 100% of all net profit donated to qualified 501(c)(3) conservation organizations. The OBBC is an all-volunteer effort so there is no overhead to deduct from the financial support that’s provided to our conservation beneficiaries.

Beginning in 2013, The Wharf Marina Entertainment Complex hosted the Orange Beach Billfish Classic for the first time, and hosted the tournament again in 2014 and 2015. Over the course of the four day event, the crews, anglers and participants enjoy a series of fun and food-filled events, with a Captain’s Meeting on Wednesday evening and culminating with an awards brunch on Sunday morning. The organizers look forward to a big turnout this year in order to continue to support the organizations that fight for our resources.

10361061_634166736676009_1355216962380415182_n“I’d like to take a minute to personally invite everyone to join us for the 2016 Orange Beach Billfish Classic,” Dorland said in a recent interview. “Our staff will welcome you with open arms and we’ll all do our best to show you what a great experience this event has become, from the great fishing to our world-famous Gulf Coast hospitality. Come fishing with us this year — you won’t be disappointed.”

Interested participants are welcome to contact Dorland personally at (251) 402-8190 for more information.

Orange Beach Billfish Classic schedule of events is as follows.
Wednesday, May 18th• 4-11 pm: Registration and Optional Cash Awards open under the big tent • 6 pm: Cocktails and Hors d ’Oeuvres • 7 pm: Dinner • 8-11 pm: Optional Cash Awards Pot Party 2016

Schedule Of Events Thursday, May 19th • 10:00 am: Mandatory Captain’s Meeting under the big tent • 10:30 am: Boats may leave The Wharf through Perdido Bay to Perdido Pass • 12 noon: Boats may leave Perdido Pass. Any boat choosing to leave through Sailboat Bay may not leave The Wharf Marina until NOON, May 19th • 12 noon: Fishing Commences Friday, May 20th • 7-10 pm: Weigh in at The Wharf Saturday, May 21st • 6-10 pm: Weigh in at The Wharf Sunday, May 22nd • 9-11 am: Tournament Awards Breakfast