ORANGE BEACH AUG 2006

Fishing around structure is offering plenty of action with flounder, mangrove snapper and redfish. Large piers or rockpiles, such as the jetties in several of the different passes, have been very good. Use a Carolina rig, which is a sliding egg sinker above the swivel with an 18 to 30-inch leader. A number of hook sizes will work, but the Eagle Claw 084 No. 2 is a good all-around hook for this type of fishing.

If you never have had an opportunity to fish for tarpon, now's your chance. A good approach is to ride down the beach looking for bait pods. Tarpon can be caught using lures or a fly, but I definitely would be prepared with some type of live bait on a fluorocarbon leader.

If you're looking for speckled trout, good luck. Fishing for them has been below par this summer. Ordinarily, the grass flats hold fish this time of year, but at this point, I suggest fishing deep-water docks or holes.

Plenty of fun can be had with the ladyfish and bluefish that are scattered throughout Pensacola Bay and along the beach. They can be caught by finding surface action and casting flashy jigs or lures. This also is a good way to pick up Spanish mackerel.

Dock fishing has been good to those looking for redfish, especially in the Destin and Gulf Breeze area's. The only way to find these fish is to go from dock to dock making casts beneath each one.