Arnica Bay Fishing
A bay of the Alabama coast in Baldwin County.
Pick for redfishPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Perdido Pass: Chris Palmer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arnica Bay summed up for a first saltwater trip
USGS names Arnica Bay as a bay of Baldwin County. Orange Beach is the closest Census place, some 4 miles off.
ADCNR placed 4 inshore reefs within 12 miles.
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR coastal layers; Census 2023 places.
Launch sites ADCNR lists near Arnica Bay
There is no listed ramp at Arnica Bay; plan a run from a nearby one.
Other ramps a short tow from Arnica Bay
- Pirate's Cove boat ramp on Roberts BayouRoberts Bayou, under a mile northwest
- Josephine Park on Roberts BayouRoberts Bayou, under a mile north
- Palmetto Creek Boat Ramp on Roberts BayouRoberts Bayou, 2 miles northeast
- Boggy Point Boat Ramp on Terry CoveTerry Cove, 3 miles southwest
- Cotton Bayou boat rampCotton Bayou, 4 miles southwest
- The Launch on Wolf BayWolf Bay, 7 miles west
ADCNR coastal boating access pages and public access site layer (ADCNR GIS), read November 1, 2026; ADCNR WFF public boat ramp list (list), read November 1, 2026.
Shore fishing at Arnica Bay
Piers and bank spots that sit near Arnica Bay
- Gulf State Park Pier on Oyster Bayfishing pier, salt water, 9 miles
- Little Lagoon Pierfishing pier, salt water, 13 miles
- Magnolia Springs Public Pierfishing pier, salt water, 16 miles
- Weeks Bay Boat Ramp and Pierfishing pier, salt water, 19 miles
- The Pines Fishing Pier and Boat Launch on Bon Secour Bayfishing pier, salt water, 22 miles
ADCNR coastal boating access pages and public access site layer (ADCNR GIS), read November 1, 2026.
Artificial reefs by Arnica Bay
The ADCNR list puts 4 inshore reefs near Arnica Bay.
| Reef | Placed | Material | Listed depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Point Reef | 2005 | Concrete pilings, bridge rubble and bridge spans | 13 ft listed depth | 1 mile northeast |
| Bayou St. John Reef | 2005 | Concrete pilings and Rubble and 3" X 6" limestone aggregate | 11 ft listed depth | 2 miles south |
| Rockpile | 2011 | Limestone rip rap in single row along northern boundary; roadway culverts (18" … | 9 ft listed depth | 2 miles northeast |
| Ono island Reef | 2005 | Concrete piling and rubble-Red claybrick from NAS Pensacola; roadway culverts (18") … | 11 ft listed depth | 2 miles east |
ADCNR Marine Resources Division public reef master list 2025 (KMZ; reef layer), read November 1, 2026. Coordinates are for information only, not for navigation.
How much water covers Arnica Bay today
- Arnica Bay, Mill Pointtide predictions, under a mile
- Alabama Pointtide predictions, 3 miles
- Wolf Baytide predictions, 5 miles
- Gulf State Park Piertide predictions, 10 miles
On Arnica Bay, wind and river flow move the water as much as the moon does; check the station before running shallow.
NOAA CO-OPS water level and tide prediction stations; read November 1, 2026.
Port towns by Arnica Bay
- Gulf ShoresBaldwin County, 11 miles
- Orange BeachBaldwin County, 3 miles
- ElbertaBaldwin County, 8 miles
- LillianBaldwin County, 9 miles
- Perdido BeachBaldwin County, 2 miles
- FoleyBaldwin County, 11 miles
USGS GNIS domestic names (feature class and primary point), read November 1, 2026.
Daily limits on Arnica Bay
| Species | Daily limit and size | Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Sheepshead | 8 per person; 12" min. FL | state waters |
| Spotted Seatrout | 6 per person – one fish is allowed to be over; 15" min. TL – 22" max TL | state waters |
| Red Drum (Redfish) | 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL | state waters |
| Cobia (Ling) | 1 per person, not to exceed 2 per vessel; 36" min. FL | state waters |
| Spanish Mackerel | 15 per person; no size limit | state waters |
| Florida Pompano | 3 per person; 12" min. TL | state waters |
| Striped Bass | 2 per person; 16" min TL | state waters |
| Flounder | 5 per person (Closed Season for the month of November); 14" min TL | state waters |
| Tripletail (Blackfish) | 3 per person; 18" min TL | state waters |
| Mullet | Oct. 24-Dec. 31, 25 mullet per person from the shoreline or 25 per boat. No mullet by cast net or snagging in Theodore Industrial Canal, Dog River, Fowl River, and their tributaries.; no siz | state waters |
The MRD inshore rows cover the usual catches on Arnica Bay.
The license line is set by highways and landmarks, quoted on the saltwater page; check it for spots up the rivers.
Saltwater anglers 16 and older carry an Alabama saltwater license ($30.90 resident, $66.80 nonresident for 2026-27), plus the $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement to keep reef fish such as red snapper.
Limits as printed by the ADCNR Marine Resources Division recreational size, creel and possession limits for state waters (MRD limits page), read November 1, 2026.
For the redfish herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Arnica Bay set against nearby salt water
Of the five closest coastal pages, Roberts Bayou has the most ramps and access sites (14).
| Water | Distance | Type | Ramps | Piers and banks | Access sites | Inshore reefs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnica Bay | bay | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| Roberts Bayou | under a mile northwest | bayou | 3 | 0 | 11 | 4 |
| Bayou Saint John | 2 miles south | bayou | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bayou La Launch | 2 miles west | bayou | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Terry Cove | 2 miles southwest | cove | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Perdido Pass | 3 miles southwest | pass | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
ADCNR ramp, access and reef layers, USGS GNIS; read November 1, 2026.
More Alabama water an hour or so from Arnica Bay
More Alabama lakes near Arnica Bay
- Shelby Lakes9 miles
- Dead Lake48 miles
Rivers behind Arnica Bay
- Styx River25 miles
- Fish River28 miles
Buying bait for Arnica Bay
- Bear Point Marinamarina, Orange Beach, under a mile
- Safe Harbor Sportsmanmarina, Orange Beach, 2 miles
- Flora-Bama Marina & Watersportsmarina, Orange Beach, 2 miles
- Hudson Marinamarina, Orange Beach, 2 miles
- Orange Beach Marinamarina, Orange Beach, 3 miles
- San Roc Cay Marinamarina, Orange Beach, 3 miles
Charter and guide names for Arnica Bay
- Fish Orange Beach (Intimidator)charter, Orange Beach, 251-747-2872
- Orange Beach Fishing Associationcharter, Orange Beach, (251) 981-2300
- Orange Beach Sailing Charters and Sunset Cruisescharter, Orange Beach, (251) 981-7245
Alabama towns with rooms near Arnica Bay
- Orange Beach4 miles
- Elberta6 miles
- Foley10 miles
- Gulf Shores11 miles
Alabama county pages covering Arnica Bay
- Baldwin Countyseat: Bay Minette
Piscifun reels a Yellowhammer State angler might load for Arnica Bay
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A picture guide to fish at Arnica Bay
Photo: Louisiana Sea Grant College Program Louisiana State University, CC BY 2.0
Photo: bluecrab, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arnica Bay, the common questions settled
Which stretch of shoreline should I search for Arnica Bay?
Its home is Baldwin County, about 4 miles from Orange Beach.
Does ADCNR treat Arnica Bay as salt or fresh for the license?
Saltwater anglers 16 and older carry an Alabama saltwater license ($30.90 resident, $66.80 nonresident for 2026-27), plus the $10 Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement to keep reef fish such as red snapper. Check the line on the saltwater page for upper water.
Where does a trailered bay boat get wet for Arnica Bay?
Use Pirate's Cove boat ramp on Roberts Bayou, under a mile away.
Has the digest written special rules for Arnica Bay?
Red Drum (Redfish): 3 per person; 16" min. – 26" max TL.
Which NOAA station serves Arnica Bay?
Use the Arnica Bay, Mill Point prediction station.
Which pier on Arnica Bay would ADCNR point me to?
The closest pier or bank site is Gulf State Park Pier on Oyster Bay, 9 miles off.
Who keeps live shrimp near Arnica Bay?
Head to Bear Point Marina, under a mile away,.
What reef count sits around Arnica Bay?
Ross Point Reef is nearest of 4 inshore reefs.
Gas the bay boat and aim for Arnica Bay
Read the MRD limits before filling the cooler.