Little Lagoon Pass: One of the Alabama Coast's Best Kept SecretsOne of the best kept secrets on the Alabama Coast is Little Lagoon Pass. The Pass is located in Gulf Shores on West Beach at Lee Callaway Bridge on Highway 182, two miles west of Highway 59. We lived next to the Pass for a couple of years and we spent most of our free time there. After we relocated to Orange Beach we visited the Pass often.Little Lagoon Pass is maintained by the Alabama State Park System. There are restrooms, showers, water fountains and parking areas on the premises. A new boardwalk and improved public facilities are in the future for Little Lagoon Pass as part of the Envision Gulf Shores Plan. Also scheduled to be built is a bigger bridge.  The pass connects the Gulf of Mexico with Little Lagoon, and it would fill in with sand it weren't for the dredging that never stops for very long. Only very small boats can move through the pass from Little Lagoon to the Gulf. I have seen several larger boats make it without crashing into the seawall, but most will not try it more than once. I was in one of those boats before I knew better. Little Lagoon Pass is one of my favorite fishing spots on the Alabama Gulf Coast. In late October and early November, redfish run through the pass. When the fishing is really good it is possible to sit on the seawall and catch huge redfish, along with white trout, whiting, and the occasional black drum and speckled trout. In November and December, fishing in the Pass for flounder is fun. My favorite time for fishing in the Pass is the summer when almost everything in the Gulf can be caught-- flounder, pompano, white trout, speckled trout, redfish, bluefish, baby sharks, and more.  On the lagoon side of the bridge there is a beach area with a gradual taper, so under normal conditions it is safe for children. Water puddles up in some areas so young children can find their own little play areas. Caution should always be exercised near the seawalls. The current can be very swift. It is inadvisable to swim around the pass opening to the Gulf.  The part of the pass nearest the Gulf has seawalls on both sides. Many people enjoy crabbing there. Sometimes even shrimp can be caught. If you are good with a cast net, this is also a good place to net mullet.  Little Lagoon Pass is part of the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail. Brown pelicans, great blue herons and other wading birds are always nearby. Other sea life is spotted from time to time. One day while wade fishing, I had a huge sea turtle swim near me for quite awhile. While sitting on the back deck of our old home, my wife and I have been entertained by playful sea otters.
 The Little Lagoon Pass area is never as crowded as the other public beach areas in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach because most tourists never get around to driving down to West Beach. The main reason for this is the lack of high density condos, retail establishments and restaurants. During peak season it can get a little crowded near the actual Pass. The remedy for that is to walk for about 5 - 10 minutes and set up your beach chairs behind a beach house. Even during the busiest time of the year there are very few people doing this. As the day progresses people begin leaving the beach for dinner. That would be a good time to enjoy the Pass. Most people are leaving the beach just as it is getting to the best time of the day to be on the beach-- after the sun has moved down towards the horizon.  Little Lagoon Pass is a great place to watch the sunset. This photographer is getting set up to take photos on cool day in winter. Return to Gulf Shores Beaches
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