Atmore, AL Fishing: A City Surrounded by Rivers

Atmore is a city located in Escambia County in south central Alabama. It shares its southernmost border with the state of Florida, specifically with its unincorporated Walnut Hill and McDavid communities. Escambia County coincides with the Atmore AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, a part of the larger Pensacola - Ferry Pass, FL - AL Combined Statistical Area. The city was first known as Williams Station around the 1860s, being a stop on the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad. It was originally going to be named Carney, honoring a prominent citizen who was a local sawmill owner. However, Mr. Carney's brother already established and christened a town nearby with the same name. Mr. Carney then named the city after his close friend, C.P. Atmore, a General Passenger Agent of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

Atmore was incorporated in 1907 and celebrated its centenary on May 23, 2007. It started as a tiny town, but its continued development has made it Escambia County’s largest city as the years went by. It is poised to be an attractive area for business and recreation while maintaining its warm and friendly charm. Locals and leadership figures alike are passionate about revitalizing the city so that it becomes the perfect place for residents and visitors to enjoy. In 2017, Atmore was named one of the Top 50 Safest Cities in Alabama. Atmore holds a wealth of entertainment for tourists, from its bustling Main Street to its beautiful wildlife environments. Anglers who visit Atmore will find it a worthy place to plan their next trip because it is surrounded by several rivers with plenty of fish to catch.

Atmore Fishing

Atmore is an amazing place for anglers who enjoy river fishing. The city is surrounded by several rivers with plenty of fish ready to be caught on land or by boat. It also has the advantage of providing anglers access to Florida waterways, so anglers with Florida fishing licenses can have more angling opportunities.

The Perdido River can be found around eight miles northwest of Atmore. The river defines the border between Alabama and Florida as it courses to Perdido Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Its name translates to ‘lost river,’ named by the Spanish who occupied its surrounding areas until 1813. The Perdido River is a typical blackwater river with a sandy bottom and a deep, slow-moving channel that flows through wetlands and forested swamps. It is considered the highest quality free-flowing blackwater river in the Coastal Plain. The river’s gentle flowing black water is ideal for anglers fishing from canoes and kayaks. Float fishing during the warmer months can be very productive. When float fishing, using light tackle or artificial lures is the most practical to use to catch fish. Largemouth bass, chain pickerel, longear sunfish, and bluegill are eager to strike most bait and lures you can present in the river. These species will attack small topwater plugs, beetle spins, and shallow-diving crankbaits. Other species in the Perdido are blue catfish, channel catfish, gafftopsail catfish, red drum, and green sunfish. The river has trails that act as access areas for anglers, boaters, equestrians, and hikers. In particular, the Perdido River Canoe Trail provides various access areas along the river for those who want to fish from its banks or want a place to launch their small boats.

Big Escambia Creek and the Escambia River can be found east of Atmore. The creek and the river’s headwaters are in Alabama, but most of the river is in Florida. Escambia may have been derived from the Muscogee name ‘Shambia,’ which means clearwater, or the Choctaw word for ‘cane break’ or ‘reed break.’ The Escambia River is the fourth largest river in Florida. It is home to the wealthiest assemblage of native North American freshwater fish compared to other rivers in the state, with 85 native freshwater species. The river possesses numerous access points for both onshore and offshore anglers. A public fishing pier can be found along Highway 90. The lower river and the delta marshes can be accessed directly. The upper and lower river sections also have several boat landing areas. Sport fish species one can find in the river are shadow bass, sunshine bass, spotted bass, warmouth, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, bluegill, longear sunfish, largemouth bass, black crappie, chain pickerel, blue catfish, channel catfish, and flathead catfish. Big Escambia Creek has excellent spotted bass and smallmouth bass populations that are rarely exploited. Trolling with jerk baits, medium-running crankbaits, and double jig rigs are what most anglers use to catch saltwater species such as spotted sea trout, redfish, and sheepshead in the lower parts of the river. 

Top 10 Fish Species in Atmore, AL

The top 10 fish species found in Atmore, AL, are largemouth bass, chain pickerel, longear sunfish, bluegill, spotted bass, warmouth, redear sunfish, blue catfish, and channel catfish.

Seasonal Fishing

Because most of Atmore’s surrounding rivers drain into their respective bays and the Gulf of Mexico, fishing depends largely upon their water levels. The nearest fishing areas to the city are the rivers’ upper sections. High water conditions exist from winter to early spring, usually from January to April. Bass fishing is fantastic in the spring and fall. Sunshine bass is outstanding to target in the late summer. For bream and sunfish species such as bluegill and shellcrackers, spring would be the best time. In the lower and tidal reaches of the rivers, fishing is best during the winter and early spring. Chain pickerel are best caught in low light conditions, so fish for them during dawn or dusk, even in the winter months. Warmouth are most active from March until September. Spawning season for catfish typically begins in May and can last until August. Spotted sea trout experience peaks during their spawning season from April to October, one each during the spring and summer. Redfish or red drum have no closed season in Alabama, so that they can be caught any time of the year. Crappie can also be caught all year, but the best months to fish for them are from November to February, when they are in pre-spawn mode, and from February to April during spawning season.

Explore More of Atmore

Atmore is home to plenty of entertainment and attractions that satisfy residents and visitors alike. 

1. Book a Fishing Charter

Atmore is surrounded by plenty of rivers waiting to be explored. For a better fishing experience, book a fishing charter to effectively and efficiently catch desired targets from long waterways. Let a guide enhance the trip with their knowledge of the wide rivers. Anglers can also find boat rental services and bait and tackle shops near designated fishing spots.

2. Connect with Nature

The Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve is the perfect place to connect with nature in Atmore. It acts as an area for various outdoor activities such as tubing, kayaking, and canoeing in Big Escambia Creek, biking, camping, hiking, horseback riding, birding, swimming, and fishing serene forest environment. It is tucked deep into the woods off Highway 113. Magnolia Branch has RV sites, camping areas, and a sandy beach for guests to use and enjoy.

3. Learn More About the Natives

Visit the Kerretv Cuko (Building of Learning) Poarch Creek Indians Museum and Gift Shop to experience the history of the Muscogee Creek Indians firsthand. The tribe is headquartered in Atmore, where they showcase how their ancestors lived. The museum exhibits a collection of stoneware, pottery, tools, baskets, textiles, and traditional forms of Creek art, including pottery, textiles, shellwork, copper tooling, and quilting. There are also unique artifacts, such as the original copies of the Petition for Federal Recognition submitted to the United States Department of the Interior in 1980. The museum is on 5811 Jack Springs Road and is open Mondays to Fridays from 8 AM to 5 PM.