Bayou La Batre and Coden have been known for decades as the fishing village of Alabama and America. Now, that role will be enhanced for pier fishermen.
Not everybody has a boat to go out fishing on the Bayou, Portersville Bay, or Mississippi Sound. But anyone can go fishing off Rolston Park Pier, the public pier operated by the City of Bayou La Batre.
That pier gets crowded sometimes with walkers and fishermen. It will not be so crowded in the future, as the length of the pier is about to be doubled – twice as much room for fishermen, soft shell crabbers and walkers.
The extension of the pier from its present-day 100-foot length to 200 feet is made possible by an ADECA-administered federal LWCF grant of $250,000.
The grant was requested and shepherded through by State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island). Brown represents Bayou La Batre, Coden and the entire southern part of Mobile County, all the way to the Gulf of America. He is the southern-most member of the Alabama House of Representatives – District 105 out of 105 members.
“The pier at Rolston Park provides beautiful views and direct access to Portersville Bay, and the funding will allow even more residents and tourists alike to enjoy this special local resource,” Brown said. “I am proud to use my position in the Alabama Legislature to make the already abundant recreational opportunities and quality of life that we enjoy on the Gulf Coast even better.”
Bayou La Batre Mayor Henry Barnes said:
“On busy days, the pier is packed with sport fishermen standing shoulder to shoulder and others who use it for walking and other exercise. Doubling the length to 200 feet will provide additional space for folks to fish and go soft shell crabbing and allow them to do it more comfortably and more safely.”
Barnes said his city will begin the pier extension work as soon as the grant funding is distributed and plans to complete the project as soon as possible.
The pier is located in Rolston Park at 7840 Coden Belt Rd S.
The park provides a tranquil setting that combines natural beauty with family-friendly amenities. One of the standout features of Rolston Park is its beautiful waterfront views, which offer a stunning backdrop for relaxation and recreation. Visitors can enjoy the scenic vistas of the waters while strolling along the winding sidewalks that meander through the park. These pathways not only provide a peaceful walking experience but also offer an opportunity to connect with nature and appreciate the local flora and fauna.
The park includes a well-equipped playground designed with children in mind featuring play structures and equipment that encourage active play and imagination.
This makes the park an excellent spot for family outings, allowing parents to relax while their children engage in fun and healthy activities.
Rolston Park also features covered pavilions or gazebos, which are perfect for picnics or social gatherings.
These structures provide shade and shelter, making them ideal for hosting family reunions, birthday parties, or other community events. The picnic benches within these gazebos offer a comfortable seating area where visitors can enjoy meals while taking in the beautiful surroundings.
While Bayou La Batre has been known to Alabama folks and fishermen for generations, the nation and the world got to know it in the 1994 blockbuster movie “Forrest Gump.” The fictitious Gump had served in Vietnam with Bubba from Bayou La Batre, who told Gump about his shrimping business in the Bayou.
Bubba did not make it back from Vietnam, so Forrest Gump decided to go in his stead to Bayou La Batre and operate a shrimping “bidness,” as Gump pronounced it. It was wildly successful. It also provided the movie viewers with more knowledge of shrimping and of Alabama’s bayou than all the geography classes in America.
Now, when those tourists come South to see the bayou, they can go out fishing on the extended public pier.
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected].
