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Trip planner
Dauphin Island West End
Best windows in the next two weeks, plus a packing list calibrated for tidal beach hunting.
Top 5 windows · next 14 days
1
Saturday, May 30
1.7ft swing · spring tide · low 9:26 PM · ~0.5ft below predicted (offshore wind) · 1.04" recent rain
47
Fair
2
Sunday, May 31
1.8ft swing · spring tide · low 10:13 PM · ~0.4ft below predicted (offshore wind)
45
Fair
3
Monday, June 1
1.8ft swing · spring tide · low 10:59 PM
39
Poor
4
Tuesday, June 2
1.8ft swing · low 11:40 PM · 0.32" recent rain
37
Poor
5
Friday, June 12
1.9ft swing · low 7:23 PM · ~0.5ft below predicted (offshore wind) · 0.21" recent rain
36
Poor
Packing checklist
Essentials
- ☐Water (more than you think)
- ☐Hat + polarized sunglasses
- ☐Reef-safe sunscreen
- ☐Phone with offline copy of this dossier
- ☐Snack / electrolytes
- ☐Trash bag — leave it cleaner than you found it
Tools
- ☐Mesh sifter or basket (1/4″ mesh is the sweet spot)
- ☐Knee pads or kneeling foam
- ☐Sand scoop (long handle for water work)
- ☐Quart ziplock + small lidded jar for finds
- ☐Permanent marker for labels
- ☐Caliper or ruler for sizing
Beach-specific
- ☐Rash guard for long sun exposure
- ☐Water shoes — shells and stingrays
- ☐Tide chart screenshot for your day
- ☐Headlamp if hunting low tide near sunrise/sunset
Find care
- ☐Soft toothbrush
- ☐Padded box for any 2″+ tooth
- ☐Cotton or tissue layers between teeth
- ☐Notebook (or open the Toothhound logbook)
Tactic refresher
Walk the shell line after a front or tropical swell. Focus on dark hash, wrack pockets, and cuts near the west end and inlet edges.
Don't forget
Surface collecting on public beach is generally allowed. Respect dune fencing and local closures after storms.