Fishing + Shopping in Camden, Alabama
Fishing + Shopping in Camden, Alabama The Perfect Pit-Stop Day on the Alabama River (Millers Ferry) If you’re towing the boat down Highway 10 toward Millers Ferry or just passing through Wilcox County, don’t blow past Camden without stopping. This little county seat (population ~1,800) has quietly become one of the best angler-friendly towns on the entire Alabama River system. Good fishing access + legit food + real tackle + non-ethanol fuel + killer local shopping all within a 6-minute drive. Here’s the local’s playbook
1. Morning Launch & Fishing (Millers Ferry – 12 minutes from downtown Camden)
- Bridgeport City Landing – Best public ramp on the lake. Concrete, well lit parking lot, clean restrooms, ). $5 launch.
- Hot bite right now (Dec 2025): Spotted bass and largemouth stacked on the rip-rap along the Hwy 10 causeway and the dam itself. Chartreuse spinnerbaits and green-pumpkin jigs are money. Crappie are thick in 15–20 ft brush around the old river channel.
2. Non-Ethanol Gas (Save Your Carburetor!)
- Loftin’s Bait Shop on Camden Bypass
- Macdonald’s Grocery (Chevron) on Highway 10
3. Last-Minute Tackle & Live Bait
- Loftin’s Bait Shop on Camden Bypass
4. Eat Like a Local (All within 3 blocks of each other)
- Larry’s Drive In
- The Pecan Downtown
- Jackson’s Station
5. Shopping That’s Actually Worth Your Time Camden has some of the best small-town shopping between Mobile and Montgomery. Locals call Saturday “Trade Day.”
- Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center (209 Claiborne St)
Alabama’s best collection of local art, pottery, and handmade lures. Pick up a hand-tied jig from a Pine Hill legend or a framed photo of the river for the man cave. - The Shoppes on Broad – Cluster of boutiques right off the square.
- Wilcox Farmers Co-Op – Camo, boots, ammo, rods/reels and other supplies.
Perfect Saturday Game Plan
06:00 – Launch at Bridgeport City Landing
11:30 – Top off with non-eth at Loftin’s gas station + grab bait and cold drinks
12:00 – Lunch at Larry’s Drive In
13:00 – Hit Black Belt Treasures + Southern Roots (wife/kids happy)
14:00 – Quick tackle run
15:00 – Back on the water — go fish Buzzards Roost or Pine Barren Creek. Camden proves you don’t need a big city to have everything an angler needs. One stop and you’re fueled, fed, re-rigged, and your better half has new earrings. That’s a win-win day on the Alabama River. Tight lines and full shopping bags, and if you would like your business added to my lists send me an email comefishalabama@gmail.com
Come Fish Alabama
P.S. Want this week’s exact generation schedule and other local fishing info? Get the free Newsletter https://comefishalabama.com/newsletter/