Area recovering from Isaac

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - A popular attraction for locals and visitors on Alabama's beaches re-opened Saturday morning.

The Gulf State Park Pier in Orange Beach opened at 8:00am; about 25 to 30 customers greeted managers and employees there.

For now, it will be open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. It had closed for a week ahead of and following Hurricane Isaac's landfall. Teresa Carlisle works at the fishing and sunning destination.

She said, "They were waiting on us in the parking lot to get here.  They were ready to go back out and go fishing, waiting on us to get the construction crews out of the way."

The pier was closed last Sunday and work crews had to make repairs to damaged wooden railings at the end of it.

Brandon Robertson of Daphne was enjoying fishing Saturday. He is an emergency services worker who went to New Orleans to help with Isaac’s impact there. Robertson described what he saw in New Orleans.

He said, "It was definitely devastating for the residents over there and along the Gulf Coast, but, other than that, I believe we came out on the positive overall."

In addition to a yellow flag flying, indicating moderate surf, there was also a purple flag flying, warning of dangerous marine life.

Pier managers said there were jellyfish in the water, but at least one fisherman saw something else.

Chase Thomas said he saw sharks, one of which was "about eight foot."