Two Pell City men played a role in helping to create the largest fishing pier on the Gulf Coast.

Barnett Lawley, commissioner for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Sonny Foster, construction superintendent for the Alabama Department of Conservation have both worked on the project.

The Gulf State Park pier has taken 18 months to build and is 1,540 feet long, 20 feet wide and stands 20 feet above the water. Governor Bob Riley was on hand for the pier’s ribbon cutting ceremony held last week.

Those that wish to fish off the pier will be charged $8, or you can just sightsee for $3. The pier is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. According to Foster, nearly 2,500 people visited the $14.8 million pier on its grand opening.

Commonly caught regulated fish in the area include King and Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Speckled Trout, Cobia/Ling, Tarpon, Red and Vermillion Snapper and Banded Rudderfish.

Commonly caught unregulated fish include Black Drum, Bluefish, Blue Runner, Croaker, Ladyfish, Leather Jack, Sheepshead and Spadefish.

The pier features wooden handrails that conform to the new American Disabilities Act guidelines and will be accessible by ramp. Parking remains relatively the same with about 250 spaces.

The new pier is also the only public one on the Alabama Coast. The former Gulf State Park pier was much shorter and was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.