Get the best out of your Gulf Shores fishing trip by understanding the type of charter boat you will need for the experience you want.
The Alabama Gulf Coast not only has the most beautiful sugar-sand beaches, but Gulf Shores and Orange Beach has one of the best charter-fishing fleets that can take you on a fishing trip you’ll remember forever.
More than 100 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach fishing charters are available to book on the Alabama coast for a trip for various species. These include red snapper, triggerfish, amberjack, the mackerel species, and offshore species like blue marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and wahoo. However, not all of those species are available year-round, as many vary by season.
When you get ready for your visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast, make a list of questions to ask the charter boat you choose, and try to book directly with the charter boats. If you go through a booking agent online, the charters must pay a significant fee, and that money goes to companies outside the U.S.
Charter boats provide rods and reels for the species targeted as well as the appropriate bait. If you have a favorite rod and reel you want to bring along, make sure the boat captain gives their approval.
On most charter trips, the passengers will need to bring their own drinks and food unless you have made other arrangements with the captain. Most of the larger charter boats have a Big Green Egg grill on the back deck for cooking. Ask the captain about the use of the grill during the trip. And don’t forget sunscreen, hats and sunglasses.
The cost of the charter trip is a significant consideration, and the charter fleet can usually match a trip to your budget. A wide variety of options are available, depending on the trip's length and the targeted species. Trips can be as short as four hours to as long as a two-day journey for those who want to catch the offshore species. The most common trip during red snapper season is eight to 10 hours. However, the option is available for up to 12 hours if you want the captain to head out a little farther and look for some 20-pound-plus red snapper in Alabama’s unparalleled artificial reef zone.