Skip to main content
  • Visitors
  • Meetings
  • Sports
Visitors
    • Book Lodging
    • Why Book With Us
    • Beach Houses
    • Condos
    • Resorts
    • Hotels
    • Cabins
    • Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Owner-Managed Vacation Rentals
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • RV Parks & Camping
    Gulf Shores Beach
    Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
    Luxury RV Resort Gulf Shores
    Top Campgrounds on Alabama's Beaches
    No
    All Stay
    • Beaches
    • Attractions
    • Family-Friendly Fun
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Excursions & Tours
    • Shopping
    • Golf
    • Nightlife & Bars
    • Indoor Activities
    • Hiking
    25 Rainy-Day Activities
    Kids running into the Gulf on the beach in Gulf Shores
    Fun Family Beach Activities
    No
    All Things to Do
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Jet Skiing
    • Snorkeling
    • Cruises
    • Parasailing
    • Kayaking
    • Paddleboarding & Foil Boarding
    • Sailing
    • Dolphin Cruises
    • Diving
    • Marinas
    Boating Alabama Pass
    Plan a Boat-Friendly Vacation on Alabama's Beaches
    Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico
    Coastal Critters on Alabama's Beaches
    No
    All On the Water
    • Book Lodging
    • Deals
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
      • Fishing Newsletter
      • Golf Newsletter
      • All eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Family Vacations
    • Couples Getaway
    • Equipment Rentals & Outfitters
    • Weather
    • Getting Here
    • Welcome Centers
    • Beach Safety
    • Community-First Traveling
    • Find Photographers
    beach village resort
    Places To Stay
    Fly Alabama's Beaches - Graphic
    Fly Alabama's Beaches
    Kids running into the Gulf on the beach in Gulf Shores
    Fun Family Beach Activities
    No
    All Plan
    • Annual Events & Festivals
    • Concerts
    • Holiday Events
    • Live Music
    • Sand in My Boots Festival
    • Summer Camps
    Hangout Music Fest Gulf Shores
    Sand in My Boots Festival
    The Lodge at Gulf State Park
    Holiday Events
    No
    All Events
    • Seafood
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Food Trails
    • Fan Favorites
    • Recipes
    • Foodie Getaway
    • 50th Bushwacker Anniversary
    Perch at The Lodge
    Best Fine Dining Restaurants
    Papa Rocco's Gulf Shores
    12 Restaurants Locals Love on Alabama’s Beaches
    Voyagers Restaurant Orange Beach
    4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night
    No
    All Eat & Drink
    • 10 Family Activities
    • 14 Public Beaches
    • 21 Rainy Day Activities
    • 5 Things I Learned From My Vacation
    • 8 Things to Know Before Your Vacation
    Bike Share Program Gulf State Park
    Cheap & Free Things To Do
    Parents sitting under a beach umbrella watching their kids walk along the shore in Gulf Shores
    Why Alabama’s Beaches are Perfect for a Family Spring Break
    The Track Bumper Boats Gulf Shores
    Thrilling Amusement Parks on Alabama's Beaches
    No
    All Blog
  • Free Guide
    No
  • Deals
Visitors
    • Book Lodging
    • Why Book With Us
    • Beach Houses
    • Condos
    • Resorts
    • Hotels
    • Cabins
    • Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals
    • Owner-Managed Vacation Rentals
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • RV Parks & Camping
    Gulf Shores Beach
    Should You Stay in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach?
    Luxury RV Resort Gulf Shores
    Top Campgrounds on Alabama's Beaches
    No
    All Stay
    • Beaches
    • Attractions
    • Family-Friendly Fun
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Excursions & Tours
    • Shopping
    • Golf
    • Nightlife & Bars
    • Indoor Activities
    • Hiking
    25 Rainy-Day Activities
    Kids running into the Gulf on the beach in Gulf Shores
    Fun Family Beach Activities
    No
    All Things to Do
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Jet Skiing
    • Snorkeling
    • Cruises
    • Parasailing
    • Kayaking
    • Paddleboarding & Foil Boarding
    • Sailing
    • Dolphin Cruises
    • Diving
    • Marinas
    Boating Alabama Pass
    Plan a Boat-Friendly Vacation on Alabama's Beaches
    Dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico
    Coastal Critters on Alabama's Beaches
    No
    All On the Water
    • Book Lodging
    • Deals
    • eNewsletter Sign Up
      • Fishing Newsletter
      • Golf Newsletter
      • All eNewsletter Sign Up
    • Family Vacations
    • Couples Getaway
    • Equipment Rentals & Outfitters
    • Weather
    • Getting Here
    • Welcome Centers
    • Beach Safety
    • Community-First Traveling
    • Find Photographers
    beach village resort
    Places To Stay
    Fly Alabama's Beaches - Graphic
    Fly Alabama's Beaches
    Kids running into the Gulf on the beach in Gulf Shores
    Fun Family Beach Activities
    No
    All Plan
    • Annual Events & Festivals
    • Concerts
    • Holiday Events
    • Live Music
    • Sand in My Boots Festival
    • Summer Camps
    Hangout Music Fest Gulf Shores
    Sand in My Boots Festival
    The Lodge at Gulf State Park
    Holiday Events
    No
    All Events
    • Seafood
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Food Trails
    • Fan Favorites
    • Recipes
    • Foodie Getaway
    • 50th Bushwacker Anniversary
    Perch at The Lodge
    Best Fine Dining Restaurants
    Papa Rocco's Gulf Shores
    12 Restaurants Locals Love on Alabama’s Beaches
    Voyagers Restaurant Orange Beach
    4 Beach Restaurants Perfect for Date-Night
    No
    All Eat & Drink
    • 10 Family Activities
    • 14 Public Beaches
    • 21 Rainy Day Activities
    • 5 Things I Learned From My Vacation
    • 8 Things to Know Before Your Vacation
    Bike Share Program Gulf State Park
    Cheap & Free Things To Do
    Parents sitting under a beach umbrella watching their kids walk along the shore in Gulf Shores
    Why Alabama’s Beaches are Perfect for a Family Spring Break
    The Track Bumper Boats Gulf Shores
    Thrilling Amusement Parks on Alabama's Beaches
    No
    All Blog
  • Free Guide
    No
  • Deals
Meetings
  • Home
    All Home
    • Plan Your Conference
    • How Can We Help
    • Why Our Beach
    • Services
    • FAQs
    • Getting Here
    • Restaurants
    • Things to Do
    • Calendar of Events
    • Order a Free Vacation Guide
    • Show Your Badge Pass
    Meeting in Gulf Shores
    Five Tips to Becoming a Confident Speaker
    beach bag, gulf shores
    How to Pack for a Meeting at the Beach
    All Plan Your Conference
    • All Meeting Spaces
    • Unique Meeting Spaces
    • Accommodations
    Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo
    Non-Traditional Meeting Spaces on Alabama’s Gulf Coast
    Meeting at The Lodge
    Which Social Media Networks Help Meeting Planners the Most
    All Meeting Spaces
  • Reunions & Weddings
    All Reunions & Weddings
    • Meeting Planner Toolkit
    Beach Chairs
    Tips To Make Your Next Beach Meeting a Success
    Hashtag Events Happening in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama
    5 Ways Social Media Helps Meeting Planners Communicate & Educate Attendees
    Meeting Ballroom on Alabama's Beaches
    How to Increase Attendance at Your Next Conference on Alabama Beaches
    All Toolkit
    • Connect With Us
    • Submit RFP
    • Subscribe Today
    Woman relaxing on the beach in Alabama
    Tips for Maintaining a Work-Life Balance as a Meeting Professional
    AmyPeralta
    “From the Desk of…”: Q&A with Sales Manager Amy Peralta
    MaryStatkewicz
    “From the Desk of…”: Q&A with Meetings Former Sales Manager Mary Statkewicz
    All Contact Us
  • Blog
    All Blog
Sports
  • Home
    All Home
    • All Events
    • Book Lodging
    • Perfect Game World Series
    • Gulf Shores High School
    • Beach Races
    • NCAA Beach Volleyball
    • Orange Beach High School
    • USSSA Gulf Coast National Championship
    The Hangout Gulf Shores
    4 Spots to Fuel Up for the Game
    Teens playing on Alabama's beaches
    What to Pack for Your Sportcation?
    All Events & Special Rates
    • All Restaurant Sponsors
    • On-the-Go Dining
    Aerial shot of people gathered around a table filled with food at GTs on the Bay
    Restaurants for Team Dining on Alabama’s Beaches
    Orange Beach, Lunching For Less - Teaser
    Budget-Friendly Meals for the Whole Team in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    All Restaurants
    • All Attraction Sponsors
    The Hangout Gulf Shores
    Quirky, Must-Visit Places on Alabama's Beaches
    The Factory Trampoline Park
    5 Action-Packed Activities Along Alabama’s Gulf Coast
    Girls petting a dog in Shades Sunglasses & Apparel at The Wharf
    What to Do When Your Tournament is Rained Out
    All Attractions
    • Healthcare
    • Book Lodging
    • Restaurants
    • Attractions
    • Facility Maps
    • BEach SAFE
    • Responsible Tourism
    • Alabama's Beaches Savings Scorecard
    • Blog
    • Sports Shorts Newsletter
    All Visiting Athletes
  • Facilities
    All Facilities
    • Facility Info
    • Leisure Events
    • Our Services
    • Planner Toolkit
    • Contact Us
    • Play at the Beach Newsletter
    • Future Sports Tourism Development
    Baseball player
    Get to Know the Beach's Best Sports Facilities
    Half Marathon Gulf Shores
    Event Planner Resources for Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    NCAA Softball Gulf Shores
    Start Planning Your Sportscation to Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
    All Bring Your Event
    • Business Sponsors
    All Sponsors
  • Blog
    All Blog
Fishing in Orange Beach

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Catching Big Fish From Little Boats On Alabama Beaches

Big Fish from Little Boats

in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Jim Cox
August 5, 2023

Running 30 or 40 miles from Orange Beach to catch a red snapper or amberjack is very common for center console or cuddy cabin fishermen.

For some, it’s also common to run the same distance, but instead of bottom fishing, they go trolling for biggame fish like marlin, tuna, wahoo, and dolphin. The area about 30 miles southeast of Perdido Pass, where water depth goes from a couple hundred feet to well over 1,000 feet, provides great in-close opportunities for small boats to catch big fish.

Off-Shore Rig Fishing in Gulf Shores

“When the pretty blue water pushes in close like it usually does at this time of the year, there is great marlin fishing for almost any size boat,” said longtime captain and tournament fisherman John Dorland on the Cotton Patch. “Over the years, I have seen many smaller boats hooked up on a billfish around the nipple, elbow, or 131 holes. Three or four buddies get out there in a small center console and catch a billfish; it’s just a great sight because I know they just caught the fish of a lifetime on their own boat, and they did it themselves.”

There is no doubt that big sport fishing yachts with inboard diesel engines ‘raise’ more billfish than a boat powered by a single or pair of outboard motors. They also usually have more hands on deck to clear lines after a strike when a bite happens.

Boating in Orange Beach Peridio Pass

Smaller boats do have some limitations, but knowing those before you leave the dock is a big key to success. “Your boat, crew, and tackle all have limitations, but those should not keep you from catching big game fish,” says Chris Vecsey of Sam’s Bait and Tackle in Orange Beach. “More and bigger are not always better on a small boat. Take advantage of today’s stronger, smaller, faster reels. Reels loaded with braid backing and a mono top shot will catch dang near any fish that swims within fifty miles of the beach.”

Vecsey, who catches lots of big fish from small boats with friends and customers, prefers to fish just four or five lines. “Having fewer lines out can help you land more fish after you get a strike.” That may sound counterintuitive, but the less time your crew has to spend clearing lines, the less likely you are to lose a fish due to tangled lines.

Southern Charm Charters Marlin Fishing in Orange Beach

However many lines you decide to troll will also afford you chances at other pelagic fish like blackfin and yellowfin tuna along with wahoo and dolphin. These highly migratory fish all converge at the rich waters just off the coast to take advantage of the abundance of bait brought in by strong currents.

Pulling smaller lures, as opposed to just huge blue marlin lures, will give you a shot at multiple species as well as a blue marlin should one come into your spread. A ballyhoo/Ilander combination has caught many big game fish on boats, both big and small. Including a memorable Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Labor Day Tournament a few years back that we were fortunate to win by catching a blue marlin just thirty-two miles from the jetties.

Offshore Fishing in Gulf Shores

Using outriggers will allow you to cover more water while trolling as they get your baits outside the prop wash and out away from your boat. Adding a center rigger for pulling baits way, way behind the boat will also lead to more fish. Once you hook a fish, since smaller boats don’t have a fighting chair, a good belt and harness combination will allow you to fight the fish most efficiently on stand-up gear.

Catching a marlin, tuna, or wahoo is certainly easier from a big boat, but if catching these fish from a small boat was easy, everyone would be doing it. Get out there and catch your fish of a lifetime, and if you see “Johnny D” from the Cotton Patch know you just put a smile on his face by doing it on a small boat.

Share This

Start planning your vacation

Stay Updated on What's Biting
Subscribe to our Fishing E-Newsletter
Where Your Journey Begins
Order a Free Vacation Guide
Find Your Perfect Place to Stay
Places to Stay

You May Also Like

See All Blog Posts
Best Inshore Fishing in Gulf Shores

Saltwater Inshore Fishing Guide on Alabama's Beaches

Redfish Fishing Orange Beach

Inshore Fishing on Alabama's Beaches

black drum

Fishing for Black Drum on Alabama's Beaches

Jet Ski Orange Beach

Things To Do on a Guys' Trip

Redfish Fishing Gulf Shores

Find Abundant Redfish on Alabama's Beaches

Red Snapper Fishing Orange Beach

Red Snapper Season in Alabama

Order a Vacation Guide Subscribe to our Enewsletter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Tik-Tok
  • Trip Ideas
  • Press
  • Partners
  • Responsible Tourism
  • Weddings
  • Privacy Policy
  • Employment Opportunities
  • 1-800-745-SAND
  • [email protected]
Copyright 2025 Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. All rights reserved.
  • Subscribe to Enews
  • Book Lodging