What to Know Before Booking a Charter Fishing Trip
by David Rainer
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.
Before you book a trip, the first factor to determine is how many people are in your fishing party. The charter fleet has boats of different sizes to accommodate various size parties. For trips for groups with six anglers or less, the “six-pack” boats will be your best choice. For larger parties, Alabama’s charter fleet can accommodate large groups of 25 or more anglers. Each boat has a specific number of passengers allowed as determined by the U.S. Coast Guard. By the way, make sure you are booking a Coast Guard-approved boat.
For those who want to stay within sight of the beach, consider booking an inshore fishing trip to catch species like speckled trout, redfish and flounder.
If you don’t have a fishing party and just want to catch a ride by yourself, you’re in luck. Alabama has several party boats available for solo riders, while other charter boats will put together single anglers to fill out the group.
After the number of anglers is set, the charter boats will provide the specific fishing opportunities available on the dates of your visit.
For instance, Alabama’s premier species, red snapper, usually starts on June 1 and runs for about two months, but it’s important to check the above websites often to look for any changes. For instance, the 2021 charter season for red snapper was 63 days long. However, the charter fleet did not reach its fishing quota, and the season was reopened from October 15 through November 5.
The bag limit is two fish with a 16-inch size minimum. The amberjack season usually opens at the end of red snapper season to ensure that anglers have a premier species to catch during times other than red snapper season.
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.
Dates available for charter trips fill up quickly, especially during red snapper season, so don’t hesitate to book your fishing trip as soon as possible.
After a wonderful day on the water, you will likely have a box full of fish that need cleaning when you get back to the dock. The deckhands will clean and bag your fish for a per-pound fee. Alabama’s charter captains find the best deckhands around to ensure the best fishing trip possible. Tipping the deckhands is highly encouraged with a preferred gratuity of 20 percent of the cost of the trip.
Alabama has some of the most productive fishing waters in the Gulf and inshore waters, as well as a professional charter fleet, which means Gulf Coast visitors have a chance to experience some of the best fishing in the world.
Grab your rods and reels and start planning your next fishing trip on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
