An overnight fishing charter is an angling experience like no other. If you're looking to bring home an ice chest packed with Gulf fish, book an overnight charter on Alabama's Beaches to earn your hand at catching big game species like tuna, wahoo, and mahi.
Overnight Charter Fishing Trip
Deep-Sea Fishing on an Overnight Charter
Deep-Sea Fishing on an Overnight Charter
Catching red snapper is great, but no trip into the Gulf can compare with an overnight stay in the offshore waters, where an abundance of species is available to anglers. The charters head to the deep-water petroleum rigs or search for a rip that separates blue water from green water on the journey to the rigs.
The floating petroleum rigs attract pelagic fish like tuna and wahoo. Most captains will stop on the way out to catch bait, mainly hardtails, which is great fun on light tackle. Those fish will be used as live bait and as chum to get fish to the surface.
Choosing an Overnight Charter
Choosing an Overnight Charter
Before booking your trip, determine your group size, budget, and what you want to target. One thing about an overnighter is that it’s best to choose a charter boat with plenty of room and bunks below deck to grab a nap. I tell people when I go charter fishing, I do three things – fish, eat, and sleep. You’ll need to get a little rest if you haul in a big tuna or greater amberjack.
On overnight trips, charter boats provide all the tackle needed for every type of fishing you will encounter. Talk with the captain to find out what food and other provisions to bring.
Catching Tuna on an Overnight Charter
Catching Tuna on an Overnight Charter
Tuna is one of the most sought after species on deep-sea charters. The charter captain will check the weather and water conditions when they get to the destination and determine what tactics are most likely to work for tuna. They might try slow-trolling with live bait during the daylight if water visibility is good. Then they’ll likely pull near the rig to drop live bait into deeper water to locate the big tuna. During nighttime hours, the crew will probably break out the diamond jigs to drop down and snag a few blackfin tuna, the yellowfin’s smaller cousin.
Some captains love to deploy kite rigs that dangle live bait on the surface to entice the yellowfins to come out of the deep and slam what they think is an easy meal. Although most yellowfins range from 30 to 60 pounds, don’t be surprised if the line starts peeling off the reel and the drag starts screaming. Yellowfins that exceed 100 pounds are fairly common, and a new state record 230-pounder was caught out of Orange Beach just last year.
Other Species to Target During Overnight Charters
Other Species to Target During Overnight Charters
The overnighter might not just be all about tuna. Local captains have caught and released blue and white marlin and numerous wahoo. Mahi have also been landed during a little high-speed trolling. Most captains also allow time for a little bottom fishing. During your trip, you may also hook grouper, amberjack, or vermilion snapper.
Prepare For a Fresh Fish Feast
Prepare For a Fresh Fish Feast
Grab a group of friends and fishing buddies and pool your money for a great Gulf fishing experience with an overnight trip. When you get back, you’ll likely have ice chests full of some of the best-eating, freshest fish around!
