What Fishing Charter is best in Gulf Shores

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Let's start by telling you the truth about what to expect on each type of fishing trip in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama.   We want to take you and your family fishing. We want you to have a good time and we will do all we can to make sure you enjoy your fishing charter. We just think it is important that you know what you can realistically expect on a fishing charter in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.

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About Deep Sea Fishing in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama

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Because of restrictive bag limits and short saltwater fishing seasons, the days of going out and harvesting deep sea fish until you fill the cooler are almost gone on short day trips. We now have strict federal bag limits that prohibit the over harvesting of reef fish like Red Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack and Triggerfish.

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Half day and full day fishing charters are best

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If you want to have a good time and catch some fish for supper, the 6 hour fishing trip is best. If you want a chance to catch lot of fish to eat, you need to take a 12 hour deep sea fishing trip. Even though the 8 and 10 hour fishing trips are not considered serious fishing trips, they are still a lot of fun. These 8 and 10 hour fishing charters are a good trip but they are not considered serious fishing trips anymore. Strict bag limits on the Red Snapper has changed these trips significantly in the past three years.

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Fishing pressure close to shore

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The reason the 8 and 10 hour trips are not serious anymore is because the fishing pressure is greatest on reefs closest to shore. I am talking about the waters within 40 miles of land. These waters see so much fishing pressure, it is hard to catch legal sized Amberjack, Grouper and Triggerfish all the time or on a regular basis during the peak Summer fishing season. I am not saying it is bad, I am saying it is tough or difficult at times within 40 miles of shore. The reality of going out and catching a lot of fish on some trips can be difficult for any fisherman. During the early part of the season, Grouper and Amberjack can be found within 25 to 40 miles of land. After June 1 or tourist season begins, it is tough to catch them unless you take a full day, 12 hour charter. Then there is no guarantee your going to catch a lot of them.

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Stopping overfishing has saved the Red Snapper - They are coming back strong

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The Red Snapper for instance, are making a come back and are plentiful within 40 miles of shore. The only problem is that the season usually opens on June 1 and stays open until July 19, 2011. You can keep 2 Red Snapper per person or 12 total per trip. Now, that is a lot of fish. The average weight of a Red Snapper is close to 5 pounds. 60 pounds of fish is a lot. In old days, we used to bring in 32 Snappers per trip that weighed close to 200 pounds. That was a waste and federal regulators saw it that way and cut everyone back. An estimated 85 Percent of the fish caught within 40 miles of Gulf Shores, are Red Snapper. There are some other species to catch like Vermilion Snapper (10 to 14 inches long on average), Red Porgy (called White Snapper but are not a snapper), Triggerfish and trolling fish like King Mackerel and Bonita. White snapper are ok to eat, but they do not taste as good as Red Snapper or Grouper. They have an iodine taste. Bonita are not good to eat. They have a dark red meat. They are often cut up for bait. King Mackerel are good smoked, fried and grilled. Either way, we have some good fish to catch while you are on your vacation.

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Fishing charter length vs. fish expected to be caught

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There is a correlation between length of a fishing trip and the fish you can expect catch. The average Orange Beach charter boat cruises from 10.5 to 12 knots. Some boats are faster and some are slower. We run our boat at these speeds because we catch a lot of fish at this speed and the ride is more comfortable on our guests. Deep sea fishing trips are usually 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours in length in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. The best fishing trips for us are listed below.

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The best fishing charters are

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The best fishing trip for the money is the 6 hour Deep-sea fishing trip. This trip is a great mix of trolling and bottom fishing. The 6 hour charter trip are the most popular fishing charters by far. These trips are excellent for those who want to catch a lot of fish in a short period of time. The only problem with these trips is that most of the fish you will catch, will have to be released if they are out of season. Some will have to be released because they are undersized. You can certainly have a lot of fun catching them though. 6 hour trips consist of about a 1.75 hour ride out. We fish the entire time we are riding out to the reefs by trolling lures behind the boat. When we arrive at the spot, we reel in the trolling lures and let everyone hold a pole and catch Red Snapper or Triggerfish and Vermilion Snapper. After we fish for a couple of hours, we will head home, dragging lures again. These trips are full of fishing and that is why they are the best for the money. We offer two trips a day during the Summer months. We depart at 6:30 and 1:30 pm on private charters.

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The 8 and 10 hour fishing trip are fun fishing charters. These fishing trips used to be the backbone of the Orange Beach charter fleet. When the Red Snapper limit was liberal, a person could realistically expect to catch a lot of fish on these trips. Because of the federal regulations and bag limits, these trips are not as productive for those who want to keep all of their fish. Most of the fish in these areas are Red Snapper mixed with a few Triggerfish and some Vermilion Snapper. These trips are fun but don't plan on filling the freezer by any means.

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The best fishing trip for the serious fisherman, is the 12 hour Deep-sea fishing trip. You need to take a 12 hour trip to have a chance to get near 40 miles offshore. Near and beyond 40 miles is the best area to fish for Grouper and Amberjack. Most 12 hour trips begin by going out about 20 miles and catching live bait to use. You ride for about 1.75 hours, spend 20 to 30 minutes catching live bait and then ride another 1.75 to 2 hours until you get far enough offshore to catch Grouper and Amberjack. If you leave at 6 a.m., realistically speaking, you will not be fishing for Grouper or Amberjack at the 40 mile range until about 9:45 to 10:00 am. You will fish about 4 to 8 reefs or spots to try and catch your fish. You will start heading in about 2:00 to 2:30 pm to make it home by 6 p.m.

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Fishing trip length vs. cost

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Most people want the best fishing trip for the least amount of money. Who doesn't? There is a direct correlation between the cost of the fishing trip and the fish you can expect to catch. Look at it this way. If you want a good steak, you would go to a steak house. If you want a good fishing trip, you should pick a charter that specializes in what you are looking for. We solve that problem. We offer great service and great fishing trips. Most people that fish with us want great service and a productive fishing trip. We are good at 4 hour trolling and 6 hour bottom fishing charters. We are good with families with kids. We are not good at tuna charters because that is not what we do.

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Fun, Light Tackle Action for Everyone - Our best fishing charter is the 6 hour fishing trip. It costs $1,150 plus gratuity during the Summer months. It is slightly less during the off season. This fishing trip is ideal for someone who wants to have fun and catch some fish. This is our most requested trip. We use light tackle and let you catch fish until your tired. On this trip, you will have more action for the money. Your kids will have a blast and parents can relax on our half day fishing charters.

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Serious Fishing for Serious Anglers - The 10-12 hour fishing trip is a great trip for having a chance to catch a lot of fish to eat. This trip runs $2,400 plus tip during the late Spring, Summer and Early Fall fishing season. This is the time of the year when we have more daylight hours. This fishing trip offers the best deep sea fishing for the money for serious fishermen. We price these trips so we can burn the fuel it takes to get way offshore so you will have a chance to catch more fish.

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Inshore Fishing Charters in Orange Beach

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Our inshore guide is Captain Keith Powell. He is the one who will take you and your family inshore or back bay fishing. Keith offers great inshore fishing trips, year round. If the fish are biting, he can catch them. Keith is a wonderful person who will treat your family with respect at all times. We call him the "trout whisperer."

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Keith's best trips are 4 and 6 hours in length. He usually runs a 6 hour in the morning and a 4 hour in the afternoon. He will do whatever you want. It is a first come, first serve basis. The 6 hour inshore fishing charter is great. It gives Keith enough time to move you around to where the fish are biting. Most of the 4 hour charters are done where he has to keep you close to Orange Beach. If the fish are not biting good, he might not be able to move you to where they are biting.

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The 6 hour inshore fishing trip are great for everyone. You can fish for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Black or Mangrove Snapper, Bluefish, Sheephead and Pompano. It depends on which time of the year it is to be able to catch some of these fish.

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Premium Inshore fishing with Keith is not expensive. He will take your family of 4 on a 4 hour inshore fishing charter for $400. A family of 6 is $500 for 4 hours. Tip and Fish cleaning is included. He will take your family of 4, inshore fishing for 6 hours for $600. A family of 6 on a 6 hour charter is $700.

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Disclaimer

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All of our fishing charters are a lot of fun. We want you to have fun and catch all of the fish you can possibly consume in a reasonable amount of time. We have a conservation ethic and we care about having fish to catch for generations to come. We are the first charter to become accountable and try and do the right thing, every time.