Offshore and Deep-Sea Fishing Charters
Deep-Sea Fishing, Reef Fishing and even Sport Fishing are also known as offshore fishing in Orange Beach, Alabama. This is because we have to go further offshore or away from the shore to catch certain saltwater fish species. Some species can be found near the beach, but most are out in deeper water.
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We offer deep-sea, offshore, and nearshore family fishing trips for everyone. Depending on the time of the year you want to go fishing, we can catch fish. Some species are migratory by nature. That means that they pass through during certain times of the year and may not be available during other times. An example of this is the Spring Cobia migration run that begins during the middle of March each year and continues until the end of April. The rest of the year, these magnificent game fish can be found further offshore on reefs or oil rigs but are seldom seen right off the beach like they were during the spring. Spanish Mackerel are also highly migratory and move in during March of each year. After the spring migration, these fish are spread out in smaller numbers along the nearshore waters.
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Deep-Sea Fishing and Reef Fishing
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The most popular fishing available in the waters south is known as deep-sea fishing or reef fishing. Everyone who knows anything about Alabama's saltwater fishery has undoubtedly heard about our artificial reef building program. Alabama's waters primarily cover a sand or mud bottom or ocean floor. This habitat used to be uninhabited by most reef fish. With the implementation of the reef-building program, tens of thousands of artificial reefs have been built and remain there today. These reefs range in size, but most are about the size of a Passenger Car, School Bus, Army Tank, WWII Liberty Ships, Tug Boats, Empty Barges, Chicken Cages, Concrete Pipe, Concrete Pyramids, and anything Steel or Heavy. The State of Alabama now prohibits the building of reefs by using cars, trucks, or anything painted that may be toxic or harm the environment. The good thing about having so many fishing sites is that they produce a habitat for reef fish.
Deep-Sea Fishing Charters Offshore
Deep-sea fishing is commonly known as reef fishing or bottom fishing. These types of offshore fishing trips are where the charter fishing boat stops and holds the boat directly above the reef. This is the trip where everyone on the charter boat lets their lines and baited hooks down below the boat to get a bite. In Alabama, most of the reefs are artificial. However, there are some rocks and ledges that we fish. We do not have coral reefs as you see on television. The reef fishing is a lot of fun. You never know what you will catch. As with any type of reef, many different species of fish live there. You have baitfish that stay close to the wreck for safety. You have larger fish that feed on the smaller fish. You also have bigger fish that move around from reef to reef to feed on the reefs inhabitants.
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Orange Beach's common reef fish include Shark, Snapper, Jacks, Grouper, Porgies, Eels, Barracuda, Triggerfish, Tile Fish, Ribbon Fish, Tomtate and Sea Bass. It is not uncommon for the migratory fish like Mackerel and Wahoo to show up and feed at the reefs.
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Booking Your Offshore Fishing Charter Boat Is Easy
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Offshore fishing in Alabama encompasses both trolling, reef fishing, and sight fishing. If you are interested in going on one of our offshore fishing charters, please visit our reservations page and let us know what you would like to do. We have private offshore and nearshore charters as well as inshore.
Offshore Trolling charter fishing Trips
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The first offshore fishing we would like to define is trolling. Offshore trolling trips are fun and exciting for even the most experienced anglers. Trolling is a technique used to catch migratory fish like Mackerel, Crevalle Jacks, Tuna and Marlin. This method is used by pulling baits behind the boat at a slow or high rate of speed. Not everyone fishes at the same time. You take turns fighting fish as they hit or strike. High speed trolling is commonly used when going offshore and returning home. These high speed trolling trips produce fast-swimming fish like Mackerel and Wahoo. Slow speed trolling the preferred method to catch Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Tuna, and Marlin. The Marlin, Tuna, and Wahoo are usually found further offshore in deep water that ranges from 200 to 8000 feet deep.
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Offshore trolling trips for Mackerel, Jack Crevalle can be accomplished on a 4-hour journey. Sometimes these short trips stay nearshore or end up 8 to 10 miles out. Trolling trips for Wahoo, Tuna and Marlin are usually full-day or multi-day in length. That is because you have to go way offshore to or too deep seas to get to where they live. The ride out to Wahoo and Tuna country in Alabama is 3 to 6 hours or more in length, depending on the boat you are on. As you can see, to fish for certain fish, you have to spend more time getting to where they live. So, if you're interested in a trolling trip, please tell us what you would like to do in the reservations section of this website. It will help us understand precisely what you are looking for in a trolling charter.
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Sight Fishing For Cobia and Bull Reds
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Another type of offshore fishing is called sight fishing. These trips can be a lot of fun. The Cobia is the first fish that comes to mind. They move through during March and April each year. Cobia fishing is like guided Turkey hunting. You may ride for hours and see nothing. Just when you think you might not see anything, there he is. The Cobia may be alone or with two or three more similar sized fish. We use live eels to cast to them and try to get them to bite. They are 20 to 100 pounds each.
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The Bull Redfish school up by the thousands during the winter months and make some of the most fun fishing opportunities you have ever seen. We look for birds diving, and we let you cast your lure into them and hook them up for a fight of a lifetime. Bull Redfish weigh between 18 and 40 pounds each.
