Any offshore fishing experiences near Gulf Shore/Orange Beach AL?

[bz_711]

My family of 6 is going to Gulf Shores for a beach vacation this summer - we've been before and kids love the beaches and area. I'd like to get them out in a boat to catch some salt water fish as we've never done that as a family...anyone have experience/recommendations in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area?

I find plenty of options while searching - but price is my driving factor as this started out as a budget vacation - really only looking for the quick 4 hour trip to get the experience of pulling in some bottom fish...but obviously want someone who is reputable with having my family's life in their hands My four kids are ages 4-11.

 

[Eagle]

Call AAA Fishing Charters and they will set you up, http://aaacharters.net/contact/ . I was there last week and did a 6 hour trip for snapper with the Big Adventure out of Zeke's Landing Marina. Had a great time as you can see from the photos.

The Sea Hunter also based out of Orange Beach is another great outfit, hard to go wrong with either the Big Adventure or the Sea Hunter, but neither may be in your price range. Talk to AAA, give them your parameters, and they'll get you set up. I will advise you to do the 6 hour vs a 4 hour. You just can't get far enough out to the deeper water during a 4 hour trip to catch the bigger fish, but the cost is higher.

 

[bz_711]

Thanks for the info! Looks like you did well.
I will reach out to them - It was 20+ years ago when I last went with my dad...great memories.

 

[Take-a-knee]

I just went out with the Destin Army Rec Center's "Stars and Stripes" (28ft Triton) for a 4hr trip a couple of weeks ago. We were "harrassed" by sharks, the fish won't bite when the sharks show up. The CPT kept moving us to other reefs nearby and we'd start hauling up little 3-4lb mango snappers, two at a time. Caught one Jack Cravalle, one Red Snapper of probably 25# that had to go back (season opened the following week 01June) and quite a few other fish that were either too small or out of season. At the end of the trip I was hauling up more mangos from 80ft when that heavy Penn reel's drag started screaming, all I did was hang on. I finally tightened the drag as I knew I was about to get spooled and the monster popped off. Reeled up and had two mangos still hooked, the bottom one nearly bit in two. The CPT grabbed it and hooked it on a 13/0 circle hook and let it down post-haste. FISH-ON. 30min later, after nearly getting spooled twice (without the CPT's skillful boat handling it would have been over the first run) I finally got the leviathan up into view, a 7-8ft shark. 20 or so min later I finally got it to the surface with the 1st mate's help when the line finally parted.

The CPT said the six hr runs there at Destin went to reefs 200ft deep and he said you were catching similar species and sizes. YMMV. 6hr in the FL sun is a LONG day if any kids are involved.

 

[LaHunter]

I would advise to let the boat captain know the ages of your children. An air conditioned cabin on the boat can make or break a fishing trip with young kids out in the Gulf.
Zeke's Landing is a great place to eat too.
Good Luck.

 

[LostArra]

Kids=4 hours max
Kids=fish quantity is more important than fish size, species is not important. Just baiting hooks is fun.
Kids catching fish in the ocean=lifetime memories.
Three of my daughters still talk about a morning trip off the coast of North Carolina 25 years ago. No one remembers the size of the fish but they still argue about who caught the most and who caught the flounder. That trip inspired the oldest (10 yo at the time) to get her college degree in marine biology.

 

[Arlie]

A cheaper option to just get the kids fishing is taking them to the gulf state pier. Fish at your own pace. As long or as little as you want. You can take your own gear or rent gear at the pier. You also have the option for walking out on pier first to see if its something your interested in (cost a $1 to walk out and it's worth that just for the view and the people watching entertainment) We always catch fish of some sort, don't usually catch a whole lot of good eating fish but every now and then we get into some flounder, redfish or mackerel. We make it a family day, it's right by the public beach so the wife and daughter hang out on beach and walk up to visit us boys on the pier when they want or we go take a break with them when the action is slow.
Check pierlife.com or gulfshorespierfishing.com for info.
I'm a FNG so can't post pics but there are plenty on websites and forum.