Southwind
+40SouthWind Charters is exactly what the doctor ordered for anyone who has the itch to fish the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas. If you are looking for a fully customized fishing experience on your next holiday, you have found the right place.
Enjoy a lot of artificial reefs, cruise the coast and head up to 15 miles offshore. Most of the trips will most likely wear you out battling big and hard-fighting fish so get ready to have a nice light tackle and live bait workout.
All this fantastic sport fishing is available aboard the ‘Southwind,’ a 42’ Sea Harvester walk-around boat. Her twin 330 HP Cummins engines will power you to the hottest grounds in the area, and the top-notch electronics will help you locate the fish.
The Southwind is rigged with everything you need to make a great catch possible. As well as that, you will find plenty of space for up to 18 anglers, a flybridge to take in all the beauty of the surrounding areas, a comfortable restroom, and an air-conditioned cabin.
You will be able to catch-and-release Amberjack and Red Snapper year-round, target Barracuda, Cobia, and Red Grouper, go for Kingfish and Triggerfish and get your hands on Mangrove Snapper. Trolling, jigging, and bottom fishing will be your techniques for the day.
All trips come with quality rods, reels, and tackle, as well as lures, bait, and fishing licenses. Just bring your adventurous spirit and desire to catch some fish!
Charter Operator
Fairwater II Charters LLC
Most popular features:
Trip availability and prices
Customer reviews
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (83)
+80Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
95%
Appropriate for children
97%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
98%
Caught fish
96%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great fishing trip!
4 Hour Trip – Intro (PM) on June 12, 2024
Captain Brent and first mate Harrison are great people for a first time out with family. We did a four hour afternoon trip, with 8 people, the youngest being in their mid teens. A simple call to the number listed got us pointed in the right direction after we arrived at the marina which was less confusing than it appeared at first glance. With a quick introduction and brief on safety we were on our way. At no point while we were out did I hear any foul language or adult themed conversations from either of these men if that is something that may concern you. We didn't catch a large haul, but all of us are non-experienced fishers and were pretty slow on the reels. Having said that, the fish were biting plenty, and Harrison was running back and forth pulling fish from lines, baiting hooks, and throwing the non-keepers. We still caught enough to feed us for two days. Just not enough to box up and fed ex back home to family. All in all it was a great time. I got the captains card, and when we visit the area again, I won't hesitate to call him and book another trip out. Captain Brent is easy to talk to and seems open to reasonable accommodations and expectations, so if your on the fence, shoot him a message with your questions or fishing concerns and book yourself a trip aboard Southwind!
Captain Brent and first mate Harrison are great people for a first time out with family. We did a four hour afternoon trip, with 8 people, the youngest being in their mid teens. A simple call to the number listed got us pointed in the right direction after we arrived at the marina which was less confusing than it appeared at first glance. With a quick introduction and brief on safety we were on our way. At no point while we were out did I hear any foul language or adult themed conversations...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Had a great time and very professional crew
3/4 Day Trip (PM) on June 15, 2024
Took my best man and groomsmen fishing and had a blast. Captain Brett and his deck hand gosh I wish I could remember his name were great. Although I was a few minutes late no problem both were very friendly, took their time with some of my groomsmen who was their first time fishing ever. The boat was very clean cabin very cold we had to open the door but in this heat who’s complaining, crew was great and we caught our limit in no time. I will be booking again, highly recommend.
Took my best man and groomsmen fishing and had a blast. Captain Brett and his deck hand gosh I wish I could remember his name were great. Although I was a few minutes late no problem both were very friendly, took their time with some of my groomsmen who was their first time fishing ever. The boat was very clean cabin very cold we had to open the door but in this heat who’s complaining, crew was great and we caught our limit in no time. I will be booking again, highly recommend.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great time with Brett
4 Hour Trip – Intro (PM) on August 6, 2024
We saw Brett’s ad and video and thought he was the one we liked. When we got to the marina Brett was there to greet all ten of us. The kids and adults had a really great time, caught enough fish for two-three meals. You can see his love and knowledge for the water. First mate Harrison was fantastic with the kids. Between the two it was the best time ever. Already talking about next year, plus it was worth every penny. Thanks Brett from Paul and the family.
We saw Brett’s ad and video and thought he was the one we liked. When we got to the marina Brett was there to greet all ten of us. The kids and adults had a really great time, caught enough fish for two-three meals. You can see his love and knowledge for the water. First mate Harrison was fantastic with the kids. Between the two it was the best time ever. Already talking about next year, plus it was worth every penny. Thanks Brett from Paul and the family.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Excellent trip
4 Hour Trip – Intro (PM) on March 19, 2025
Took a corporate team on a 4 hour trip. Brett was outstanding and has an outstanding personality. Harrison our 1st mate, was awesome and we had fun. Look forward to taking my family with them in the future.
Took a corporate team on a 4 hour trip. Brett was outstanding and has an outstanding personality. Harrison our 1st mate, was awesome and we had fun. Look forward to taking my family with them in the future.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Southwind Charters
4 Hour Trip – Intro (AM) on July 8, 2024
South wind is a heck of a trip. The captain and deckhand work their butts off to make sure you get on fish and have a good time. With 9 of us to tend to they were still able to put all of us on multiple fish, even on the short 4 hour trip, and to top it off, they were quick and clean with getting our fish cleaned and bagged up for us.
South wind is a heck of a trip. The captain and deckhand work their butts off to make sure you get on fish and have a good time. With 9 of us to tend to they were still able to put all of us on multiple fish, even on the short 4 hour trip, and to top it off, they were quick and clean with getting our fish cleaned and bagged up for us.
FAQs about Southwind
What are the trip rates for Southwind?
Southwind offers the following trips to customers:
- US $1,200 per group, additional US $120 per person after 8 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Intro (AM) (4 hours)
- US $1,200 per group, additional US $120 per person after 8 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Intro (PM) (4 hours)
- US $1,500 per group, additional US $150 per person after 8 guests - 5 hour trip AM (5 hours)
- US $1,500 per group, additional US $150 per person after 8 guests - 5 hour trip PM (5 hours)
- US $1,750 per group, additional US $175 per person after 8 guests - 3/4 Day Trip (AM) (6 hours)
- US $1,750 per group, additional US $175 per person after 8 guests - 3/4 Day Trip (PM) (6 hours)
- US $2,400 per group, additional US $240 per person after 8 guests - Full Day Trip (8 hours)
- US $3,500 per group, additional US $350 per person after 8 guests - 12 Hour Trip (12 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Southwind?
When you book a trip with Southwind, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
- Toilet
- Air Conditioning
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Bed
- Flybridge
- Live Bait Well
- Multimedia System
- Ice Box
- Radar
What's included in the trip price with Southwind?
Trips booked with Southwind include:
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live Bait
- Lures
- First Mate (Customary 20% (NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST))
- Fishing License
What types of fishing does Southwind offer?
Southwind offers the following types of fishing:
- Offshore Fishing
- Reef Fishing
- Wreck Fishing
What fishing techniques does Southwind offer?
Southwind offers the following fishing techniques:
- Light Tackle
- Bottom Fishing
- Trolling
- Deep Sea Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with Southwind?
Top targeted fish species with Southwind include:
- Amberjack
- Cobia
- Jack Crevalle
- King Mackerel (Kingfish)
- Snapper (Mangrove)
- Snapper (Red)
- Snapper (Vermilion)
- Spanish Mackerel
Your operator
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Meet your Captain Tom Ard, a true Orange Beach native and a 5 boat owner at Zekes landing Marina, with over 40 years of offshore fishing experience. The love for fishing started at a very young age for Tom, fishing farm ponds and rivers around his house for bass and bream, or catching speckled trout and red fish off the family dock on Wolf Bay. This all transitioned to offshore fishing when his father, Captain Gloyice Ard had a custom built charter boat, a Buskins, completed 1980, the “Bollweevil” which is still in service here at Zekes. Tom grew up deck handing on the Bollweevil and ran his first real charter at 18 years old. He inherited the vessel after his dad passed away. After graduating from UWF with a degree in criminal justice, Tom married his love of his life Kim, in 1997. They purchased the Fairwater II in 1998. Since then he’s charter fished, raised a family ( son Garrett is working on his Masters degree at Mississippi State) and cared for the boat, trying to make her a better boat each and every year. Along the way they purchased the Water Dog, a 34 ft crusader, continued fishing on the Bollweevil. In 2019 he and business partner Captain Brett Russell added the SouthWind and the TradeWinds in 2022. Captain Brett started his fishing career at just 16 years old working with us during the summer. Training young men into captains has been one of Tom’s strengths, along with having a fishing team that feels like a family. We all work together and help each other with the boats and in fishing which gives the whole fleet an advantage. One of Tom’s passions has been finding older boats and making them look new again with a strong knowledge about engines, generators, and very importantly electronics that keep you safe and help catch fish. This has been his hobby inside his fishing career. In his 50s now, Tom still has a passion for hunting,and fishing, going on adventures with his family (which includes his two Labrador retrievers) and boats. Tom also runs a 64 ft Viking sports fisher for his lifelong friend, fishing marlin tournaments, traveling on vacations just to hunt and fish, and still loves a good boat ride on an impressive craft. And lastly he really loves to watch the joy and excitement catching fish brings to his clients and friends who still come back to fish year after year.
Tom A.
Captain
The fish you can target
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Offshore Fishing
Reef Fishing
Wreck Fishing
Which fishing techniques you can try
Light Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Deep Sea Fishing
Which amenities are available onboard
Toilet
Air Conditioning
GPS
Fishfinder
Bed
Flybridge
Live Bait Well
Multimedia System
Ice Box
Radar
What’s included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
First Mate
Customary 20% (NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST)
Fishing License
How cancellations work
Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
What the listing policies are
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
No min. age, life jackets supplied
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Disabled Accessible
How you can pay
Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.
The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:
Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.
What’s biting in Orange Beach right now
Amberjack
Cobia
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Snapper (Red)
Spanish Mackerel