TradeWinds 

5.0
(158 reviews)
 
Federally permitted
 26619 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach, AL 36561, United States

TradeWinds 

Orange Beach, AL, United States
40 ft
18
5.0
(158 reviews)

Looking to cast a line in Orange Beach? That's what TradeWinds is here for!

Fishing around here will often see you targeting a variety of Snapper, Mackerel, as well as Bonito, Gray Triggerfish, Amberjack, Grouper, and more, depending on conditions. You'll target your catch by light tackle fishing, trolling, jigging, bottom fishing, or maybe something more specialized in this area. Feel free to keep any fish you catch, assuming regulations allow it.

If you're traveling with the family, you'll be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! If you don't have a child-sized life vest of your own, be sure to ask if there's one on board. A few items you'll want to bring include sunglasses, sunblock (non-spray), snacks, and drinks.

Your boat for the day is a 40' Walkaround that holds up to 18 passengers. It comes with all the essentials, plus a toilet on board for your convenience. The captain will supply rods and reels for you, along with lures. There's no need to buy a fishing license, just show up ready for some fishing!

You'll have the help of a First Mate to put you on fish and make the most of your trip. Mates work hard to make your trip count, so a 20% gratuity is customary and much appreciated. Be mindful that some species may have special rules or limited seasons. Your captain will help you follow regulations while you fish.

Now, come aboard with TradeWinds and get hooked!

Looking to cast a line in Orange Beach? That's what TradeWinds is here for!

Fishing around here will often see you targeting a variety of Snapper, Mackerel, as well as Bonito, Gray Triggerfish, Amberjack, Grouper, and more, depending on conditions. You'll target your catch by light tackle fishing, trolling, jigging, bottom fishing, or maybe something more specialized in this area. Feel free to keep any fish you catch, assuming regulations allow it.

If you're traveling with the family, you'll be glad to know that kids are welcome aboard! If you don't have a child-sized life vest of your own, be sure to ask if there's one on board. A few items you'll want to bring include sunglasses, sunblock (non-spray), snacks, and drinks.

Your boat for the day is a 40' Walkaround that holds up to 18 passengers. It comes with all the essentials, plus a toilet on board for your convenience. The captain will supply rods and reels for you, along with lures. There's no need to buy a fishing license, just show up ready for some fishing!

You'll have the help of a First Mate to put you on fish and make the most of your trip. Mates work hard to make your trip count, so a 20% gratuity is customary and much appreciated. Be mindful that some species may have special rules or limited seasons. Your captain will help you follow regulations while you fish.

Now, come aboard with TradeWinds and get hooked!

Fairwater II Charters LLC
Charter Operator
Fairwater II Charters LLC
31 years of experience
ID & credentials verified

Select date to see availability

Trip availability and prices

Trip date:
Group Size:
September 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Almost there...
4 hour Spring break trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:30 PM)
Seasonal trip
Mar 8 - May 1
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Spanish Mackerel
US $1,000
Entire boat: up to 8 people
4 Hour Trip – Introduction
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:30 PM)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Spanish Mackerel
Bonito
US $1,200
Entire boat: up to 8 people
5 hour spring break special
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
5 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:30 PM)
Seasonal trip
Mar 8 - May 1
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Spanish Mackerel
Triggerfish (Gray)
Snapper (Vermilion)
US $1,200
Entire boat: up to 8 people
5 hour trip
In high demand Last booked: 5 days ago
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
5 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:30 PM)
Snapper (Red)
Spanish Mackerel
US $1,500
Entire boat: up to 8 people
6 hour Spring break trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:30 PM)
Seasonal trip
Mar 8 - May 1
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Snapper (Red)
Snapper (Mangrove)
Spanish Mackerel
+3
US $1,600
Entire boat: up to 8 people
6 Hour Trip
In high demand Last booked: 2 days ago
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 hour trip multiple starting times (6:30 AM, 1:30 PM)
Snapper (Red)
Spanish Mackerel
Snapper (Vermilion)
US $1,750
Entire boat: up to 8 people
8 Hour Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Snapper (Red)
Triggerfish (Gray)
Snapper (Vermilion)
US $2,400
Entire boat: up to 8 people
10 Hour trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
10 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Amberjack
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Snapper (Red)
Snapper (Mangrove)
+5
US $3,000
Entire boat: up to 8 people
12 Hour trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
12 hour trip starts at 6:30 AM
Amberjack
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Snapper (Red)
Snapper (Mangrove)
+5
US $3,500
Entire boat: up to 8 people
There is 1 person looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

5.0
158 reviews
5.0
Boat & equipment
5.0
Captain & crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (169)

What anglers say

99%
Great experience
98%
Family friendly
99%
Friendly captain
100%
Good boat
98%
Recommended
100%
Caught fish

All reviews (158)

Frequently mentioned
Showing 15 of 158 reviews
Jeremy Lasswell
Jeremy Lasswell
us
Union, MO, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great Trip for all!!
5 hour trip on June 2, 20267 adults2 children

We were a large group of 10 (7 kids and 3 adults) with this being the first time for most of the kids. We chose the 5 hr which was a perfect amount of time for the younger kids. The boat was a good size and the area inside was nice for the kids to sit down for awhile while moving spots. Capt Tristen and mate Ben did a fantastic job of putting the group on the fish and keeping us there. Ben was awesome and so patient and helpful with the kids. I would recommend this trip for any family looking to get out in the Orange Beach area.

Eric Deen
Eric Deen
Repeat angler
us
Missouri, US
Member since 2024
3 trips
5.0
Verified
Great trip and highly recommend, especially for families!
4 Hour Trip – Introduction - 1:30 PM on August 7, 20266 adults2 children

Tristen and Ben were awesom! boat is big and roomy so no one‘s crawling on top of each other. They had the AC cranking in the cabin for those that need to get away. They did an awesome job moving us around keeping us on fish. We ended up with more fish than we could eat. Ben the deck hand did an amazing job making sure everyone was taken care of and Hooks were always baited and offering advice along the way. Great experience for our family of all ages and would highly recommend!

Reported catch:
Spanish Mackerel
Sean Adkins
Sean Adkins
us
Kentucky, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Fantastic First-Time Fishing Experience!
5 hour trip on July 4, 20263 adults

This was our first offshore fishing trip, and it was a great experience from start to finish. Captain Tristan was awesome and took us to some excellent fishing spots. Ben, the deckhand, was outstanding—he stayed on top of everything all day, was incredibly helpful, and made sure everyone had what they needed. We caught some really big fish and had an amazing time. If you’re looking for a fun, well-run charter with a great crew, I highly recommend this one. We’ll definitely be back!

Reported catch:
Red Snapper
Spanish Mackerel
Rob Joyner
Rob Joyner
us
Tennessee, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
New
10 out of 10! Highly recommended!!!
6 Hour Trip on September 12, 20268 adults

We had a group of 11 of all different ages……some experienced in fishing offshore others for the first time. Everyone had a great time and caught lots of fish!  Both Tristan and Ben were awesome and made sure everyone was having a good time and catching fish. 

Reported catch:
Spanish Mackerel
Red Snapper
Andrew McGuire
Andrew McGuire
us
Missouri, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
So many fish!
5 hour trip on June 25, 20267 adults

Captain Tristan kept us on the fish almost all of our 5 hour trip. Deckhand Ben was very busy and working extremely hard to handle all the fish we were catching and keeping bait on so we could catch more. My family loved it. When moving from one hot spot to another Ben was busy cleaning the fishing area making sure that our experience was top notch. Be sure and bring extra tip money for these guys. 20% isn’t enough.

FAQs about TradeWinds

TradeWinds offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $100 per person after 8 guests - 4 hour Spring break trip (4 hours)
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $100 per person after 8 guests - 4 hour Spring break trip - 1:30 PM (4 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group, additional US $120 per person after 8 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Introduction (4 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group, additional US $120 per person after 8 guests - 4 Hour Trip – Introduction - 1:30 PM (4 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group, additional US $120 per person after 8 guests - 5 hour spring break special (5 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group, additional US $120 per person after 8 guests - 5 hour spring break special - 1:30 PM (5 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group, additional US $150 per person after 8 guests - 5 hour trip (5 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group, additional US $150 per person after 8 guests - 5 hour trip - 1:30 PM (5 hours)
  • US $1,600 per group, additional US $160 per person after 8 guests - 6 hour Spring break trip (6 hours)
  • US $1,600 per group, additional US $160 per person after 8 guests - 6 hour Spring break trip - 1:30 PM (6 hours)
  • US $1,750 per group, additional US $175 per person after 8 guests - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
  • US $1,750 per group, additional US $175 per person after 8 guests - 6 Hour Trip - 1:30 PM (6 hours)
  • US $2,400 per group, additional US $240 per person after 8 guests - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
  • US $3,000 per group, additional US $300 per person after 8 guests - 10 Hour trip (10 hours)
  • US $3,500 per group, additional US $350 per person after 8 guests - 12 Hour trip (12 hours)
When you book a trip with TradeWinds, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet It's a standard boat toilet
  • Air conditioning
  • Bed
  • Flybridge
  • Multimedia system
  • Ice box
Trips booked with TradeWinds include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Lures
  • First mate (20% tip is customary (NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST))
  • Fishing license (You won't need to purchase any licenses, your group fishes under our license on our boat. )
TradeWinds offers the following types of fishing:
  • Nearshore fishing (4 hour trips are nearshore (3-5 miles))
  • Offshore fishing (6 and 8 hour trips go further out (8-20miles))
  • Reef fishing
  • Wreck fishing
TradeWinds offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Heavy tackle
  • Bottom fishing
  • Trolling
  • Jigging
  • Deep sea fishing
Top targeted fish species with TradeWinds include:
  • Amberjack
  • Bonito
  • Grouper (Red)
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Snapper (Lane)
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snapper (Red)
  • Snapper (Vermilion)
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Triggerfish (Gray)

Your operator

Fairwater II Charters LLC
Fairwater II Charters LLC

Orange Beach, Alabama, United States

ID & license verified
483 Customer reviews
Typical response within 3 hours
Member since January 2015
Angler's Choice

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.

Our Team
Tom A.

Tom A.

Captain

Tristan E.

Tristan E.

Captain

Brett R.

Brett R.

Captain

Marian J.

Marian J.

Business partner

Fairwater II Charters LLC
Fairwater II Charters LLC
Fully verified
Angler's Choice
483
reviews
2015
member since
~4h
response
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.
The crew
Tom A.
Tom A.
Captain
Tristan E.
Tristan E.
Captain
Brett R.
Brett R.
Captain
Marian J.
Marian J.
Business partner

The fish you can target

Amberjack
Amberjack
Bonito
Bonito
Red Grouper
Red Grouper
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Lane Snapper
Lane Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Vermilion Snapper
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel
Gray Triggerfish
Gray Triggerfish
Amberjack
Amberjack
Bonito
Bonito
Red Grouper
Red Grouper
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Lane Snapper
Lane Snapper

Real catches by this captain

  • 10 out of 10!  Highly recommended!!!
    Rob J.
    Rob J.
  • Wonderful trip for the family.
    Ronda S.
    Ronda S.
  • Snapper!!
    Matt S.
    Matt S.
  • Great Trip!
    Nichole D.
    Nichole D.
  • best trip ever
    Jessica J.
    Jessica J.
  • Special trip! Ben and Tristan are top notch!
    Matthew D.
    Matthew D.
  • Amazing 40th Birthday Charter!
    Kendall S.
    Kendall S.
  • Enjoyed the morning fishing with family
    Steven N.
    Steven N.
  • Make Family Memories That’ll Last a Lifetime
    Justin H.
    Justin H.
  • Best trip with the brothers
    Anthony B.
    Anthony B.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Cabin cruisers
Capacity
18 persons
Boat length
40 ft
Year built
1993
Boat manufacturer
Sea Harvester
Boat type
Walkaround
Engine model
Cummins
Powered by
2 x 330HP
Max cruising speed
15 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Nearshore Fishing
4 hour trips are nearshore (3-5 miles)
Offshore Fishing
6 and 8 hour trips go further out (8-20miles)
Reef Fishing
Wreck Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Jigging
Deep Sea Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet
It's a standard boat toilet
Air conditioning
Bed
Flybridge
Multimedia system
Ice box
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
First mate
20% tip is customary (NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST)
Fishing license
You won't need to purchase any licenses, your group fishes under our license on our boat.

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.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child friendly
No age limits on children, we welcome all kids! We encourage children to come fishing and learn about the fun of deep sea fishing
You keep catch
According to regulations.
Catch and release allowed
You can opt to catch and release.

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 3.5% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Orange Beach right now

AmberjackAmberjack
BonitoBonito
King Mackerel (Kingfish)King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Snapper (Red)Snapper (Red)
Spanish MackerelSpanish Mackerel

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