What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Gulf Shores, Alabama for the first time?

Answers by verified FishingBooker anglers who went fishing in Gulf Shores

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Jerry Sharp
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Addicted 2 Fishing Charters on March 27, 2024
Absolutely. Just be sure to ask the guide question about what to wear and what to expect. They know what is going on and will advise you on what to do. Dress warmer than you would expect and have rain gear ready.

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Vincent Turpin
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Red Eye Charters – Lil Red on March 19, 2024
Remember it is called fishing, not catching. Just because you may be looking to catch a certain fish doesn't mean it will happen that particular day. Don't miss the forest because of the trees, take what is bighting that day and make memories.

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Joe Hilburn
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Reel Fishin' Charters – Gulf Shores on March 19, 2024
I would recommend you go to the marina a day before the day you’re supposed to fish and understand how the marina and guided fishing works. It’s fun to watch them, clean the fish and see how excited the people are.

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Kelly Filo
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Gulf Coast Charters on October 3, 2023
No. We had a group of 4 adults. Half had been on several charters and knew what to expect. They said this was unlike any charter they had ever been on. My husband and I had never been on one before. When we showed up to his house, he didn’t introduce himself. He just said he was getting ready and walked to the backyard. It seemed as if we were bothering him and an inconvenience. We didn’t know what to do so we eventually went to the backyard to see what he was doing. We asked about a cooler for water and a bag of sandwiches. He said we could put our waters in the cooler, but the sandwiches could be put upfront in storage (no refrigeration). We found that strange. When we got outside of the canal where he lived he asked us where we wanted to go. We told him he was the captain and we didn’t know the area. He told us that the fishing spot he usually goes to wasn’t catching fish, but he would take us anyway. He drove out there, put his pole in the water about 10 times then said yep no bites and drove us back to the spot by his house. We didn’t use any live bait. We caught the same white trout for 4 hours in the same spot. Even his daughter got bored because she laid down in the bottom of the boat and fell asleep. Even when she was awake she would moan when she had to get up and reset a hook or take a fish off. Once she fell asleep, the captain complained that he couldn’t get back there to help us because she was in the way. After awhile a member of our group just started taking them off. The charter was not what we expected. We thought we would catch a variety of fish and fish in different spots.

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Allan Lydon
Atlanta, GA
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Off The Hook Charters – Miss Jaqlin on June 18, 2022
Red Snapper is the target fish in June off Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan. The season usually starts the beginning of June and generally lasts through August (but check the season first!). June weekend Snapper trips are in high demand, so book charters early (3-6 months in advance). Be SURE the boat you charter is Federally licensed or you will be stuck fishing within 9 miles of shore, which is over fished and not where you will find snapper of any size. I also recommend an early morning 6 hour trip (2 hours out, fish for 2 hours, 2 hours back) - the seas are generally calmer in the morning. If you can also snag a morning trip with the full moon, all the better. If you as a recreational boat (private or your friends boat), you are not required to have a Federal license, but I would recommend you buy saltwater fishing licenses. We used frozen herring easily bought at a bait shop. Live bait (cigar minnows are premium bait) As always, the hard part is knowing where to go - big ocean with lots of artificial reefs in the 15-20 mile range of shore, but if you don't know any numbers, you are fishing blind over a sandy bottom.

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JESSICA BRIDGES
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Shields Charter Service on December 23, 2023
Always be flexible regarding the weather/water conditions. Listen to your Captain. Our Capt recommended against the freezing high wind and waves in the gulf and we spent our trip in the lagoon catching more fish than we could count and stayed perfectly warm and dry.

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Jamie Ryan
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Lost Bay Guide Service "Catch Fish Guarantee" on November 20, 2023
Absolutely recommend Captain Noah as your go-to fishing guide! His determination and expertise led us to an unforgettable trip despite challenging conditions. If you're looking for a guide with skill, tenacity, and a knack for finding the big ones, Captain Noah is your guy. Book with confidence for a fantastic fishing experience!

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David Elmquist
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Shields Charter Service on October 10, 2023
capn Jason is a great guy and knows right where the fish are. mackerel, red fish, pompano, angel fish, toad fish and 3 sharks. our wives loved it and we have red fish on the grill tonight. 4 hour inland fishing.

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David Koeller
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Off The Hook Charters –Capt. Hunter on August 8, 2023
Go with off the hook charters. Both boats from the company came back with tons of fish, big fish. Other boats at the dock had small fish and less fish. If you want big ones and numbers go with off the hook charters.

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Mike Herron
Brooks, KY
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Bama Slam Inshore Adventures, LLC on May 10, 2023
Only way to go is a private charter. Don't like to bad mouth anything, but do not waste your time on the 'GS fishing pier'. It is hit or miss and overall not productive. My family wehn on two charters during the week and caught plenty of fish on both. We went in early May and the timing was so-so. A little after one of the breeding runs and prior to snapper season. Would recommend early June next year to my group.

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Dennis Boyce
Wapella, IL
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Sunrise Charters - Gulf Shores on April 5, 2023
Definitely get a charter if it’s your first time. You won’t be disappointed and you can learn quite a bit about the local waters and what rigs and techniques work the best at the time you are fishing

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Robert Bartsch
Robertsdale, Alabama
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with NiCole Fishing Charters – Jus Chillin on July 23, 2021
We booked two trips. The first was cancelled by the Captain for bad weather. The weather was great but the Captain was a complete jerk. I have saved all of the nasty emails with this captain. Unfortunately, there is no way to leave a warning "review" for other anglers to avoid this situation on FishingBooker. The other trip was fantastic and we caught our limit in two hours. We left this captain a glowing review on FishBooker. Would I use Fishbooker again knowing that poor reviews from cancelations? No.

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Mack Hall
Loxley, Alabama
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Nauti Fishing Charters –Gulf Shores on May 30, 2020
First would be book Capt Brad, Nauti Fish Co. I would recommend checking what fish are in season. I also would recommend looking into state waters vs federal waters. I messed up and looked at seasons wrong or something i also was totally ignorant to all the regulations on state waters and federal waters. Brad thoroughly explained all this but i wish i had known all this before planning a vacation. I most likely would have came a week later or maybe even 6 weeks later.

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James Tennyson
Childersburg, AL
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Sunrise Charters - Fort Morgan on September 2, 2022
Try to come on a better moon phase. We came Labor Day weekend because it was my birthday. I knew the fish would be biting better late at night before I came, but we caught fish despite the time & tidenot being right.

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Tyson Schumer
Eldorado, IL
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Another Fish Charters – Gulf Shores on June 7, 2022
Take plenty to drink, protection from the sun, and be open minded, because the captain knows what he is doing and trying his best to give you a great fishing experience. Remember when fishin,g it is a roll of the dice if the fish will bite or not.

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Brian Dearing
Hazel Dell, IL
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Capt. Lynn's – Gulf Shores on June 6, 2022
Figure out what you want to target. Get the charter going after that species …… and let the Captains take over. Both my charters this week got right on the fish we were going after and got our limits.

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Mindy Cornwell
Chicago, IL
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Capt. Lynn's – Gulf Shores on August 3, 2020
We were hoping to bring back some fish to freeze. We caught all red snapper which you are not allowed to keep because it is out of season for it. We only caught one fish to keep. Not our guides fault by any means but it was a huge disappointment.

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Nancy Chapman
Idabel, OK
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Sunrise Charters - Fort Morgan on June 22, 2019
Do not eat a big meal before you go & dont be drinking the night before if you expect to be able to stay the whole time my husband & son eat a honey bun & I eat a half of a brownie & be sure to take dramamine the night before & the day of ur trip...

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John Brooks
Marshfield, MO
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Sunrise Charters - Fort Morgan on May 13, 2019
If your wife wants to take all the kids to the beach. Agree, under the condition that you get to charter a fishing trip. Gulf Shores is very family friendly and renting a condo with a family friend or sibling is a great way to go.

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Catherine Hansen
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Off The Hook Charters –Capt. Hunter on March 27, 2024
Weather and water rough due to storm - maybe a March thing, not for anyone with motion sickness or if you don’t want to get sea spray.

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Tom Dingledine
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Addicted 2 Fishing Charters on March 24, 2024
We booked a morning trip, so it was a little chilly. It was very windy, but once the sun came out, the weather did not take away from the fishing experience.

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Phillip Bischoff
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with NiCole Fishing Charters – Jus Chillin on March 19, 2024
Bring some warm clothes it's a little cold in March, if you plan on taking fish home bring a large cooler with you, bring some snacks and drinks you may be out on the water longer than you expect.

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Jeff Fassbender
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Freebird Charters on March 11, 2024
Just sit back and enjoy the experience. First time for us, loved it all! Catch was amazing, from start to finish.

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Brandon Lafferty
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Gulf Coast Charters on March 12, 2024
Yes it was a very good charter for a family, and kids. Caught fish, and had a great time. Would recommend to anyone wanting a great time, and looking to catch fish.

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Jessica Yahl
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Stressed Out Charters on March 10, 2024
Be patient and listen to your captain. Fishing here is not like lake fishing that our family is used to

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Justin Jensen
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Addicted 2 Fishing Charters on March 27, 2024
Check the weather ahead of time. If it windy you are absolutely going to get wet.

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ROBERT NIDA
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Stressed Out Charters 2 on March 21, 2024
In March, bring a hoodie. The clouds pop in front of the sun and it gets a little chilly.

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Daniel Watt
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Addicted 2 Fishing Charters on March 19, 2024
It was a beautiful day a little colder than we are used too when we come down here.

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Drew Cohen
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Off The Hook Charters – Captain Perry on March 6, 2024
The boat is on the small side so go in nice weather, but be prepared to catch plenty of fish

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Melissa Rosen
VERIFIED  
Went fishing with Sea Work Charters on December 30, 2023
I happened to come during a cold front lol but still enjoyed it and got to catch a fish. Lots of dolphins to see!