Any Day Spent Fishing is a Good Day! Plan ahead of your next family fishing vacation to make sure you get access to all of the fish you're looking for. Get insight into the best time of the year to visit depending on the fishing season and where you plan on fishing, whether it be inshore, offshore, or nearshore. Fishing in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach won't disappoint, as you get access to a variety of different fish from king mackerels and Spanish mackerels to red snappers and groupers, depending on the season. Several area restaurants will complete your Gulf Coast fishing experience by preparing your fresh catch for you. It just doesn't get any fresher than that!
Don't forget to make things easier on yourself by booking a fishing charter and get access to local experts and captains to ensure your catch is plentiful when you visit.
2022 Red Snapper Season
Known as “Red Snapper capital of the World,” Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the best place to find these remarkable fish. Alabama state waters and federal waters will open to private and state-licensed charter vessel anglers for red snapper harvest on Friday, May 27, 2022. The season will consist of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, beginning Friday, May 27, and continue until the private angler quota is projected to be met.
The season dates listed above only apply to anglers fishing from shore, private recreational vessels and state-licensed Alabama commercial party boats that do not hold federal for-hire fishing permits. The season for anglers fishing from federally-permitted for-hire vessels will run seven days a week from June 1, 2022, until 12:01 a.m. August 19, 2022.
The bag limit for snapper is two per person.
2022 Amberjack & Triggerfish Seasons
Recreational harvest of greater amberjack in federal and Alabama state waters is open from May 1-31, 2022 and closes on June 1, 2022. The season reopens on August 1, 2022, and remains open until November 1, 2022. The bag limit for greater amberjack is one per person.
Recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in federal and Alabama state waters opens on March 1, 2022, and stays open through May 31, 2022. Harvest closes on June 1, 2022, and remains closed through July 31. Fall and winter seasons open on August 1, 2022, and stay open until December 31, 2022. The bag limit for triggerfish is one per person.
From pier fishing at the Gulf State Park Pier to spending the day at Little Lagoon, there is somewhere for both novice and experienced anglers to cast their line. Details may be found on the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website.
Fishing is a year-round sport along the shores of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Here's a list of what's biting and what's in season.
| Species | Best time to catch | Inshore | Nearshore | Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amberjack, Greater | Year-round: Peak: May - mid September |
X |
||
| Bluefish | March - November | X | X | |
| Cobia (Ling) | March - October: Peak: April | X | ||
| Croaker, Atlantic | April - October | X | ||
| Crevalle Jack | May to November | X | ||
| Dolphinfish (Dolphin, Dorado, Mahi-Mahi) | June - October: Peak: June | X | ||
| Black Drum | March - October: Peak: My - June | X | ||
| Red Drum (Bull Redfish) | Year-round | X | ||
| Flounder ( Gulf, Southern) | April - October | X | X | |
| Groupers (black,gag,red,scamp,yellowfin) | Year-round | X | ||
| Kingfish, Gulf and Southern | May - September | X | X | |
| King Mackerel | April - October: Peak August - mid September | X | X | |
| Spanish Mackerel | March - September: Peak: July - August | X | X | |
| Pompano | March - October: Peak: July - August | X | ||
| Sailfish, Atlantic | May - October: Peak: July - August | X | ||
| Seatrout, Sand and Silver | May - November: Peak: June - July | X | ||
| Sharks | March - November | X | X | |
| Sheepshead | Year-round: Peak: March | X | ||
| Red Snapper, Snapper, Vermillion | Seasonal (changes year to year) | X | X |
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