Reviewed by: Patience Itson
Your ultimate fishing guide on Alabama’s beaches—snapper season + more
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Summer is the perfect time for a fishing adventure. So hop in the car and head south from Birmingham to the Alabama Gulf Coast.
To help you plan, we’ve created the ultimate fishing guide.
Read on for everything you need to know from licensing requirements to hot spots to drop your line, local charters and more.
Get ready to book your stay on Alabama’s beaches now.
Fishing seasons + licensing
Wondering which fish species you can catch on the Alabama Gulf Coast this summer?
Here’s a month-by-month-breakdown:
- May: hard-shell crab, speckle trout, vermillion snapper, shark, soft-shell crab + Spanish mackerel
- June: Atlantic croaker, brown shrimp, flounder, hard-shell crab, king mackerel, redfish, red snapper, shark + soft-shell crab
- July: Atlantic croaker, brown shrimp, flounder, hard-shell crab, king mackerel, redfish, red snapper + soft-shell crab
- August: brown shrimp, flounder, king mackerel + hard-shell crab
Fishing license—what to know
A saltwater fishing license is required to cast your line in the Gulf.
This includes bays, sounds and lagoons.
Fishing licenses start at $17. Get yours now.
There are two exceptions that will save you some cash:
- When fishing aboard a charter boat. Charter fishing captains have special saltwater fishing licenses that apply to anyone on deck.
- On Free Fishing Day (June 8). Any saltwater licensing requirements (except lakes) are waived.
Special note on Snapper Season: Alabama’s beaches are known for bountiful red snapper fishing.
The 2024 private angler red snapper and for-hire charter vessels fishing season will reopen at 12:01AM on Friday, May 24, for four-day weekends until the remaining federal quota is met. The 2024 quota has yet to be announced.
In addition, the entire week of Independence Day, July 1-5, will be open for red snapper fishing.
The bag limit is two per person.
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Popular fishing spots in Gulf Shores + Orange Beach
There is a huge variety of fish swimming along the Alabama Gulf Coast.
The best part? You can catch them by boat, on a deep-sea fishing charter, from the surf and more.
An avid angler near Gulf Shores gave us his top three spots:
- Fort Morgan
- Why it’s great: It’s a historic site so you can learn some cool facts between fish nibbles.
- What you’ll catch: black drum, redfish, speckled trout + whiting.
- Lake Shelby
- Why it’s great: It’s a freshwater lake located in Gulf State Park.
- What you’ll catch: bream, catfish, crappie + largemouth bass.
- *A freshwater fishing license is required.
- Surf fishing
- Why it’s great: It offers the best of 2 worlds—lounging on the beach + living your best angler life.
- What you’ll catch: bluefish, pompano, speckle trout + redfish.
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Best places to rent fishing equipment
What if you forgot to bring your fishing gear?
No worries! Local anglers have your back.
Here are some places where you can rent all of your fishing essentials:
- G2 Coastal
- This business will bring surf fishing gear right to you while on the beach.
- More info.
- Gulf State Park Pier
- Rentals for fishing rods, reels, bait + tackle are available.
- Rod rentals start at $10
- One-day licenses for fishing off the pier are $9.
- Details.
Learn more about the best bait for your fishing trip.
Fishing Charters in Gulf Shores + Orange Beach
If all of this sounds like too much planning for you—there’s still a way you can go fishing.
Charter Boat captains know where the best fishing holes are and you don’t need to handle pesky licensing requirements.
Most charters even clean + prepare what you’ve caught.
Over 100 charter boats are rolling out of waterways around Alabama’s Beaches daily.
Book your fishing charter early to secure your spot.
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Cook your Catch
After a whole day of fishing, you’re sure to have lots of tasty fish in your cooler. But will you have the energy to clean and prep them to eat?
The good news is several restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will do it for you. Plus, you can grab an awesome meal while you wait!
A few popular spots are:
- Cobalt in Orange Beach
- Tacky Jacks in Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores + Orange Beach
- Zeke’s Restaurant and Landing in Orange Beach
- View the full list.
Ready for the ultimate fishing excursion? Book your stay on Alabama’s beaches now.
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