Any day spent fishing is a good day! Plan ahead for 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 inshore, offshore, or nearshore. Fishing along Alabama's Beaches won't disappoint, as you get access to various 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.
Red Snapper Season - OPEN
Known as “Red Snapper capital of the World,” Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are the best place to find these remarkable fish. The federal Gulf of Mexico red snapper recreational for-hire season reopens on November 18 at 12:01 am and will close on January 1, 2025, at 12:01 am. The target during the regular summer season was not met. Therefore, anglers have a few more weeks to fish for red snapper. This reopening doesn’t affect the snapper season for private recreational anglers. The bag limit for snapper is two per person.
Amberjack Season - CLOSED
The recreational harvest of greater amberjack in federal and Alabama state waters will open on August 1 and is expected to close at the end of August. The bag limit for greater amberjack is one per person.
Triggerfish Season - OPEN
The recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in federal and Alabama state waters opens on March 1, 2024, and stays open through May 31, 2024. Harvest will close on June 1 and remain closed through July 31. Fall and winter seasons will open on August 1, 2024, until the annual target is met. 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.
