Best Times for Fishing at the Beach

Any day spent on the Gulf Coast is a good day - especially when you are fishing! 

If you are a fan of fishing while you are visiting us at the beach, plan your next visit around fishing seasons so you can make the most of your time here. Whether you prefer shore fishing, inshore fishing, or an overnight deep-sea fishing adventure, the fishing in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach won't disappoint! From King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, and Red Snapper to Grouper, Pompano, and Mahi Tuna, you are destined to have the best options for a fish dinner, no matter what your favorite is. Several local restaurants will even cook your catch for you, making it the best fishing experience on the coast!

Don't forget to make things easier on yourself by booking a fishing charter to ensure your catch is plentiful when you visit!

 A saltwater fishing license is required for all of the waters in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, including the Intracoastal Waterway and the back bays. You can purchase a license locally at Marine Resources in Gulf Shores. If you choose to fish on a charter boat, the charter company will provide everything you need, including the license.

So, what fish are in season during what months throughout the year?

January: Black Drum, Oysters, and Sheepshead
February: Black Drum, Oysters, and Grouper
March: Black Drum, Oysters, Sheepshead, Grouper, and Mullet
April: Grouper, Spanish Mackerel, and Hard-Shell Crab
May: Spanish Mackerel, Hard-Shell Crab, Soft-Shell Crab, Mullet, and Shark
June: King Mackerel, Hard-Shell Crab, Soft-Shell Crab, Shark, Red Snapper, Flounder, Atlantic Croaker, and Brown Shrimp
July: King Mackerel, Hard-Shell Crab, Soft-Shell Crab, Red Snapper, Flounder, Atlantic Croaker, and Brown Shrimp
August: King Mackerel, Hard-Shell Crab, Flounder, and Brown Shrimp
September: King Mackerel, Flounder, Mullet, Atlantic Croaker, Amberjack, and White Shrimp
October: Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Mullet, Atlantic Croaker, Amberjack, and White Shrimp
November: Oysters, Sheepshead, Mullet, and White Shrimp
December: Black Drum, Oysters, Sheepshead, and White Shrimp

2022 Red Snapper Season:
Known as the Red Snapper Capital of the World, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are some of the best places to find these fish. Alabama state waters and federal waters open to private and state-licensed charter vessel anglers for red snapper harvest on Friday, May 27, 2022. The season consists of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, beginning Friday, May 27, and continues until the private angler quota is projected to be met. The season dates 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 runs seven days a week from June 1, 2022, until 12:01am on 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. The 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.

All fishing information is provided by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. Find the time of year and fishing season you'd like to visit? Book your next stay with us at liquidlife.com!

Published by Shelby Berry
Wednesday, May 25, 2022