A seat on a shared headboat costs $125 for 6 hours, plus a customary 20% for the crew. A private boat for up to 6 runs $800 for 4 hours and $1,500 to $1,650 for 6 hours. On every charter compared here the boat's license covers you; fishing on your own, visitors pay $35.65 for a 7-day Alabama license.
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Pick a tripOrange Beach, Alabama · Photo: A. E. Crane, U.S. Department of Transportation / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain · Credits
Trip length decides what you fish for: short trips troll close to shore, longer ones reach the reefs and deeper water.
Shared headboat
Fishing4–6 hoursGroupUp to 35 anglersPrice$100–$125 per personGood forFirst-timers, small budgets; usually 15–20 miles outPrivate, 4–5 hours
FishingNearshore trollingGroupUp to 6, or more on a bigger boatPriceFrom $800 per boatGood forFamilies with young kids: Spanish and king mackerel, redfishPrivate, 6–8 hours
FishingBottom fishing on reefsGroupUp to 6, or more on a bigger boatPrice$1,500–$3,000 per boatGood forSnapper, triggerfish, scamp and grouperPrivate, 10–12 hours
FishingDeeper waterGroupUp to 6, or more on a bigger boatPrice$2,800–$4,000 per boatGood forAmberjack, wahoo, mahi-mahi and deep-drop grouper18 hours and overnight
FishingBig gameGroupBy arrangementPriceOn requestGood forTuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi and marlinSources: Class Act Charters, Reel Surprise Charters, its FAQ, Wahoo Watersports, Distraction Charters.
Prices are for the whole boat, with only your group on board.
Wahoo Watersports, Dark Thirty (30 ft)
GuestsUp to 64 hours$8006 hours$1,5008 hours$1,800AlsoPlus 20% tipDistraction Charters
GuestsUp to 64 hours5 hours $1,4006 hours$1,6508 hours$2,30010 hours$3,000AlsoPlus a cash deckhand tip of $300–$600; $50–$100 off when you pay cashClass Act Charters, Daddy's Baby
GuestsUp to 64 hours$1,0006 hours$1,6008 hours$2,20010 hours$2,800Also12 hours $3,400Class Act Charters, Class Act (52 ft)
Guests10 in the price, up to 204 hours$1,3006 hours$2,2008 hours$3,00010 hours$3,400AlsoOver 10 guests add 10% eachReel Surprise Charters (65 ft), private
GuestsUp to 354 hours$1,2006 hours$2,0008 hours$2,50010 hours$3,000Also3 hours $1,000; 50% depositPrice and rating checked on November 3, 2026.
Blue Water Charters
Head out to Alabama's artificial reefs for red snapper, grouper, cobia and amberjack. Beginners and kids are welcome; the crew explains tackle, bait and every fish.
Licenses to bait are taken care of, and your catch comes back cleaned and filleted.
From $1600 on Viator
With six anglers, a private 6-hour trip costs about twice a headboat seat.
Shared headboat, 6 hours
Price$125 + 20% tipPer angler$150Class Act, Daddy's Baby, 6 hours, 6 anglers
Price$1,600Per anglerAbout $267, no tip listedWahoo, Dark Thirty, 6 hours, 6 anglers
Price$1,500 + 20% tipPer angler$300Distraction, 6 hours, 6 anglers
Price$1,650 + $350 tipPer anglerAbout $333Everything you need to fish is on board. What differs is the tip, fish cleaning and the cancellation terms.
You need one to fish from the beach, a pier or your own boat. At the Gulf State Park Pier you also pay the pier's own permit.
Source: Alabama saltwater licenses.
Red snapper has its own seasons, and your boat's permit decides which one applies.
Sources: Alabama Marine Resources: Snapper Check, size and creel limits.
Red snapper
Minimum size16 inchesDaily limit2 per personGreater amberjack
Minimum size34 inches (fork length)Daily limit1 per personGray triggerfish
Minimum size15 inches (fork length)Daily limit1 per personKing mackerel
Minimum size24 inches (fork length)Daily limit3 per personSpanish mackerel
Minimum sizeNo minimumDaily limit15 per personCobia
Minimum size36 inches (fork length)Daily limit1 per person, 2 per boatRed drum (redfish)
Minimum size16 to 26 inchesDaily limit3 per personSpeckled trout
Minimum size15 to 22 inchesDaily limit6 per personFlounder
Minimum size14 inchesDaily limit5 per person; closed all of NovemberFlorida pompano
Minimum size12 inchesDaily limit3 per personSheepshead
Minimum size12 inches (fork length)Daily limit8 per personA seat on a shared headboat is $125 for 6 hours, plus a customary 20% for the crew. A private boat for up to 6 costs $1,500 to $1,650 for 6 hours, plus the tip; split six ways that's about $267 to $333 each.
No. On all five boats compared here, the boat's license covers its guests. To fish from the beach or a pier on your own, visitors pay $35.65 for 7 days.
A 4- or 5-hour trip: the boats troll close to shore for mackerel and redfish. On the shared headboat, all ages are welcome, and children under 10 usually need an adult's help.
