By Captain Troy Frady
Come relax and unwind on an Alabama Mackerel Trolling Trip. One of the most popular near shore private charter fishing trips in Gulf Shores is called a trolling trip. They are a lot of fun during different charter seasons. Anglers of all ages can fish for King and Spanish Mackerel. Mackerel trolling trips usually depart from Orange Beach and continue along the Alabama beaches in search of these magnificent fish.
Trolling fishing charters are usually four hours in length. They can be up to six hours or longer if you would like too. Charters fishing for mackerel, cruise along the Alabama shoreline toward Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan. Trolling fishing is good just off the beach and shoreline of Alabama. However, depending on the fish bite, you may have to work your way offshore or deeper water and away from land in order to catch them. You may also have to switch up and use light tackle to catch them.
Mackerel Trips are ideal for those who are on vacation, first timers or for those on a tight budget. The price for these four hour private charters on a six passenger boat ranges from $600 in the off season to $700 plus tip and fish cleaning during our Alabama summer vacation charter season. Some deckhands like Lem Allen, offers complimentary fish cleaning for our family anglers. That price is for the whole boat and you may bring up to six people total in your group. Small kids and adults love trolling fishing charters. Trolling fishing charters are an introduction to saltwater fishing and are not considered to be a serious fishing trip.
The mackerel trolling fishing trips usually start getting good in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores with the arrival of the Spanish Mackerel. Spanish show up during Spring Charter Season of each year and can be caught all summer long. Mackerel usually hang around into the fall or when the water temperature starts dropping. Larger, King Mackerel show up usually in May or when the surface water temperature gets close to 70 degrees and the bait that they feed on moves closer to shore. They also stay around until late fall.
Families on vacation in Gulf Shores love the mackerel trolling trips. Trolling trips are when the charter boat moves along the beaches and shoreline pulling lures and bait on top of and below the surface of the water behind the boat. Sometimes there are as many as four or five lines out behind the moving boat at one time. When a fish hits the bait, the pole will start jumping and line will start screaming out of the reel. The corporate anglers grab the rod and reel and take turns fighting the fish. The mackerel can fight hard and offer families with kids a chance to have a good time catching their first saltwater fish.
Mackerel taste good when grilled or fried. They taste better when eaten fresh. They usually do not taste great after being frozen for a while. They become mushy when frozen. There are restaurants in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores that will cook your fresh caught mackerel the same day you catch them. You can’t get any fresher than that.
If you want more action than what a trolling trip offers, I would suggest at least a six hour or longer artificial reef fishing charter. These trips are where everyone fishes at the same time and you have a chance to catch snapper and other reef fish like the Gag Grouper, Amberjack, Triggerfish or Spring Cobia and the Winter Redfish.
There are a lot of charter boats in Orange Beach that offer trolling fishing trips. One great thing about a trolling charter, is the ability to switch over and go sight fishing when you see a school of mackerel or redfish on the surface. In order to get the best charter for your family, you should do a little research and find one that has a reputation of giving great service all the time. I would find one that specialized in family fishing trips in Gulf Shores.
Good luck and tight lines.