Average Cost of Fishing Charters in Gulf Shores, AL (Guide)
The waters around Gulf Shores are full of fish. There are many great fishing spots in the area. Anglers should consider charter costs carefully before booking.
The average cost of a Gulf Shores fishing charter trip that lasts 4 hours is $647, 6 hours is $1165, 8 hours is $1245, 10 hours is $1905, and 12 hours is $2501.
Most charters offer inshore fishing trips in Gulf Shores but offshore fishing can be excellent too. Charter costs depend on the demand and vary throughout the year.
In this guide, we’ll provide angling enthusiasts with the statistics on the charter costs in the region. Use these data to plan a budget for your fishing trip and select the best time of the year to fish Gulf Shores.
Gulf Shores Charter Costs: Trip Duration
4-hour trips
A 4-hour fishing trip would be the perfect choice for anglers, who are planning to fish in inshore waters. Based on 21 charters surveyed, you can find 4-hour trips in Gulf Shores for an average of $647, with the highest cost being $900 and the lowest being $450.
With a 4-hour fishing trip, anglers don’t need to spend a whole day on the water. So, it makes sense to book such a trip if you are going to fish near the shore. It takes anglers 30 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes to get to the necessary fishing spots.
As a result, approximately 30 minutes – 1 hour can be spent fishing. A 4-hour fishing trip gives anglers enough time that they can spend fishing, but a trip doesn’t take a whole day.
Such fishing trips are short. It’s a good choice if you go fishing to relax. Families often choose to book 4-hour fishing trips in the area. A 4-hour trip is worth booking during the hot summer months. Anglers can go fishing either in the morning or in the evening to avoid the summer heat.
6-hour trips
These fishing trips are longer and give anglers 2 additional hours. So, fishermen can spend more time on the water and target more species during 6-hour trips. Based on 13 charters surveyed, you can find 6-hour trips in Gulf Shores for an average of $1165, with the highest cost being $2640 and the lowest being $600.
With 6-hour trips, anglers spend more time on the water. Nevertheless, a fishing trip doesn’t take all day. With such trips, anglers spend about 1 – 2 hours traveling and can dedicate about 4 – 5 hours to fishing in the area.
Anglers, who book 6-hour trips, usually choose to fish in inshore waters. However, it’s also possible to go fishing in offshore waters. If you would like to fish with a family, then 4-hour trips are worth considering.
8-hour trips
Based on 15 charters surveyed, you can find 8-hour trips in Gulf Shores for an average of $1245, with the highest cost being $1900 and the lowest being $850.
It would be great to book longer trips if you want to fish in offshore waters. Anglers should consider booking 8-hour fishing trips for these purposes. Fishing trips that last 8 hours are also known as full-day trips. Such trips allow anglers to visit more spots and spend more time fishing.
With 8-hour trips, anglers spend approximately 1 – 2 hours on fishing and have about 6 – 7 hours on fishing. It all depends on where you are going to fish in the area. Since fishing trips of this type are longer, anglers have to prepare enough food and water. It’s also important to note that 8-hour fishing trips are more productive and increase anglers’ chance to land a trophy.
10-hour trips
Based on 19 charters surveyed, you can find 10-hour trips in Gulf Shores for an average of $1905, with the highest cost being $2200 and the lowest being $1600.
A 10-hour trip is suitable for professional anglers, who are ready to dedicate a whole day to fishing. It makes sense to book a 10-hour trip if you are interested in offshore fishing trips.
Such trips are long. With 10-hour trips, anglers spend about 2 hours traveling and about 8 hours on fishing. That’s the reason why fishermen have to prepare two meals as well as plenty of water for their fishing adventures in Gulf Shores.
Anglers, who book 10-hour fishing trips, can go much further and explore more spots in Gulf Shores. They can visit the most remote fishing spots in the region. But most importantly, 10-hour trips allow anglers to target more species.
However, it’s not always possible to go on an offshore fishing trip. The problem is that such long trips are often canceled due to bad weather. If this happens, anglers can request a refund to get their money back or a fishing trip is rescheduled.
12-hour trips
If you want to spend more time fishing, then consider booking a 12-hour fishing trip. Based on 9 charters surveyed, you can find 12-hour trips in Gulf Shores for an average of $2501, with the highest cost being $3200 and the lowest being $1900.
Fishing trips that last 12 hours are suitable for professional anglers, who want to get the most out of their fishing adventures in Gulf Shores. Such trips give anglers plenty of fishing time. It’s necessary to prepare a couple of meals and plenty of water for such a long fishing trip.
With 12-hour trips, angles can experience fishing in both inshore and offshore waters. However, anglers usually choose to fish offshore trips when booking a 12-hour trip. It’s important to know that weather can be unpredictable in Gulf Shores.
That’s why fishing trips are often canceled due to bad weather conditions. If the weather in the region gets worse, then a captain will decide to cancel a fishing trip.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Gulf Shores
These Gulf Shores-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Lost Bay Guide Service | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Sunrise Charters – Fort Morgan | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Gulf Coast Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Another Fish Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Freebird Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Hookmaster Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Trick ‘Em Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Team Vinson Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Stressed Out Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Capt. Lynn’s – Gulf Shores | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Addicted 2 Fishing | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Off The Hook Charters | Gulf Shores, AL |
| Alabama Girl Fishing – Gulf Shores | Gulf Shores, AL |
Gulf Shores Cost Breakdown: Seasonal Guide
Spring
Spring fishing in Gulf Shores provides anglers with a memorable experience. Fish can be found in the bays and passes in the early spring. It also makes sense to go fishing offshore. The reefs attract fish as well. The beginning of spring means the arrival of cobia in the region. Waters heat up and fish becomes more active. Anglers have a better chance to catch a big fish during the spring months. Spring is a great time to experience bottom fishing in the area.
The demand for fishing in Gulf Shores starts growing in April. A busy fishing season starts in the late spring.
It’s a great idea to book longer trips and go fishing in offshore waters during the spring months. The weather is cooler, so anglers can spend more time on the water. Spring fishing is very productive in the area. Anglers can target such species as amberjack, bonito, cobia, grouper, flounder, mahi-mahi, trout, redfish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and wahoo.
Summer
The weather is hot in Gulf Shores during the summer months. So, it would be better to book a short trip to go fishing in the early morning. By doing so, anglers can avoid fishing in hot weather. During summer fishing trips, anglers should apply sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
Summer fishing is very diverse in the region. It’s possible to fish in shallow waters, inshore waters, or offshore waters. It all depends on the species that you are targeting.
A lot of anglers prefer to fish in Gulf Shores in summer. That’s why the demand for fishing increases and charter costs are higher. Keep in mind that charters can be unavailable during the summer months. So, it would be better to book a trip in advance.
Fishing is excellent in Gulf Shores during the summer months. Such species as amberjack, bonito, grouper, king mackerel, mackerel, mahi-mahi, marlin, redfish, sailfish, snapper, spotted seatrout tarpon, tripletail, tuna, and wahoo are active in summer. Anglers have a better chance to land a trophy.
Fall
Humidity is high in Gulf Shores during the fall months. That’s the reason why anglers prefer to fish in the morning. Fall means the end of a peak fishing season in the region.
Fishing is still excellent in the early fall. However, the weather is changing and it’s getting cooler in Gulf Shores in October. So, some species get inactive in the region due to cold weather.
The demand for fishing is high in September. Later, fishing becomes less productive. So, the costs of offshore fishing charters decrease. A lot of charters are available and fishing is getting cheaper in the region.
Fall fishing is good in Gulf Shores. During fishing adventures, anglers can target such species as amberjack, grouper, white marlin, snapper, speckled trout, redfish, and others.
Winter
The early winter in Gulf Shores is best known for mild weather conditions. If the weather allows, anglers can go fishing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Some anglers choose to fish on the beaches. Also, it’s possible to go fishing in offshore waters. The weather is getting colder in the region in January. It would be better to fish in the bays in the late winter.
The demand for charters is low in winter. That’s why winter fishing in Gulf Shores is cheap. Many charters are available in the area. So, anglers find it easy to book a fishing trip in the region.
Many fish species are inactive in Gulf Shores during the winter months. However, winter fishing is possible. Anglers can catch black drum, redfish, snapper, and sheepshead. The chance to catch a big fish is high in the late winter.
Gulf Shores Charter Costs: Facts Impacting Price
Charter costs depend on many factors and can vary throughout the year. The demand for fishing is high and charter costs increase during a busy fishing season. Other factors that can affect charter costs include gas prices, bait prices, weekdays vs. weekends as well as the events that take place in the region.
A busy fishing season in Gulf Shores begins in the late spring and lasts until the early fall. That means that anglers must be prepared to pay higher charter costs if they choose to go fishing in the region between May and September.
It’s also important to note that charter costs increase when the top targeted species in Gulf Shores are in season. For example, it would be great to target red snapper in the waters of the Gulf Shores in the early summer. Those anglers, who want to fight sharks, prefer to visit the area in July. Cobia is the most active in the region during the spring months.
Charter costs include bait costs. Anglers need to purchase baits for their fishing trips. When the demand for fishing grows in the area, prices of baits go up as well.
Boats use gas as fuel. That’s why charter costs depend on factors such as the length of a trip, the type of a boat, and gas prices. The longer trip is – the higher charter costs anglers need to pay. The bigger boat is – the more fuel it consumes and that’s why fishing is getting more expensive. It’s also important to note that charter costs increase when gas prices go up.
Anglers can go fishing either on weekdays or on weekends. More anglers choose to go fishing in Gulf Shores on weekends. So, fishing on weekends is more expensive.
Cost of Shared Fishing Charter
When booking a shared fishing charter, anglers have to pay a flat rate for a trip. A flat rate is a cost for a certain number of anglers. So, the cost of a shared fishing charter is split among several anglers.
If more anglers join the group, it’s necessary to pay the extra costs for each additional person. Booking a shared fishing charter allows anglers to save money on a trip.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
A Gulf Shores fishing trip begins with preparation. When planning fishing adventures, anglers have to set a budget for a trip. Charter costs include the cost of booking a charter as well as the additional costs.
The additional costs increase if you book longer fishing trips. In this case, anglers also need to buy meals, beverages as well as sunscreen.
It’s also important to note that anglers have to purchase a fishing license in order to fish legally in Gulf Shores. The cost of a license depends on the length of a fishing trip. Anglers can get a license for a day, week, or year. The longer a trip is – the more anglers have to pay for a license.
Sometimes, anglers have to purchase baits for their Gulf Shores fishing trips. In this case, they have to pay the additional costs.
Some charters offer fish cleaning. So, anglers can take advantage of this service to have their fish cleaned on a boat. After that, the filets are frozen and anglers can bring them home.
Generally speaking, the additional costs are approximately 15 – 25% of a fishing trip’s budget. That’s why anglers have to budget more money for a Gulf Shores fishing trip to cover these extra costs.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Gulf Shores, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Orange Beach, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of fishing charter costs in Pensacola, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best charters in Gulf Shores, check out this guide.
