Gulf Shores' and Orange Beach's fishing charter industry are concerned the new proposed limits on the Red Snapper harvest will not only damage their business, but also be a drag on Gulf Coast tourism.
The Red Snapper is a favorite catch among sport fishermen. Many travel hundreds of miles on multiple occasions every year to go in search of Red Snapper. They're large. They're relatively easy to hook and give an exciting but not overly taxing fight. And they make a delicious meal.
It's official. The record swordfish caught off the Alabama Gulf Coast is officially a record. Del Sawyer's 448-pound swordfish surpasses the previous record swordfish by nearly 100 pounds. The previous record had been only 1 year old.
The trophy swordfish was caught 100 miles due south of Mobile and about 50 miles west of the edge of the DeSoto Canyon. The DeSoto Canyou is a geologic formation which forms the continental shelf for Mississippi, Alabama and West Florida.
A lot of people don't know that we have swordfish here in the gulf. It used to be that nobody went fishing for them. People don't realize it, but you could catch a swordfish every single night, year round.
We're getting closer to the magic day when weather and water combine to create a fishing frenzy.
October and the Orange Beach October Fishing Rodeo are just around the corner. From the way things look the elements are combining in just about the right proportions at just about the right time.
Fish haven't caught up with cool weather
Boy, I love this weather, and so do the fishermen. All of the boat ramp parking lots have been full of vehicles and trailers as the cool front sparked a fishing frenzy.
Now there's a fish story. Imagine hooking into a record swordfish and fighting it all the way in - nearly 4 hours of fighting. When you land him, you find out he's not only a record, he's a record by nearly 100 pounds. He's over 25% bigger than the previous record.
Don't let anyone tell you the fishing hasn't been good this year along the Alabama Gulf Coast.
Come to think of it, the fishing hasn't been good along the Alabama Gulf Coast this year. The fishing has been great on the Alabama Gulf Coast this year.
Swordfish sets Alabama record
The 12th Annual Orange Beach October Fishing Rodeo will take place October 1st though the 31st. The tournament this year will take on a new look which more closely matches the highly successful Orange Beach Red Snapper World Championship.
Anglers will compete in 5 offshore categories and 2 inshore categories. The top 3 places in gag grouper, amberjack, king mackerel, red snapper, triggerfish, redfish, and speckled trout will be awarded $2,000, $1,000 and $500 respectively. The total purse will amount to $24,500. Orange Beach October Fishing Rodeo organizers hope the increased payouts for top places will draw a larger crowd of anglers to the event.
Hughes, Laramy have best luck during opener
Two Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Championship berths on the line today in Redfish Nation Series Championship finaleORANGE BEACH -- The anglers in the Redfish Nation Series Championship this weekend at The Wharf realize luck has a lot to do with the outcome, which will send two teams to the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Championship in October.
It may not necessarily be the number of fish you catch -- if you catch two that is -- it's the size. The teams in the championship are allowed to weigh in two redfish between 16 and 26 inches (Alabama's slot limit). Of course, there are skinny 26-inchers and fat 16-inchers. The magic is in finding two fat fish near that magic 26 inches.