I will be in Orange Beach Alabama from December 26th thru the 29th, looking for recommendations on what to fish for, inshore or offshore? charter captain recommendations? any suggestions? I spoke to a charter place this morning, they said you can't keep red snapper or grouper that time of year, I'll have wife, daughter, mother and stepdad with me, so just looking to catch some fish, don't have to be trophy sized.

If I was you I would check another place. I have never heard of them closing Grouper season before. Maybe it's just an Alabama thing, but I would think that it would have to be decided by the Feds.If it is true, its a shame. I love Grouper. Now I have heard of them closing Red snapper season. They are delicious too. By the way, need any more company?

I will be in Orange Beach Alabama from December 26th thru the 29th

You're just posting this to rub it in, aren't you? :D

Enjoy your fishing there.

You're just posting this to rub it in, aren't you? :D

Enjoy your fishing there.

no, I've been down there several times, my mother lives in Fairhope Alabama which is NW of Gulf Shores, I've just never planned ahead enough to get my...well, stuff, together enough to make it happen, every trip we go down to the marinas and see the boats coming in with the fish, I'm thinking "I wish I would plan a charter while I'm down here", this time I'm bound and determined to make it happen, so far prices are a little more than I was planning on spending, but I will have some free hotels so maybe the money I save on hotels can go towards a charter. so, anyone ever "been there and done that?"

Sounds like fun. We chartered a boat on Lake Superior last summer and loved it. We'd love to take a charter out on the gulf sometime.

I'd be happy to yack at some local lawmnen down there and get some advice if that's ok w/ you.

I took an offshore charter out of Homosassa Springs Fla. a few years ago. Four of us went Grouper fishing in the Gulf. The charter was about $400 for all of us.
Not a good trip for a woman though, unless they don't mind peeing over the side of the boat. Just something to consider.
I would not recommend going out on one of the party boats that hold 30 or 40 people, unless you dont mind not catching any fish.
Anyways ask around, most of those charter captains all know each other. They know who catches the fish and who doesn't.

Ya might take a look at this guy. I did a bit of research for ya and looks like this guy has had some pretty good catches off his boat including a state record tuna.
Captain Mitchell Lattof
Orange Beach, AL
Phone: 334-432-6691
Email: lattofjr@bellsouth.net

Thanks Dave! I will definitely check him out!

That time of year you should be able to catch some fish just fishing off the beach as various species of fish come in to feed up when the water cools down. We were down in the Gulf in September a couple years back and I went to the bass pro in Destin, Fl. I talked to a guy who told me what to do. He hooked me up with a couple of gold spoons and some baits called "Gotchas". I just went to the beach with my lures, a bass rod, and license and had a blast. I caught cravelle jacks, ladyfish, redfish, and a real nice flounder. If your looking to just catch some fish then this is the cheap way. I'd recommend stopping by a local bait shop and ask them what kind of opportunities you might have. I think there should be plenty of inshore opps at that time of year.