Tuna Charters out of Alabama

There are several (well a few) well respected captains operating tuna trips out of there and or Orange Beach. The downside is it’s a SEVERAL hour trip to get from there to tuna fishing grounds. I live close to there and I plan to drive to Venice to get on a tuna boat. I’d rather spend my traveling time in a vehicle rather than a boat. Most DI or OB tuna trips are a multi day deal.

Capt. Kurt or Lady Ann out of Dauphin Island. Annie Girl, Summer Breeze II, Seaspray, Lady D or Intimidator out of Orange Beach. Kurt runs a big center console, the rest are 57-65’ Resmondos or Gilman (Lady Ann).

Captain Brock Horner is the best.

If it were me looking to book a trip, I would rather be drinking beer on a boat someone else was driving than cussing traffic on I-10.

I used to work as a second captain on 36+ hour tuna trips out of Alabama. , Some people would freak out when told a 36 hour tuna trip for 8 people was $7,000. After tip and fish cleaning it worked out to around $1,000 a person with a full boat. But when you figure it up it all comes out about the same or even cheaper than other options.

Two day trips out of Venice will run you over $3,000 per day, maybe even $4,000. Most charge $2,200-2,400 per day PLUS fuel, so add another $1,200 at least. Add tip for the deckhand and you are looking at closer to $4,000 day. Add in lodging and deckhand tip, and you are looking at over $1,500 per person. If you only fish one day it will be closer to $1,000 per person.

If you decide to do two day trips out of Orange Beach bottom fishing and pay for middle of the road rooms/condo during the summer you will be looking at over $1,000 per person.

If you go on a tuna trip with one of the big Freemans or Contenders out of Alabama, you will be looking at $3,500-$5,000 for 6 people for a 12 to 18 hour trip. Add in lodging and you are looking at close to $1,000 a person for a single day trip, or well over a $1,000 per person if you fish two days.

My point being is that the cost of a trip can be misleading. If you enjoy fishing and being on the water, everyone should do at least one 36 hour tuna trip. It will be a lot of riding, but you will do a lot of fishing between the dock and the rigs on most trips. Plus, there is a lot to be said for a comfortable air conditioned salon with a galley, head and satellite TV.

Not sure if he is still running charters but Bill Staff on the Seaspray out of Alabama used to fish on the Louisiana side 15 or so years ago during the spring and would come in after his 3 day trips absolutely loaded with tuna, wahoo, and amberjack. He ran a 65 or 70 Resmondo

Saw him one afternoon with the bbq pit going, flying kites live baiting tuna while we were on a center console. Like damn, I wish I was on that boat.

I say all that to say the guy definitely knows how to fish if he isn’t retired

I agree 100% with Captdalton. I've been fishing tuna out of Venice since the late 90's when there were only a half dozen or so charters. I quit fishing Venice about 5 years ago when the boats all went to $22-2400 a day plus fuel and tip. When you add it up I can do a 72 hr trip with 6-7 people for about the same price as 2 days back to back in Venice by the time you consider lodging and food. When you do the math it's not even close figuring up time with lines in the water on a 72 hr as opposed to 2 days 10-12 hrs out of Venice. If you're lucky you might get 16 hrs of fishing those days as opposed to 44-48 hrs of non stop reeling on a 72 hr big boat. Plus there is something magical about watching the sun go down 100 miles offshore.
Just my .02

I've got your buddy Vlad booked for a 12 hr swordfish trip August 1st. Never fished with him before but had a half hour conversation with him prior to booking. Seems like a good guy. Really looking foward to the trip. It's the wife's B'day trip so I'm hoping he can get a sword for her.