Gulf Shore Wreck Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Wrecks/Reefs Fishing
4hour wreck fishing charter with experienced crew guidanceSmall group capacity of 3 guests for personalized attentionTarget prime fishing spots along Gulf Shore coastline
Looking for some serious action on the water? Our Gulf Shore wreck fishing charter puts you right where the fish are stacked up thick. This 4-hour trip targets some of the most productive artificial reefs and sunken structures along the coast, where Spanish mackerel, kings, sheepshead, and sea trout gather to feed. With space for just three anglers, you'll get personalized attention from our crew and plenty of room to work your lines without bumping elbows. The Gulf Shore waters have been good to us for years, and we know exactly where to drop anchor for the best bite.
We'll start the morning by running out to our proven wreck sites, usually within a 30-minute boat ride from the dock. The Gulf Shore area is dotted with artificial reefs, old oil rigs, and deliberately sunk vessels that create perfect habitat for gamefish. Once we reach the first spot, we'll set up over the structure using our fish finder and GPS coordinates. The smaller group size means you won't be fighting for prime spots at the rail - everyone gets their chance at the hot corner. Our crew will have you rigged up with the right tackle for the conditions, whether we're dropping live bait to the bottom for sheepshead or pulling plugs through the water column for mackerel. The beauty of wreck fishing is the variety - you never know what's going to come up from those depths.
Wreck fishing requires a different approach than your typical inshore trip. We'll be working with medium to heavy spinning gear and conventional reels loaded with enough line to reach bottom in 60 to 100 feet of water. Live bait is king out here - shrimp, small pinfish, and cut bait all have their place depending on what we're targeting. For the mackerel runs, we'll switch to trolling spoons and diving plugs around the structure edges. Bottom fishing calls for heavier sinkers to get through the current and stay in contact with the wreck. Don't worry if you're not familiar with wreck techniques - our crew will walk you through everything from reading the electronics to working a fish up through the structure without getting cut off. The key is staying patient and letting the fish tell you what they want.
Spanish mackerel are the bread and butter of Gulf Shore wreck fishing, especially during their spring and fall migrations. These aggressive feeders hit fast and fight hard, making multiple screaming runs before coming to the boat. They typically run 2 to 5 pounds in our waters, with the occasional doormat pushing 7 pounds. Best action usually happens when we're trolling small spoons or casting jigs around the wreck edges during moving water.
King mackerel are the prize catch that keeps anglers coming back. These toothy predators patrol the wrecks looking for easy meals and can reach impressive sizes in Gulf Shore waters. A typical king runs 15 to 30 pounds, but we've seen fish over 50 pounds come up from the deeper structures. They're notorious for their blistering initial run and aerial displays. Live bait on a slow troll or anchored over structure produces the most consistent action.
Sheepshead are the technical challenge that tests your patience and skill. These black-and-white striped bottom dwellers hang tight to the wreck structure, picking at barnacles and small crabs. They're notorious bait thieves with crushing jaws, but once you figure out their bite, they're fairly predictable. Most run 2 to 8 pounds, with the occasional bull pushing double digits. Fresh shrimp on a light jig head fished tight to the structure is the winning combination.
Sea trout add another dimension to the wreck fishing experience, especially around the sandy areas adjacent to the hard bottom. These spotted beauties are excellent table fare and willing biters when conditions align. They typically range from 14 to 20 inches, with larger specimens showing up during cooler months. Soft plastics worked along the wreck edges or live shrimp under a popping cork both produce steady action.
Gulf Shore wreck fishing offers some of the most consistent action you'll find along this stretch of coast. The combination of productive structure, diverse species, and our crew's local knowledge creates the perfect recipe for a memorable day on the water. With only three spots available per trip, you'll get the personalized attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great day. The wrecks are loaded, the fish are biting, and we're ready to put you on them. Book your Gulf Shore wreck fishing charter with Freebird Charters today and experience why these artificial reefs keep producing year after year.
This 2009 Blazer Bay center console is your ticket to Gulf Shore's best wreck fishing action. Powered by a reliable 250HP Suzuki outboard, she'll cruise at 35 knots to get you to those prime offshore wrecks where the big fish hang out. The spacious center console design gives all three anglers plenty of room to work their lines without getting tangled up. You'll appreciate the onboard fish finder that pinpoints exactly where the grouper and snapper are stacked up around those sunken structures. The GPS keeps you locked onto productive spots, while the icebox ensures your catch stays fresh and your drinks stay cold during those hot Gulf afternoons. Built tough for serious fishing, this boat handles the Gulf waters with ease, letting you focus on what matters most - putting fish in the cooler. Perfect setup for targeting those wreck-dwelling species that call Gulf Shore's underwater structure home.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are Gulf Shore staples, averaging 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds with those distinctive black spots covering their silvery sides. They love grass flats, oyster bars, and shallow waters, especially during dawn and dusk feeding periods. Spring and fall offer the most consistent action when they're actively feeding in 2-6 feet of water. What anglers love is their willingness to hit topwater plugs and soft plastics, plus they're excellent table fare with delicate, white meat. We catch them on everything from live shrimp under popping corks to paddle tail jigs worked slowly over grass beds. Local secret: fish the deeper holes and channel edges during winter months when they school up - you might find a mother lode in 8-12 feet of water.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Gulf structures - those black and white stripes make them unmistakable. They typically run 2-8 pounds and hang tight around docks, bridges, and any barnacle-covered structure year-round, with peak action in cooler months. What makes them challenging and fun is they're notorious bait thieves with human-like teeth that can crush barnacles and crabs. The payoff is some of the sweetest, flakiest white meat you'll find. We target them with fiddler crabs, shrimp, and oysters on small hooks right against the pilings. My go-to trick: scrape some barnacles off the structure first to get them feeding, then drop your bait right in the chum line. Set the hook hard when you feel that first tap.
Scomberomorus CavallaKing mackerel are the speed demons of the Gulf, averaging 15-30 pounds but capable of hitting 50+ pounds. We find them in 40-150 feet of water around structure, drop-offs, and temperature breaks from late spring through early fall. They're voracious predators that'll absolutely smoke your drag when hooked - it's not uncommon to see 200+ yard runs. The meat is rich and flaky, perfect for grilling or smoking, though watch the mercury if you're pregnant. We target them by slow-trolling live bait or pulling spoons behind planers. Pro tip: always use a wire leader and rig two hooks on live bait - one through the nose, one free-swinging near the tail. Kings love to hit baitfish from behind.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, scrappy fighters that typically run 1-3 pounds and 14-18 inches, though bigger ones push 5+ pounds. You'll find them in schools near the surface around structures, reefs, and open water from spring through fall when water temps hit the mid-70s. They love grass flats and will chase baitfish right up to the beach on warm days. What makes them popular is their aggressive strikes on small spoons and jigs, plus they're some of the best eating fish in the Gulf - mild, white meat that grills perfectly. Here's a local trick: when you see diving birds, get there fast and cast small silver spoons into the frenzy. These fish hit hard and take off on blistering runs that'll test your drag.
Gulf Shores, AL