Alabama Charter Boat Fishing - The Difference Between Deep Sea Charter Fishing Boats

Alabama offers some of the best deep seaboats. Most of the inshore boats carry four
fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. There are manypassengers comfortably. Most of the offshore
types and styles of fishing charter boats servingboats comfortably carry six passengers.
the Alabama gulf coast. Charters are located inThe trips offered by offshore six passenger
and depart from Orange Beach, Fort Morgan andboats are 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours in length.
Dauphin Island. Gulf Shores is a popular destination,Although not required, six passenger offshore
but there is no actual port to depart from.boats usually provide a deckhand to serve the
Fishermen staying in Gulf Shores normally searchcustomers. Inshore boats usually offer 4 and 6
for charters in nearby Orange Beach which is onlyhour trips and have no deckhand or mate.
8 miles east. The most abundant choices ofThe cost or price of a charter on an offshore six
charter boats are located in Orange Beach.passenger fishing trip varies from boat to boat
Orange Beach is the most logical place to startand usually increases a little every year. Alabama
searching because most people come to the areaOffshore boats are priced from $500 to $700 for
on vacation and fishing is one of the most populara 4 hour trip. Half day, 6 hour trips run from $900
activities. Fort Morgan also gets some traffic andto $1100. Full day trips range from $1600 to
is growing every year. Dauphin Island has long$2400. The deckhands are paid a percentage of
been a place where locals go but is notthe total cost of the charter in the form of a tip
convenient for those staying in Gulf Shores oror gratuity. Tips range from 15% to 20% of the
Orange Beach.price of the charter depending on the quality of
Let's first start by explaining the differenceservice the mate gives you. Most deckhands and
between saltwater fishing charters in Alabama.mates charge .30 cents per whole pound to clean
Depending on the size of your group and whatyour fish. There are some charters that include
species you want to fish for, there are boatsfish cleaning and tip in the charter price.
available to serve your needs.The second type of charter boat in Alabama is
Charter boats in Alabama usually offer private orone that is called an inspected vessel or a
walk-on deep sea fishing trips. Private charters aremulti-passenger. An inspected charter boat means
where only you and your group will be on thethat the U.S. Coast Guard performs annual safety
boat during the charter. Depending on the size ofinspections and these boats may carry more than
your group, you may have enough people to gosix passengers for hire. The number of
on a private charter. Private charters are takenpassengers allowed on board is determined by the
almost every day and are for people who don'tCertificate of Inspection issued by the USCG.
want to fish beside someone they don't know.These boats are about the same size as some of
The advantage of a private charter is you knowthe six passenger boats and larger.
everyone on the boat. Private charters are usuallyInspected fishing boats are broken down into two
more costly per person, because you are payingcategories. The first category is what we call a
to charter the whole boat for yourself and yourmulti-passenger. A multi-passenger boat is ideal for
group.groups of more than six passengers. They fish
Walk-on fishing charters are where small groupsthe same way six passenger boats do and catch
get together with other small groups and sharemostly the same fish species. Most
the cost of the charter. The advantage to amulti-passenger boats offer day trips such as the
walk-on, shared expense fishing charter is cost.4, 5, 6, 8, 10 or 12 hour trips. The minimum crew
Not everyone has the funds to pay for a privateon the boat on a day trip is one captain and one
charter. Walk-on fishing allows you to go for thedeckhand. The size of the group determines if
charter price at a per person rate.additional deckhands are required. Some
There are two types of charter boats. They aremulti-passenger charter boats offer overnight
six passenger and multi-passenger boats. Six packtrips of 18, 24 and 36 hours. Any trip over 12
boats, also called uninspected boats, carry ahours in length requires two captains and additional
maximum of six passengers for hire. That doesdeckhands on board to adhere to strict watch
not mean they are small or unsafe. It means thatkeeping rules established by the USCG.
they are simply not inspected by the CoastThe price of a multi-passenger trip varies from
Guard. These boats can be as small as a singleboat to boat. Multi-passenger boats usually have a
gas engine outboard all the way up to a 50 footflat rate for private charters up to 10 passengers
or larger, twin diesel boat.on each charter and then charge 10% of that
Six passenger boats usually give more one onprice for every person over the flat rate
one service because of the small number ofminimum. Some charter boats charger twice to
passengers on board. Six passenger fishing boatsthree times the price of a six passenger boat on
usually catch as good a fish as their inspectedsimilar trips. Depending on the size of the boat,
counterparts on similar length trips.whole day trips and overnight trips cost $5,000 to
Six passenger boats include most of the inshore$6,000 plus tip and fish cleaning.
fishing boats and a lot of the offshore fishing