Cool Spring Changes

March 16, 2010 in Action Charter Service, Alabama, Fishing Report, Gulf of Mexico

Once again it’s time to dust off the tackle box, clean up our rod and reels, check the line on the spools and take inventory of hooks, swivels, leader material and sinkers. Before you know it summer will be here with all of the wonder of this year’s season. We are getting ready for our 2010 fishing season and planning on all the stuff we have to get done for our annual coast guard inspections and making sure that every thing else is ready to go.

Just in the middle of working on this we got a phone call to run a trip with 45 people from the Navy ROTC for a 4 hour trip. Needless to say, we were glad to go out for our first trip of the season even though it was a bit cool. The temperature was in the mid 50’s in the morning but warmed right up to a 67 or 68 during the day. With the wind blowing out of the northwest around 15 to 20 knots the clear sky’s and warm sunshine was a welcome sight. We left the dock around 11:30 and returned around 3:45, your average 4 hour trip. We traveled for around 45 minutes before we came to our first fishing spot. We used our basic two hook rig with a #4 circle hook. These are small wire hooks with a real sharp point that virtually do all of the work for you. They will catch anything from a pin fish, Mingo snapper, White Snapper, Triggerfish to a Red fish or a Bonito. Some of the inshore guides use them for Sheephead, Flounder, Pompano and Trout.

On our trip we caught White Snapper, Trigger fish, Mingo (Vermillion) Snapper, Red Fish, Red Snapper (we had to throw them back, closed season till June 1). We had a great trip and the people really had a great time. Lots of these guys had never been deep sea fishing ever before. That’s what the beauty of the 4 hour trip is, a chance for those who have never done this to get out and experience what it’s like to be out in the Gulf of Mexico and let the deck hands teach them how to use the equipment and catch fish. It’s all about enjoying your time fishing together with friends and making good memories you can tell your kids about for years to come.

Red Snapper Season Cut – Charter Discounts Now!

February 4, 2010 in Action Charter Service, Fishing Report

Just released on WKRG, Channel 5 News: Red Snapper Season Cut? – Discounts Available Now!

By Pat Peterson

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama – Orange Beach charter boat captain George Pfieffer says if the federal government shortens this year’s red snapper season, he could be forced to find another way to make a living.

CALL NOW FOR AN IMMEDIATE DISCOUNT – 888.558.3889

“In between both of my boats, I’ll probably lose somewhere between 150 to 250 thousand dollars,” says Pfieffer. “We’ve lost a lot of business due to the economy and with the red snapper season being shortened, that’s compounded the problem.”

Federal regulators want to cut the red snapper season from 74 days to between 51 and 60 days. The feds say the cut would help stabilize the red snapper population many believe was over-fished last year. But recreational boat captains say that information is inaccurate.

“Snapper is not an issue,” says Tom Steber, owner of Zeke’s Landing Marina in Orange Beach. “There’s probably 25 times more snapper out there than there’s ever been.”

“It doesn’t just affect the fishermen,” says Pfieffer. “It affects the whole community. Hotels, motels, restaurants, everybody. Billions of dollars up and down the coast are lost due to economic impact and the cutback of snapper.”

Federal officials could make a decision on whether or not to shorten the season later this week.

Tales of Tails – Fishing in Orange Beach from Cpt. George

March 22, 2009 in Action Charter Service, Alabama, Fishing Report, Fort Morgan, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Perdido Pass, Salt Water Series Tournament, World Championship Red Snapper Tournament

The Catch from Fish Orange Beach - Call 888.558.3889 to Book Today!

We have great anticipation of the 2009 season and know how hard everyone works all year to finally get a few days off to go fishing. We went fishing this past week with a group of guys who did just that and boy did it pay off. We had a great day of fishing as you can see from the pictures attached. Although Grouper season is closed currently, one of the anglers caught a huge nice Grouper which we released after taking pictures. We also caught Snappers, Triggers, Amber jacks, Mingos and just had an overall great catch.

Action Charter Service has also just purchased a new 65’ Bonner named The Emerald Spirit. It is powered by Twin 600 h.p. Lugger engines which allow it to cruse about 19 knots. We have two 2.5 ton air conditioners/heaters, a 900 lb. a day ice machine, a 3,000 pound fish box and live well. There is a refrigerator, microwave and large Green Egg.

The Emerald Spirit is U.S. Coast Guard Inspected for Safety and Certified for 49 passengers out to 100 miles with overnight accommodations for 12 people from Apalachicola Bay, Florida to Brownsville, Texas.

We have purchased the boat and completed a full and extensive overhaul to the entire Vessel. From all new steering and electronics to running gear and deck stringers, wiring, paint job inside and out to plush new cushions in the v-berths. We have literally re-built the entire boat with the latest and greatest.

The Emerald Spirit has all new tackle. 70 matching rods and 4/O Penn reels. We have a 100 gallon live well to keep all the live bait you can use fresh and vigorous.

Josh's 50lb Grouper - Call 888.558.3889 to book today!

With over 160 feet of rail space over the walk around deck, there is plenty of room to fish anywhere you please.

Two bathrooms have hot water showers and the cabin has plenty of air conditioning or heat to keep you comfortable.

Visit our websites at www.FishOrangeBeach.Net or www.FishEmeraldSpirit.Net to book a trip and get your day of fishing on the Gulf.

Good Weather and Good Fishing

May 8, 2008 in Action Charter Service, Fishing Report, World Championship Red Snapper Tournament

Once again we enter the fishing season with some good weather and the fishing has been great. We’ve reported to you on the start of the season and how it looked like it might be a sign of better things to come and so far it hasn’t let us down. The offshore action is picking up trolling out around the rigs like the Marlin, Beer Can, Patronius, and even the Ram Powell. Some 60lb.

Yellow Fin Tuna and small Black fin Tuna have been caught on each but are still moving around from rig to rig depending on the current and wind direction. Most are being caught trolling with small Ballyhoo and soft head lures wile there have been a few caught with live bait on a kite or chunk fishing. The other day one of my buddies told me that as he was trolling by one of the rigs early in the morning the Rainbow Runners suddenly showered out of the water toward the rig.

This could only mean one thing; the man in “Blue” was after them. He knew there was a Blue Marlin chasing the school for a morning snack. “They’re here”.

As for the bottom fishing, it hasn’t slowed down at all. If any thing it’s gotten even better due to the water temperature rising and the bait fish showing up more. The Red Snapper are bigger and more plentiful than ever before for as far back as I can remember and I’ve been here for 48 years in this Gulf Coast area. Thanks to the efforts of the National Marine Fisheries we now have so many fish that if they don’t let us have back our fish limits and Total Allowable Catch you can look forward to seeing swimmers being eaten alive like Piranha from the Red Snappers. Yet still they say that the Fish Stock hasn’t rebuilt itself from “Over Fishing”.

The Wahoo and King Mackerel are biting good trolling. We use a #2 Plainer with a 3-4 inch Drone spoon either plain silver, Hot Pink or Chartreuse. It depends on the clarity of the water that day and how much sun light there is. When we troll for Wahoo we use a pair of 9/0 Penn reels with wire line on a Bent Butt Deep Drop rod. Then we put a 16oz. to 48oz. trolling weight in front of a lure that is around 24oz.

Sometimes we change that up a little and use a soft head in front and over the top of a skirt with an 8oz. lead in the head for a different effect at a slower speed. Generally we troll between 13 and 18 knots. This is why we use all of the heavy line and weights, to get the lure down far enough for the fish to see it. Let me tell ya, “It Works!” We troll out to our fishing holes in the morning and then between spots and back home again every day.

The Scamp and Grouper bite is still going strong as is the Magnum B-Liners (Vermillion) or (Mingo). Some of the Scamp as big as 18lbs.and the Mingo’s as big as 5.5lbs. The Scamp are biting small Pinfish and Squid and the Mingo’s on Squid. The Trigger Fish are showing up as well in good numbers.

All in all you can’t ask for it to get any better that that. We are all looking forward to the Federal opening of Snapper Season on June 1st. That is when the “World Championship Red Snapper Tournament” starts. There will be a First Place Prize of $25,000.00 and it pays out thru 10 places, Tenth place being $1,000.00. I can’t wait. We’ve always placed in the top ten coming close to the big money, but not yet. Maybe next time. Call us and let us take you out for a chance to win.

Alabama Gulf Coast Fishing Season Heats Up

March 12, 2008 in Action Charter Service, Alabama, Fishing Report, Fort Morgan, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Shores, Perdido Pass

Fishing season is warming up and we were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather when we went out this past Wednesday, March 12. In mid-March, most of the fish are still offshore a few miles in warmer water. So our first stop was 22 miles south of Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, AL. (The water temperature at the pass is still about 61°.)

The fish seemed to be anticipating our arrival. As soon as we stopped on the first spot it was action-packed. No sooner than we dropped our lines they started hitting; vermilion snapper (or mingos), triggerfish, white snapper, banded rudder fish. Then some small Amberjack started hitting. The fish were biting as fast as we could get fresh bait in the water.

After an hour-and-a-half on this spot, we decided to try our luck on some deeper water species. We headed south another 5 or 6 miles to around 180 feet of water. Sure enough, soon as we dropped our lines the fish were ready. We picked up some really big white snapper, and a few scamp. Just as we were about to come back home, we lucked into a couple of 33 inch Amberjack (a nice “Cart Topper”).

As we were headed to the dock at the end of the day, the fishing team was busy planning their next trip.