John's Journal...

Fishing and Fun Heating-Up on Alabama’s Gulf Coast This Spring and Summer

Day 4: Hunting Monster Fish at Alabama’s Gulf Coast with Captain Johnny Greene

Click for Larger ViewCaptain Johnny Greene of the “Intimidator,” based at Orange Beach Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama, often takes his customers on 2-day, overnight trips, where he shows them the many varieties of hard-fighting, great-eating offshore fish available in the Gulf of Mexico. Greene is a monster-fish hunter. His 20-plus passenger boat can carry a large party of fishermen over 100-miles offshore on a 24- or a 48-hour trip. The boat has sleeping accommodations, a galley and shower facilities. You can bring your own food or have the food catered. Although Greene does take 4-, 6-, 8- and 12-hour trips, his specialty is trips of 12 hours or more. Click for Larger ViewGreene hunts big cobia, monster-sized wahoo, giant yellowfin tuna, swordfish, marlin, big king mackerel and dolphin. Greene also offers deep-dropping, a technique for catching deep-water, cold-water fish in depths of 300 feet or more, such as tilefish, sea bass and a wide variety of other species of fish that most anglers never have seen previously. These cold-water fish are delicious to eat. Since the big offshore drilling platforms have been reopened, and the fish caught around them in that deep water have been tested and certified as good to eat, this year should be a banner year for the deep-water fisherman. “On a typical trip, we’ll run out a short distance and start catching triggerfish, vermilion snapper, lane snapper and king mackerel,” Greene reports. “Then we’ll start trolling for wahoo, big king mackerel, yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna, marlin, sailfish and dolphin (mahi-mahi). When we reach the deep rigs, we’ll start fishing for yellowfin tuna, big grouper, giant king mackerel and blackfin tuna. At night, we’ll generally continue to fish for tuna or move-out to deep water, rig-up lights and fish for swordfish. Or, we’ll go to the Continental Shelf and deep-drop for snowy grouper, tilefish and sea bass. Click for Larger ViewThe next morning, depending on what’s biting, we’ll start fishing our way back toward Orange Beach Marina and usually stop and catch grouper, amberjack and big red snapper. Right now, with red snapper season closed, we only can catch and release the red snapper. But those big red snapper and grouper will make your rod look like a limp noodle, and just being able to bring them in and take their pictures is a great experience.”

Click for Larger ViewThe food, the fellowship and the fishing makes one of these monster-hunting fishing trips a trip of a lifetime. Many companies, corporations, large families, church groups and organizations really enjoy these 12-, 24- or 48-hour trips, because they have more time to spend together in a relaxed atmosphere catching fish, shooting pictures and videos and eating great food.

To learn more about Captain Johnny Greene, the “Intimidator” and deep-dropping, visit www.fishorangebeach.com, call (251) 747-2872, or email IntimidatorCharters@yahoo.com. For more information on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, go to www.gulfshhores.com or www.orangebeach.com, call 1-800-745-SAND (7263), or write info@gulfshores.com

Tomorrow: Bet on Catching and Eating Fish at Alabama’s Gulf Coast with Captains Gary and Erik Davis


Check back each day this week for more about "Fishing and Fun Heating-Up on Alabama’s Gulf Coast This Spring and Summer "

Day 1: April’s Pier Rat Picnic at Alabama’s Gulf State Park Pier
Day 2: Alabama’s Gulf Coast Offers Party-Boat Fishing at Its Best with Captain Randy Boggs
Day 3: Bet on a Six Pack Charter Boat at Alabama’s Gulf Coast with Captain Troy Frady
Day 4: Hunting Monster Fish at Alabama’s Gulf Coast with Captain Johnny Greene
Day 5: Bet on Catching and Eating Fish at Alabama’s Gulf Coast with Captains Gary and Erik Davis

 

Entry 603, Day 4