When you plan a fishing trip on the Alabama Gulf Coast, you’re in for a reel-y big treat.
Whether you’re looking to set sail on a deep sea adventure or cast your line onshore, there’s truly plenty of fish in the sea… and the bay… and Lake Shelby, too! When it’s finally time to plan your fishing trip, ask Hannah Lusk where to go. She’s a local angler who knows exactly where the fish are biting.
Photo Credit: Chris Granger
Hannah has lived on the Alabama Gulf Coast for the last 12 years. She’s a social media manager for Coast360 and a contributing writer for our annual publications.
When Hannah isn’t keeping the Coast360 community up to date on all the latest happenings and activities in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach—or somewhere with a fishing rod in hand—you can probably find her hunting, enjoying a boat ride, savoring sips at a local brewery, or finding all the best deals in the boutiques in downtown Fairhope.
Hannah holds up her first spike.
At what age did you first get into fishing?
I would say age 4. We would go bass fishing—that's what I first started out doing. I went to Expedition Lanark Summer Day Camp to learn.
Do you prefer to go out on a boat for deep sea fishing, or stay onshore? For our boat fishing friends who may not have a watercraft available, where should they rent one?
On a boat! I would join a fishing charter for inshore or deep sea fishing. There’s several along the Alabama Gulf Coast, like Happy Harbor or Caribe Marina & Watersports.
What is your favorite fishing spot in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach?
For saltwater fishing, the Gulf State Park Pier, and you have to go to the jetties on Alabama Point when fishing inland. For offshore, you just have to find your lucky spots. If you’re into freshwater fishing, you can go to Lake Shelby in the Gulf State Park!
Photo Credit: Hannah Lusk
Which fish do you like to catch most, and where do you often find them?
Red snapper! We usually go 60–100 miles offshore to catch them.
If you’re planning a full day of fishing, where do you get your bait, and where do you fill up your boat?
We go to Sam’s Stop & Shop to get squid and cigar minnows. You can also go to J&M. Those are two of the most convenient because they are open during early hours. When we’re offshore, we fill up at Caribe Marina. Inshore, we fill up at Homeport Marina by Lulu’s.
What are your boat day essentials, and where do you get them?
For clothing, we go to J&M for the best deals on fishing attire. I get my sunscreen from Trading Co., and my favorite fishing hat came from the Flora-Bama.
What are your go-to fishing snacks, and where do you get those from?
My gas station order is the Fruit Loops cereal with blue Gatorade. For something more filling, we make ham and turkey sandwiches with an ice cold Michelob Ultra or a High Noon. When we’re on the boat, I like to go to Tacky Jacks for the shrimp wrap with firecracker sauce. You can also stop by Lulu’s for Blackened Fish Tacos or Pirates Cove for a classic cheeseburger and a bushwacker.
Yum! Do you have any hidden gems or lesser-known fishing holes you can share with us?
I would go fishing near the Grand Hotel in Point Clear—they float a lot of speckled trout. You can catch redfish and Atlantic tripletail too, if you’re fishing in Mobile Bay.
Do you prefer a solo trip or fishing with friends? Or both? Why?
A group of friends! For me, the max on a boat for fishing is six people, but two is the minimum.
Can you share one of your best fishing memories with us?
It was last summer, the week of the Fourth of July. We had six people on the boat, and I caught the red snapper limit for everyone on the boat!
Photo Credit: Hannah Lusk
Now, we would like to ask some rapid-fire questions:
Biggest fish you’ve ever caught?
The biggest one I’ve caught would be a snapper, and I think it was 18 inches long!
Smallest fish you’ve ever caught?
A baby bass (Yes, I threw it back—definitely not a keeper!)
One item you must take on your fishing trip?
A speaker! For music, we go from old country to new country with some R&B and pop on the playlist. We’re all over the place on the boat!
Your No. 1 rule of fishing?
Don’t come back to shore unless you’ve got your limit.
If you could only catch one fish for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mahi-mahi! They’re so pretty, and they taste good.
Photo Credit: Hannah Lusk
Hannah, thank you for all your wonderful fishing insight! We just have one final question: What tips would you give to incoming tourists looking to plan their ideal fishing trip on the Alabama Gulf Coast?
Hanging out on Robinson Island is relaxing and fun, but nothing beats being on the water with a fishing pole in your hand!