King mackerel fishing out of Orange Beach is a fall pursuit over reefs and wrecks between 3 and 23 miles off the beach. The depths, distances and buoy below are worth reading before you run, along with the local method and the one charter that lists kings.
When kings are here
The Orange Beach fishing guide lists fall as the king season for this port. The trips and structure below are all aimed at fall kings.
- Season for this port: fall
- Run range: 3 to about 23 miles offshore
- Method: trolling
How far boats run
Trips from this port are nearshore and inshore-to-nearshore. Killin Time lists trip waters up to 9 miles. Named structure falls into three tiers:
- 3 miles: Poseidon’s Playground
- 8 to 15 miles: the Orange Beach artificial reef zone
- About 20 to 23 miles: The LuLu and the Argosy VI
The Gulf of Mexico king mackerel guide (see also the Gulf of Mexico fishing guide) covers how the fish move across the region.
Grounds and structure
The sites below run from nearest to farthest. Depths are in feet and distances are from Orange Beach unless noted.
| Site | Type | Depth | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whiskey Wreck | Gulf Shores dive site | – | 150 ft from Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe |
| Poseidon’s Playground | Reef | 38 ft | 3 miles offshore |
| Orange Beach artificial reef zone | Reef zone, 48 sites from 64 pyramid modules | – | 8 to 15 miles offshore |
| The LuLu (formerly M.V. Yokamu) | Freighter wreck | 100 ft | About 20 miles south |
| Argosy VI | Reef barge, former riverboat casino | 122 ft | About 23 miles offshore |
The LuLu and the Argosy VI sit beyond the 9-mile trip waters Killin Time lists. Chart Contours shows the depth change around the reef zone. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Whiskey Wreck
Whiskey Wreck is a Gulf Shores dive site 150 ft from Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe.
Poseidon’s Playground
At 38 ft and 3 miles offshore, Poseidon’s Playground is the closest named structure on this page.
Orange Beach artificial reef zone
The zone lies 8 to 15 miles offshore and covers 24 square miles. It holds 48 reef sites built from 64 pyramid modules.
The LuLu
The LuLu is a freighter wreck, formerly the M.V. Yokamu, in 100 ft of water about 20 miles south of Orange Beach.
Argosy VI
The Argosy VI is a former riverboat casino sunk as a reef barge, in 122 ft of water about 23 miles offshore.
How kings are fished here
The local method is trolling, and nearshore trolling is how kings are worked on trips from this port. The king mackerel species guide covers tackle and technique.
Check conditions before you run. NOAA NDBC station 42012 is named "Orange Beach." It sits at 30.061 N, 87.547 W, 44 NM SE of Mobile, in 27 m of water. Check these readings:
- Wind speed and direction
- Wave height
- Wave period
Read those numbers alongside the official forecast, since a buoy reports conditions at only one point.
Who fishes for them from this port
Killin Time Fishing Charters lists king mackerel. Its FishingBooker listing gives the boat as 24 ft in one place and 26 ft in another, and lists trip waters up to 9 miles.
That range covers Poseidon’s Playground and reaches toward the reef zone. The wrecks at 20 and 23 miles require your own boat.
FAQ: king mackerel out of Orange Beach
When are kings off Orange Beach?
Fall. The port guide lists fall as the season for king mackerel fishing out of Orange Beach. Trips run from 3 miles out to about 23 miles.
How far do boats run for kings?
Trips are nearshore and inshore-to-nearshore. Killin Time lists trip waters up to 9 miles. Named structure runs from 3 miles to about 23 miles offshore.
What is the closest structure?
Poseidon’s Playground, at 38 ft and 3 miles offshore. Next comes the Orange Beach artificial reef zone at 8 to 15 miles.
How deep is the Argosy VI?
122 ft, about 23 miles offshore. It is a former riverboat casino sunk as a reef barge.
Which buoy reads conditions off Orange Beach?
NDBC station 42012, at 30.061 N, 87.547 W, in 27 m of water. Read wind, wave height and period alongside the official forecast.
What else can I target nearby, and where are the rules?
The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover other species from the Gulf. The rules sit on the state and federal pages linked in the regulations section above.
