When swordfish are around Orange Beach
Swordfish fishing out of Orange Beach is an offshore game. A local charter lists swordfish as a target, and three tournaments out of Orange Beach include them. This page covers the tournament months, the named structure in order of distance, who fishes here, and what to read on the buoy before the run. It helps with the decision to go; it doesn’t promise fish.
Three tournaments out of Orange Beach include swordfish: one usually in April and two usually in August. Those months mark the main stretches of offshore activity at this port.
| Event | Usual month |
|---|---|
| Mud Marlin Classic | April |
| Charter Boat Billfish Tournament | August |
| White Marlin Shootout | August |
Mud Marlin Classic (usually April)
The Mud Marlin Classic is listed as a swordfish tournament out of Orange Beach. It is usually held in April, the earliest event on the calendar.
Charter Boat Billfish Tournament (usually August)
The Charter Boat Billfish Tournament is listed for swordfish out of this port and is usually held in August. Our billfish fishing guides cover the marlin side of these events.
White Marlin Shootout (usually August)
The White Marlin Shootout is also listed for swordfish out of this port and is usually held in August, so two of the three events fall in the same month.
Where boats run for swordfish fishing out of Orange Beach
Boats run offshore for swordfish. Shady Lady lists swordfish as a target but gives no distance. All the named structure off Orange Beach sits within about 23 miles of the beach, well inshore of deep swordfish water, so treat it as a set of marks you pass on the way out.
For the deep-water picture beyond this port, see our guide to swordfish in the Gulf of Mexico (see also the Gulf of Mexico region guide).
| Name | Depth | Distance | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poseidon’s Playground | 38 ft | 3 miles offshore | Nearshore structure |
| Orange Beach artificial reef zone | – | 8 to 15 miles offshore | 24 sq mi, 48 reef sites from 64 pyramid modules |
| The LuLu | 100 ft | About 20 miles south | Freighter wreck (formerly M.V. Yokamu) |
| Argosy VI | 122 ft | About 23 miles offshore | Former riverboat casino, reef barge (2026) |
Chart layers are not for navigation. Cross-check every mark against official charts.
Poseidon’s Playground, 38 ft, 3 miles
Poseidon’s Playground is the first named mark off the beach, in 38 ft, 3 miles offshore. It serves as a reference point on the way out rather than a place to fish for swordfish.
Orange Beach artificial reef zone, 8 to 15 miles
The reef zone covers 24 square miles and holds 48 reef sites built from 64 pyramid modules, 8 to 15 miles offshore. The 15-mile outer edge is a useful fuel and time checkpoint on the run. Maps and coordinates are on the Outdoor Alabama offshore reef zone page.
The LuLu, 100 ft, about 20 miles south
The LuLu, formerly the M.V. Yokamu, is a freighter wreck in 100 ft, about 20 miles south of Orange Beach.
Argosy VI, 122 ft, about 23 miles
Argosy VI is a former riverboat casino sunk as a reef barge in 2026, in 122 ft, about 23 miles offshore. It is the deepest and farthest named mark in the table.
Whiskey Wreck, a beach landmark
Whiskey Wreck is a Gulf Shores dive site, 150 feet from Bahama Bob’s Beach Side Cafe. It is a beach landmark, not an offshore mark, so don’t plot it as one.
How swordfish are fished out of Orange Beach
Locally, swordfish are fished on offshore trips, as listed by Shady Lady Charters. The structure above gives you checkpoints on the way to that offshore water. For biology and technique, see our swordfish fishing guide.
Who fishes for swordfish out of this port
Two groups fish for swordfish here: a charter that lists it and the boats that enter the local tournaments.
Shady Lady Charters
Shady Lady is a 60-foot A1 Marine vessel, with Captain Brian per the listing. It lists swordfish among its offshore trips. See the Shady Lady charter listing.
The tournament fleet
Boats entering the Mud Marlin Classic, the Charter Boat Billfish Tournament and the White Marlin Shootout fish for swordfish out of this port.
Reading NDBC 42012 before the run
The nearest buoy is NOAA NDBC station 42012, "Orange Beach," at 30.061 N, 87.547 W, 44 NM SE of Mobile, in 27 m of water.
Read these four values:
- Wind speed and direction
- Wave height
- Dominant period
- Water temperature
Pair the buoy with the National Weather Service marine forecast. Because the buoy sits in 27 m of water, it reports conditions inside the run, not at the deep-water end. Compare the numbers against your boat and the forecast, and make the call from there.
FAQ about swordfish fishing out of Orange Beach
How far do boats run for swordfish out of Orange Beach?
Boats run offshore, and Shady Lady lists swordfish with no distance. The named marks run from 3 miles (Poseidon’s Playground) to about 23 miles (Argosy VI).
Which tournaments out of Orange Beach include swordfish?
The Mud Marlin Classic is usually held in April. The Charter Boat Billfish Tournament and the White Marlin Shootout are usually held in August.
Is there a swordfish charter in Orange Beach?
Shady Lady Charters lists swordfish on its offshore trips. It is a 60-foot A1 Marine vessel, with Captain Brian per the listing.
What is the Argosy VI reef?
Argosy VI is a former riverboat casino sunk as a reef barge in 2026. It sits in 122 ft, about 23 miles offshore of Orange Beach.
Which buoy should I check before running offshore from Orange Beach?
Check NOAA NDBC station 42012 "Orange Beach," at 30.061 N, 87.547 W, in 27 m of water. Read wind, wave height, dominant period and water temperature alongside the official forecast.
