Due South Fishing is the owner operator pick in our Gulf Shores field, a 28 foot Triton run by Captain Randy off the Fort Morgan side of Gulf Shores. It fishes the Alabama reef zone for red snapper and the rest of the bottom species, with the fishing license included, a clear price ladder, and a perfect review record across more than 150 trips. For a small group that wants a named owner at the helm on a boat bigger than the standard six pack, it is one of the strongest calls in the port.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.7 Due South is a strong choice and ranks third in Gulf Shores, behind the two big offshore boats and a touch ahead of Off The Hook Charters. Its strengths are the captain and the record. A 5.0 rating across 159 reviews is both high and deep, and an owner operator who runs every trip himself is the kind of single hand that keeps a record steady, the same quality that ranks Nauti-Nurse Sportfishing and MSC Fishing Charters above it on bigger boats. What holds Due South back is range. At 28 feet it reaches the reefs well but tops out at a 6 hour offshore trip, so the deep drop and overnight runs belong to the bigger boats. For an even more affordable owner operator day, compare Bama Bandit Sportfishing. The full field is on the Gulf Shores ranking.
The boat
Due South II is a 28 foot Triton center console running twin 200 horsepower Suzuki engines, with a toilet on board and a top speed near 55 knots. It is a step up from the 24 foot six packs that make up much of the Gulf Shores fleet: more room to fish, a more comfortable ride in a chop, the speed to reach the reefs quickly, and a head on board, which matters on a longer trip. It fishes up to 5 anglers, a slightly smaller group than a true six pack, which keeps the deck from getting crowded. The honest limit is the one every mid size center console has: no cabin, and not the fuel or the size for the long overnight runs the 37 and 46 foot boats make.
The fishing and what you target
Out of the Fort Morgan side of Gulf Shores, Due South fishes the artificial reef zone that defines the local fishery. The bottom holds red snapper, gag grouper, mangrove snapper, and triggerfish, and the nearshore and the rigs give up king mackerel, ling, and the rest through the warmer months. The boat works one of three distances: a short nearshore trip, a 4 hour reef trip, and the 5 and 6 hour offshore trips that reach the better snapper ground. Red snapper is the headline. Alabama opened its 2026 season to private and state licensed anglers on May 22 with a 2 fish daily limit, and the federal for-hire season runs June 1 to October 26, 2026. Confirm the current dates with Outdoor Alabama and NOAA Fisheries before you book a snapper trip, since the state season can close once the quota is met.
Trips and prices
The pricing is whole boat, clearly posted, and includes the fishing license, which is a real plus. The 3 hour nearshore trip runs $450 for up to 2 anglers, the 4 hour reef trip $650 for up to 3, the 4 hour red snapper trip $850 for up to 2 in season, the 5 hour offshore trip $1,125 for up to 4, and the 6 hour offshore trip $1,350 for up to 4. Rods, reels, and lures are included and live bait is available on request. Including the license and the tackle in a clearly posted rate is exactly the transparency the method rewards, and the prices are fair for a 28 foot boat with a named owner running the trip. Cancellation is free with 7 days notice. For how this compares with a bigger boat or a per person seat, our cost guide and the party boat versus private charter guide lay it out.
The crew
Captain Randy owns the boat and runs every trip, with more than 30 years of fishing behind him, and the record reflects it: a 5.0 average across 159 reviews, with the recurring notes being a captain who finds fish, puts groups on their limit of red snapper, and runs a friendly, well organized trip. As with any perfect rating, read it as a very strong record rather than a literally flawless one, but the volume is deep enough to trust and the sentiment is current. An owner operator at the helm is the single biggest reason a small boat like this holds a record this clean.
Booking and what to know
Book direct or through FishingBooker, and book the summer snapper dates early. The boat departs the Fort Morgan Road side of Gulf Shores, at the west end of the peninsula, a short drive from the main beaches. Pick the trip to your group: the nearshore and 4 hour trips for a first timer or a family with young children, the 5 and 6 hour offshore trips for a real shot at the better reefs and a limit of snapper. The license and tackle are covered, so bring food, drinks, sunscreen, a hat, and a soft cooler with ice for your fillets, plus motion sickness medication if you are unsure of your stomach.
How we scored it
Due South scores 7.7: a clean, deep review record, an owner operator who runs every trip, the fishing license included, and clearly posted prices on a capable 28 foot boat, held below the bigger boats by a trip menu that stops at 6 hours offshore. Captain and crew, value and transparency, and track record are its strongest factors. See how we scored this boat for the full rubric, and the Gulf Shores ranking for the field.