Buccaneers were privateers who attacked Spanish shipping in the Caribbean sea during the late 17th Century. The term buccaneer is now generally used as a synonym for pirate. Originally, buccaneer is
derived from the French word "boucanier", which loosely translates as "someone who smokes meat" and which in turn comes from the native American "bukan". The Caribbean Arawak used this word,
"bukan" or "buccan" to describe a sort of grill which they smoked meat on, preferably Manatee. It was a wooden framed device was also used by French hunters to smoke meat like feral (wild) cattle and
pigs- they were called "boucanier".
In the first quarter of the 1600s, some Frenchmen who were driven away from the island of Hispaniola fled to nearby Tortuga. The Spaniards tried to drive them out of Tortuga, but the buccaneers were
joined by many other French, Dutch and English and turned to piracy against Spanish shipping, generally using small craft to attack galleons (sailing ships) in the Caribbean. They would often attack at
night, and climb aboard before the alarm could be raised. Buccaneers were expert marksmen and would quickly kill the helmsman and any officers aboard. Buccaneers' reputation as cruel pirates grew
until most victims would surrender, hoping they would not be killed. Finally they became so strong that they even sailed to the mainland of Spanish America and attacked cities.
English settlers occupying Jamaica began to spread the name buccaneers and associated it with the meaning of pirates. Viewed from London, buccaneering was a low-budget way to wage war on
England's rival, Spain. So, the English crown empowered buccaneers with letters of marque, legalizing their operations in return for a share of their profits. The buccaneers were invited by Jamaica's
Governor Thomas Modyford to base ships at Port Royal, located on Palisadoes on the south of Jamaca. The buccaneers robbed Spanish shipping and colonies, and returned to Port Royal with their
plunder, making the city the most prosperous in the Caribbean. There were even English navy officers sent to lead the buccaneers, such as Christopher Myngs. Their activities went on irrespective of
whether England happened to be at war with Spain or France.
Although we don't conduct privateering operations, we do like taking small craft and harassing scaley marine life and local waterways (so to speak). Puns and joking aside, we are strong supporters of
conservation and maritime courtesy. We hope you enjoy our website and may have learned something in the process. Mike
derived from the French word "boucanier", which loosely translates as "someone who smokes meat" and which in turn comes from the native American "bukan". The Caribbean Arawak used this word,
"bukan" or "buccan" to describe a sort of grill which they smoked meat on, preferably Manatee. It was a wooden framed device was also used by French hunters to smoke meat like feral (wild) cattle and
pigs- they were called "boucanier".
In the first quarter of the 1600s, some Frenchmen who were driven away from the island of Hispaniola fled to nearby Tortuga. The Spaniards tried to drive them out of Tortuga, but the buccaneers were
joined by many other French, Dutch and English and turned to piracy against Spanish shipping, generally using small craft to attack galleons (sailing ships) in the Caribbean. They would often attack at
night, and climb aboard before the alarm could be raised. Buccaneers were expert marksmen and would quickly kill the helmsman and any officers aboard. Buccaneers' reputation as cruel pirates grew
until most victims would surrender, hoping they would not be killed. Finally they became so strong that they even sailed to the mainland of Spanish America and attacked cities.
English settlers occupying Jamaica began to spread the name buccaneers and associated it with the meaning of pirates. Viewed from London, buccaneering was a low-budget way to wage war on
England's rival, Spain. So, the English crown empowered buccaneers with letters of marque, legalizing their operations in return for a share of their profits. The buccaneers were invited by Jamaica's
Governor Thomas Modyford to base ships at Port Royal, located on Palisadoes on the south of Jamaca. The buccaneers robbed Spanish shipping and colonies, and returned to Port Royal with their
plunder, making the city the most prosperous in the Caribbean. There were even English navy officers sent to lead the buccaneers, such as Christopher Myngs. Their activities went on irrespective of
whether England happened to be at war with Spain or France.
Although we don't conduct privateering operations, we do like taking small craft and harassing scaley marine life and local waterways (so to speak). Puns and joking aside, we are strong supporters of
conservation and maritime courtesy. We hope you enjoy our website and may have learned something in the process. Mike
| Questions, comments, or just want to send us an email?? mike@badonskybuccaneers.com, or teresa@badonskybuccaneers.com. |
You can also view this map in a new "tab" in full screen
for easier viewing and exploring the area- by clicking on
the "box" over the upper right hand corner of the map.
This map not only includes boat launches, but also good
kayak / canoe parks, beach access points, some bait
and tackle shops, and a few stores which sell marine
grade fuels.
This is an interactive map, and a work in progress. Please contact
me at mike@badonskybuccaneers.com with any comments, or
concerning any discrepancies.
for easier viewing and exploring the area- by clicking on
the "box" over the upper right hand corner of the map.
This map not only includes boat launches, but also good
kayak / canoe parks, beach access points, some bait
and tackle shops, and a few stores which sell marine
grade fuels.
This is an interactive map, and a work in progress. Please contact
me at mike@badonskybuccaneers.com with any comments, or
concerning any discrepancies.
View Badonsky Buccaneers in a larger map
WATCH US ON
| Please note! Some of our features may not be viewable on portable platforms (IPad, notebooks, etc) |
| NOTICE! This is a reminder about the change to the "No Wake" zones in the Orange Beach, AL, area. In June of 2015, the area in Cotton Bayou near Zekes Marina was changed to No Wake / Idle Speed, then almost a year later, the last stretch of waterway from Jubilee Landing to the Florida state line on Old River has been included as a No Wake / Idle Speed Zone. Now, as of this spring, 2019, Terry Cove will be included in the NO WAKE zoned area. |
| Planning a trip to our area?? Need to plan your accommodations? Then look no further. Complete your bookings right here! |
| Helpful Quick Links! |
| Covering the Alabama Gulf Coast from Ft Morgan to Perdido Key! Click on the OBAVR logo above, or go to www.obavr.com |
Welcome to the Coastal Alabama Anglers Website. Providing all kinds of useful information- it is a work in progress, so
keep coming back to see what's been added. We also share some of our video adventures here.
keep coming back to see what's been added. We also share some of our video adventures here.
 |  |
| Bait and Tackle Shop Locations There are 3 places on the island that regularly sell live bait. But be sure to call ahead, because availability might vary. These bait and tackle shops are also on our interactive map (above). Here is a listing of local tackle shops in Baldwin County. |
- J&M Tackle, 25150 Canal Rd,
Orange Beach, AL, (251)
981-5460, typically open 5AM-
5PM. Large variety of live and
frozen baits
- Lost Bay Tackle, 25405
Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange
Beach, AL, (251) 981-3811
Winter Hrs- Open 6:00AM-
6:00PM 7 days a week.
- Hooked Up Bait & Tackle, 100
E 20th Street, Gulf Shores, AL
(251) 955-5550
Open 6:00AM- 7:00PM 7 days a
week
- Sam's Stop and Shop, 27122
Canal Rd,
Orange Beach, AL (251) 981-4245
5:00AM- 9:00PM - NO LIVE BAIT,
but quite an assortment of frozen
baits and lots of tackle
Orange Beach, AL, (251)
981-5460, typically open 5AM-
5PM. Large variety of live and
frozen baits
- Lost Bay Tackle, 25405
Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange
Beach, AL, (251) 981-3811
Winter Hrs- Open 6:00AM-
6:00PM 7 days a week.
- Hooked Up Bait & Tackle, 100
E 20th Street, Gulf Shores, AL
(251) 955-5550
Open 6:00AM- 7:00PM 7 days a
week
- Sam's Stop and Shop, 27122
Canal Rd,
Orange Beach, AL (251) 981-4245
5:00AM- 9:00PM - NO LIVE BAIT,
but quite an assortment of frozen
baits and lots of tackle
| Alabama Releases Information on NEW Reef Deployments in 2019 ! |
| You can also get it on the Outdoor Alabama Website at: www.outdooralabama.com |
| The New ICW Boat Launch Facility is in the Planning Stages |
| The Newest Addition to Alabama's Artificial Reefs!! |
The Fairfield New Venture has finally been put down! After several delays, including
transport problems, equipment, strong currents and gusty winds... the New Venture
was sunk Tuesday morning, June 26, 2018. This project has been quite a task for all
those involved- and its been a little frustrating. However, the end product has made it
all well worth the effort! This is going to be a great location for both diver and angler!
transport problems, equipment, strong currents and gusty winds... the New Venture
was sunk Tuesday morning, June 26, 2018. This project has been quite a task for all
those involved- and its been a little frustrating. However, the end product has made it
all well worth the effort! This is going to be a great location for both diver and angler!
It is located about 22 nm south of Perdido
Pass, Orange Beach, AL- thats just about
5.5 miles south of the LuLu, in the Don
Kelley North General Permit Zone of the
Alabama artificial reef system, the largest
artificial reef system in the US. The
coordinates are 29 54.052 North and
87 32.896 West.
This is an exciting addition to the already
massive artificial reef system the state has
invested in.
Pass, Orange Beach, AL- thats just about
5.5 miles south of the LuLu, in the Don
Kelley North General Permit Zone of the
Alabama artificial reef system, the largest
artificial reef system in the US. The
coordinates are 29 54.052 North and
87 32.896 West.
This is an exciting addition to the already
massive artificial reef system the state has
invested in.
| The Alabama Marine Resources Division is constantly improving and "enriching" reef sites within the State’s reef fish jurisdiction inshore and offshore. GPS coordinates for all reef sites can be found at: https://www.outdooralabama.com/saltwater- fishing/artificial-reefs |
| Bait, Tackle, Fuel, Deli, and so much more 27122 Canal Rd, Orange Beach, AL 36561 |
| Alabama Snapper Anglers Stay Within 2019 Quota |
| A Word of Caution When "Observing" Marine Mammals There seems to be some recently posted videos on social media of people attempting to interact with local dolphins in the Coastal Alabama Area. Even though there may seem to be a mutual curiosity between us and them- a word of caution. 1- They are wild animals. You may think it's a harmless interaction, but don't be confused to the fact they have the ability to hurt or attack for any unknown reasons. Even if just by mistake- They might think, for example, for some reason your finger is a minnow or piece of bait. You might inadvertently get too close to a juvenile or mate which could provoke an attack. 2- Attempting to interact only encourages them to approach vessels. This could cause repercussions when they approach vessels who don't want their interaction- like fishing boats. 3- It is illegal to interact, attempt to interact, or feed most marine mammals! Here is what NOAA says about it... Viewing marine animals in their natural habitat can be an exciting experience—watching a group of dolphins leaping across the water, seeing a sea turtle nesting on a beach, or encountering a colony of seals basking in the sun. Although it can be tempting to try to get close to these marine animals, it’s always best to view them from a safe and respectful distance for their safety—and yours. Learning how to interact with and observe ocean animals can help you make the right decisions when you encounter them by water, land, or air. Regulations and guidelines have been developed with specific recommendations and distances for viewing whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea turtles, and other marine animals. These guidelines and laws can vary by state and by species, so know the rules before you visit our coastal waters. The Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act do not provide for permits or other authorizations to view or interact with wild marine mammals and sea turtles, except for specific listed purposes such as scientific research. We maintain as policy that interacting with wild marine life outside of permitted research should not be attempted and viewing marine mammals and sea turtles must be conducted in a manner that does not harass the animals. We do not support, condone, approve, or authorize activities that involve closely approaching, interacting, or attempting to interact with whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and sea turtles in the wild. This includes attempting to swim with, pet, touch, or elicit a reaction from the animals. *Do not feed, or attempt to feed, any marine mammals. It’s harmful and illegal. *Do not swim with, ride, pet, touch, or attempt to interact with marine mammals or sea turtles in the wild. *Do not chase, encircle, or leapfrog animals with any watercraft. Do not "trap" animals between watercraft or the shore. Laws on interactions with marine life may vary from state to state, so if you are not sure, contact your local marine police or conservation and wildlife office before you get on the water. |
| Alabama Record Greater AmberJack Caught |
By DAVID RAINER, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Snapper anglers enjoyed a 38-day season in 2019 after the 2018 season had to be ended after 27 days to avoid exceeding
Alabama’s quota of about 1 million pounds. Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD) officials were able to add three weekend
extensions to the 2019 season to fill this year’s quota.
“This season was more typical of a south Alabama summer,” MRD Director Scott Bannon said. “We had more thunderstorms and
increased wave heights on some weekends as opposed to 2018, which had near perfect weather through June and July.
But that is something we want to have happen; we want them to stay home during the bad weather because we will still have
those pounds of fish to catch later in the year.”
Alabama’s 2019 quota was 1,079,513 pounds, and the final numbers show 1,050,651 pounds of fish were estimated to have
been caught, leaving a little more than 28,000 pounds in the water. Bannon said the goal was to get as close to the quota as
possible without going over.
“That 28,000 pounds is less than one good weekend day of fishing in Alabama,” he said. “I don’t think we could have done any
better.”
MRD officials are able to closely monitor the snapper harvest off the Alabama coast through the mandatory Red Snapper
Reporting System, otherwise known as Snapper Check.
“We were able to get that close because of Snapper Check,” Bannon said. “The more people who report, the better the numbers
and the better we can predict the effort for the weekend.”
“We added some additional days during amberjack season in August and then some days on Labor Day weekend. Ultimately, we
added the final weekend in October to give people enough time to plan and to have dates when people were more likely to go
fishing. The 38-day season is probably more typical of what would be an average season with the weather days. I know the July
average wave heights were 3 feet or higher.”
The average size of the snapper caught during the 2019 season was down slightly to 6.81 pounds, which Bannon attributed to
several reasons.
“One reason was the weather,” he said. “People didn’t run as far and went to areas that are more heavily fished. Also, I think some
people now are not as concerned about trying to catch the biggest fish possible. They’re just catching fish, which is what we want.
High-grading or culling and discarding fish works against us if the discards don’t survive. I think more people were happy with the
fish they were catching, and they felt this wasn’t going to be the only day they were going to get to go fishing.”
Alabama’s snapper seasons for 2018 and 2019 were operated under an exempted fishing permit (EFP) as the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council worked to approve a state management system, Amendment 50, which passed and is awaiting the
Secretary of Commerce’s signature.
“I think the EFP worked well,” Bannon said. “Under Amendment 50, we will have the ability for the state to make adjustments to
size, bag limits and season dates. We think our bag and size limits have worked well. It helps keep our data similar from year to
year, and we have a good handle on effort based on that.
“So, we’re going to be cautious about making any changes. We want people to get comfortable that the states are managing the
snapper season effectively. I think the EFP proved we can manage it as effectively and efficiently as possible. We have been able
to give anglers more days because we’re able to account for the fish harvested during the season. The key to the success is the
angler reporting the data, and that is why we have the optional reporting for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in the app.”
Bannon took the opportunity last week to join the University of South Alabama Marine Sciences Department and Dauphin Island
Sea Lab on their last red snapper research trip for the year out of Dauphin Island.
The research trip was designed to explore several artificial reefs that Skipper Thierry, captain of the Escape, discovered during his
regular charter trips this past summer. Each reef was of unknown origin. On several reefs where a remotely operated vehicle
(ROV) was deployed the structures were chicken transport cages, which held a variety of fish species including an abundance of
small red snapper.
“From a research perspective, you want to be able to sample a variety of sizes and ages of fish and reef structures,” Bannon said.
“These were not public reefs that were placed out there. We don’t know anything about who placed them or when they were placed.
“They held a lot of younger fish, but the numbers of those fish looked good. In a management system, if all you see are older fish
that’s not always a good thing. You want to see a wide spectrum of ages. You want to see the younger fish coming into the system
and aging out at the appropriate time and that we’re taking the appropriate numbers.
“That’s the advantage of a program that does hook-and-line sampling along with the ROV; you get to see what’s there. That helps
add to the data. It’s not necessarily that only the small fish were biting. If you sample the reef with only hook and line, you may only
see one age group of fish. With the ROV, we know that particular reef had an abundance of small fish as well as larger fish. Those
spots were loaded up.”
During the trip, several large gray triggerfish were landed, which is encouraging for Bannon.
“Triggerfish is definitely a species of concern for us,” he said. “These research trips have shown an increase in abundance. So,
we feel good, in the Alabama reef zone, that they are rebuilding. That’s a good sign. We hope that is reflected in the next stock
assessment.”
Dr. Bob Shipp, Professor Emeritus at USA Marine Science, has been doing this snapper research for more than two decades.
“For the last 21 years, we have been maintaining a sampling program for red snapper and triggerfish,” Shipp said. “I think it’s
probably the longest time-series available for those two species. A time-series really gives you trend information you can’t get any
other way. What it has shown is that the availability and ability to catch red snapper have really improved since 2005. The average
size has increased a little bit.
For the full article see the OutDoor Alabama Website- https://www.outdooralabama.com/node/2772
Snapper anglers enjoyed a 38-day season in 2019 after the 2018 season had to be ended after 27 days to avoid exceeding
Alabama’s quota of about 1 million pounds. Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD) officials were able to add three weekend
extensions to the 2019 season to fill this year’s quota.
“This season was more typical of a south Alabama summer,” MRD Director Scott Bannon said. “We had more thunderstorms and
increased wave heights on some weekends as opposed to 2018, which had near perfect weather through June and July.
But that is something we want to have happen; we want them to stay home during the bad weather because we will still have
those pounds of fish to catch later in the year.”
Alabama’s 2019 quota was 1,079,513 pounds, and the final numbers show 1,050,651 pounds of fish were estimated to have
been caught, leaving a little more than 28,000 pounds in the water. Bannon said the goal was to get as close to the quota as
possible without going over.
“That 28,000 pounds is less than one good weekend day of fishing in Alabama,” he said. “I don’t think we could have done any
better.”
MRD officials are able to closely monitor the snapper harvest off the Alabama coast through the mandatory Red Snapper
Reporting System, otherwise known as Snapper Check.
“We were able to get that close because of Snapper Check,” Bannon said. “The more people who report, the better the numbers
and the better we can predict the effort for the weekend.”
“We added some additional days during amberjack season in August and then some days on Labor Day weekend. Ultimately, we
added the final weekend in October to give people enough time to plan and to have dates when people were more likely to go
fishing. The 38-day season is probably more typical of what would be an average season with the weather days. I know the July
average wave heights were 3 feet or higher.”
The average size of the snapper caught during the 2019 season was down slightly to 6.81 pounds, which Bannon attributed to
several reasons.
“One reason was the weather,” he said. “People didn’t run as far and went to areas that are more heavily fished. Also, I think some
people now are not as concerned about trying to catch the biggest fish possible. They’re just catching fish, which is what we want.
High-grading or culling and discarding fish works against us if the discards don’t survive. I think more people were happy with the
fish they were catching, and they felt this wasn’t going to be the only day they were going to get to go fishing.”
Alabama’s snapper seasons for 2018 and 2019 were operated under an exempted fishing permit (EFP) as the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council worked to approve a state management system, Amendment 50, which passed and is awaiting the
Secretary of Commerce’s signature.
“I think the EFP worked well,” Bannon said. “Under Amendment 50, we will have the ability for the state to make adjustments to
size, bag limits and season dates. We think our bag and size limits have worked well. It helps keep our data similar from year to
year, and we have a good handle on effort based on that.
“So, we’re going to be cautious about making any changes. We want people to get comfortable that the states are managing the
snapper season effectively. I think the EFP proved we can manage it as effectively and efficiently as possible. We have been able
to give anglers more days because we’re able to account for the fish harvested during the season. The key to the success is the
angler reporting the data, and that is why we have the optional reporting for greater amberjack and gray triggerfish in the app.”
Bannon took the opportunity last week to join the University of South Alabama Marine Sciences Department and Dauphin Island
Sea Lab on their last red snapper research trip for the year out of Dauphin Island.
The research trip was designed to explore several artificial reefs that Skipper Thierry, captain of the Escape, discovered during his
regular charter trips this past summer. Each reef was of unknown origin. On several reefs where a remotely operated vehicle
(ROV) was deployed the structures were chicken transport cages, which held a variety of fish species including an abundance of
small red snapper.
“From a research perspective, you want to be able to sample a variety of sizes and ages of fish and reef structures,” Bannon said.
“These were not public reefs that were placed out there. We don’t know anything about who placed them or when they were placed.
“They held a lot of younger fish, but the numbers of those fish looked good. In a management system, if all you see are older fish
that’s not always a good thing. You want to see a wide spectrum of ages. You want to see the younger fish coming into the system
and aging out at the appropriate time and that we’re taking the appropriate numbers.
“That’s the advantage of a program that does hook-and-line sampling along with the ROV; you get to see what’s there. That helps
add to the data. It’s not necessarily that only the small fish were biting. If you sample the reef with only hook and line, you may only
see one age group of fish. With the ROV, we know that particular reef had an abundance of small fish as well as larger fish. Those
spots were loaded up.”
During the trip, several large gray triggerfish were landed, which is encouraging for Bannon.
“Triggerfish is definitely a species of concern for us,” he said. “These research trips have shown an increase in abundance. So,
we feel good, in the Alabama reef zone, that they are rebuilding. That’s a good sign. We hope that is reflected in the next stock
assessment.”
Dr. Bob Shipp, Professor Emeritus at USA Marine Science, has been doing this snapper research for more than two decades.
“For the last 21 years, we have been maintaining a sampling program for red snapper and triggerfish,” Shipp said. “I think it’s
probably the longest time-series available for those two species. A time-series really gives you trend information you can’t get any
other way. What it has shown is that the availability and ability to catch red snapper have really improved since 2005. The average
size has increased a little bit.
For the full article see the OutDoor Alabama Website- https://www.outdooralabama.com/node/2772
August 2019
Brian Andrews, from Citronelle, AL, has broken a state record that stood for 38
years. Marcus Kennedy, of Mobile, who caught a big 127 pound 12 ounce
amberjack on June 19, 1981, will lose his place.
On Friday, August 2, 2019, Brian hooked into something very big- however, no
one suspected a record breaker "Reef Donkey" was at the end of the line!
“I was trying to be positive, but several people were telling me it was a shark,”
Andrews said. “He was pulling like a shark, but you never know. He made at least
three big runs. It took at least 30 minutes to get him in. When he makes a run, all
you can do is hold the rod and watch him go. When he starts peeling drag, you
just hold on. When he stops peeling drag, you have to start taking some of the line
back.”
The big fish measured 65 inches from its nose to the fork of its tail and had a 40-
inch girth- and weighed in at 132-pounds, 12.8-ounces, and takes its place in the
Alabama record books.
Greather Amberjack Season is scheduled to run through October 31, 2019.
Brian Andrews, from Citronelle, AL, has broken a state record that stood for 38
years. Marcus Kennedy, of Mobile, who caught a big 127 pound 12 ounce
amberjack on June 19, 1981, will lose his place.
On Friday, August 2, 2019, Brian hooked into something very big- however, no
one suspected a record breaker "Reef Donkey" was at the end of the line!
“I was trying to be positive, but several people were telling me it was a shark,”
Andrews said. “He was pulling like a shark, but you never know. He made at least
three big runs. It took at least 30 minutes to get him in. When he makes a run, all
you can do is hold the rod and watch him go. When he starts peeling drag, you
just hold on. When he stops peeling drag, you have to start taking some of the line
back.”
The big fish measured 65 inches from its nose to the fork of its tail and had a 40-
inch girth- and weighed in at 132-pounds, 12.8-ounces, and takes its place in the
Alabama record books.
Greather Amberjack Season is scheduled to run through October 31, 2019.
Latest news on the making of the largest boat
launch facility on the Alabama gulf coast! The
County now owns this property adjacent to the
Foley Beach Exoley Beach Express Bridge and
is proceeding with plans for the large public
boat launch thanks to state GOMESA funding.
Hopefully this project will be quick in
construction.
It appears this may be at least a 2 stage
project- with the construction of the ramps and
phase 1 parking, finger piers, picnic and car
parking to be completed first (no date given),
and the 2nd phase to provide additional
parking for both cars and vehicle/ trailers with
a secondary restroom facility and additional
picnic area.
We will share more details as they become
available.
launch facility on the Alabama gulf coast! The
County now owns this property adjacent to the
Foley Beach Exoley Beach Express Bridge and
is proceeding with plans for the large public
boat launch thanks to state GOMESA funding.
Hopefully this project will be quick in
construction.
It appears this may be at least a 2 stage
project- with the construction of the ramps and
phase 1 parking, finger piers, picnic and car
parking to be completed first (no date given),
and the 2nd phase to provide additional
parking for both cars and vehicle/ trailers with
a secondary restroom facility and additional
picnic area.
We will share more details as they become
available.