Gulf Bay Charters

Gulf Bay Charters runs inshore and offshore fishing trips from Southwind Marina, putting anglers on the water in Perdido Key without the wait that can come with larger charter operations. The company’s tagline sums up the appeal directly: inshore and offshore charters from Southwind Marina, a combination that lets a family looking for a relaxed few hours on the bay and a serious angler chasing bottom fish offshore both book with the same outfit. The marina address, 10121 Sinton Dr in Pensacola, sits inside the Perdido Key 32507 zip code and puts the fleet within easy running distance of the passes, grass flats, and nearshore structure that draw anglers to this stretch of the Gulf Coast.

The fleet backs up that range. Gulf Bay Charters fishes a 42-foot Yellowfin, a 35-foot Contender, and Blackjack boats, a lineup that covers everything from a quick nearshore run to a full day offshore. The larger center consoles give the crew the fuel range and stability to reach snapper and grouper structure well off the beach, while the Blackjack boats work the calmer water inside Perdido Bay for trips built around families or anglers who want to stay closer to the dock. Having that range of hulls in one fleet means a group can book the boat that matches the day’s conditions and the trip they actually want, rather than adjusting the trip to fit a single boat.

Running that fleet is a crew that mixes decades of local knowledge with newer talent. Captain Rick Durant, 62, fishes alongside his son, Captain Jake Durant, and together the father-son pair bring more than 30 years of professional fishing experience on Pensacola’s Gulf of Mexico waters and inland waterways. In January 2026, the operation added Captain Jeff McNew and Captain Clay Hinton to the roster along with two more boats, giving Gulf Bay Charters more capacity to run multiple trips on the same morning during busy stretches of the season. That kind of bench depth matters for visitors trying to lock in a date on short notice during a beach vacation.

Trips run inshore for redfish, trout, and flounder, and offshore for snapper and grouper, with the crew adjusting the target species and route to conditions and to what the group on board wants to bring home. The company builds each trip around the people who booked it rather than running a one-size-fits-all itinerary, keeps its tackle and electronics maintained between charters, and puts a real emphasis on water safety training for every captain on the roster. Anyone staying on Perdido Key, in Orange Beach, or across the bay in Pensacola can reach the operation by calling (850) 341-5068 or booking through the Gulf Bay Charters website, which currently routes to the company’s booking platform for scheduling and payment. For a Perdido Key trip built around time on the water, Gulf Bay Charters covers both ends of the fishing spectrum from a single dock at Southwind Marina, which keeps planning simple for visitors who would rather spend time deciding what to catch than which company to call.