Ono Island and the Gulf Coast Masters: Why Boating Access Shapes the Way We Live Here 


Fat Chick Sportsfishing Yacht Orange Beach Alabama Gulf Coast Masters Tournament

After photographing the shotgun start of the Gulf Coast Masters fishing tournament at Perdido Pass, I kept thinking about how closely that moment connects to life on Ono Island. The tournament boats, the anglers, the outriggers, the teak transoms, the tower views, and the beautiful Gulf water all tell a story that many Ono Island homeowners understand well.

On Ono Island, boating is not just a weekend activity. It shapes the way people evaluate homes, waterfront lots, docks, lifts, boathouses, bridge clearance, water depth, and access to the Gulf. When I watched those sportfishing yachts head toward open water, I was reminded again why Ono Island…

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The Shotgun Start at Perdido Pass: A Front-Row Look at the Gulf Coast Masters Fishing Tournament

Bimini Babe Fishing Yacht Orange Beach Alabama 

 

Yesterday, I had the best time photographing the shotgun start of the Gulf Coast Masters fishing tournament at Orange Beach, Alabama. I went to Perdido Pass, camera in hand, and watched one beautiful sportfishing yacht after another head out toward the Gulf. The water was that unmistakable Gulf Coast blue-green, the outriggers were raised, the anglers were ready, and the energy was pure coastal excitement.

There is something special about seeing these boats in motion. From the tower views to the teak transoms, polished hulls, tuna towers, fighting chairs, and carefully rigged rods, every detail reflects the passion behind Gulf Coast…

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Ono Island Homes With Boathouses, Private Docks, Seawalls, Bulkheads, and Sandy Beaches


Ono Island Homes with Boathouses Deep Water Access

One of the most beautiful and valuable features of Ono Island real estate is the way many homes connect directly to the water. Some properties offer private docks. Some have covered boathouses. Some have boat lifts designed for larger vessels. Some have seawalls, bulkheads, or sandy beach areas that make the backyard feel like a private coastal retreat.

For buyers who love boating, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply watching the light move across the water, these marine features can completely shape the ownership experience. On Ono Island, the waterfront is not just the view. It is part of how people live.

On Ono Island, a…

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Ono Landing Reopens on Ono Island After New Construction


Ono Landing Ono Island Boat Launch

Today was a notable day on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama. Ono Landing, the island’s boat launch, has reopened after new construction was completed, and the finished result feels clean, practical, and beautifully coastal.

The new launch area immediately caught my eye. The fresh white pilings, wide floating docks, updated ramp access, shoreline stabilization, and bright blue water create the kind of first impression that reflects what so many people love about living on Ono Island. This is not just a place to launch a boat. It is part of the boating rhythm of the island.

On Ono Island, water access is not an afterthought. It is part of the way homeowners experience the…

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Podocarpus Privacy Shrubs on Ono Island: Why They Work So Beautifully in Coastal Landscaping


Ono Island Landscaping Privacy Shrubs

One of the things I appreciate most about Ono Island is the way mature landscaping can completely shape the feeling of a property.  Podocarpus, a beautiful evergreen often used throughout the Gulf Coast as a privacy screen, is a great foundation planting, or soft architectural hedge.

Podocarpus works especially well on Ono Island because it offers that rare combination of structure and softness. It can be trimmed and maintained for a cleaner, more formal look, or allowed to grow more naturally for a layered, coastal garden feel. In this setting, I love how the Podocarpus plays against the mature live oak, palms, hydrangeas, fresh mulch,…

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Why Coastal Buyers Are Comparing Puerto Aventuras, Tulum, Florida and Alabama Gulf Coast Real Estate


 

Coastal Real Estate Is About More Than the Property

Some coastal destinations stay with me because they remind me why people fall in love with waterfront living in the first place. For me, Puerto Aventuras, Mexico is one of those places.

Located along the Riviera Maya between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Puerto Aventuras offers a marina-centered lifestyle with Caribbean water, boating convenience, walkable restaurants, golf carts, sunshine and a sense of relaxed sophistication. It feels different from the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast, of course, but the lifestyle priorities are beautifully familiar.

Whether someone is searching…

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Boating on Ole River: The Local Sand Bar Scene Between Ono Island and Orange Beach

Old River Boating Ono Island Orange Beach Alabama Boats anchored in shallow turquoise water on Ole River near Ono Island and Orange Beach, Alabama, with private docks, boathouses, waterfront homes, and summer boating activity.

Ole River, Old River, and the Place Locals Love to Anchor

There are certain places along the Gulf Coast that do not need a sign, a schedule, or an invitation. You just know. Ole River, also called Old River, is one of those places.

Running along the southern and southwestern shoreline of Ono Island and across from Orange Beach, Alabama, Ole River is where many locals go when they are not anchored around Robinson Island. It has its own personality: turquoise water, soft…

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4 Things Buyers Should Look for When Purchasing a Home on the Gulf Coast, Orange Beach, and Ono Island


Buying Gulf Coast Homes Orange Beach Ono Island

When I walk through a home with a buyer along the Gulf Coast, I am not just looking at pretty finishes. I am looking at how the home lives, how it handles our coastal environment, how efficiently it operates, and whether it fits the lifestyle that brought the buyer here in the first place.

That is especially true in Orange Beach, Ono Island, Gulf Shores, Perdido Key, and the surrounding waterfront communities. A beautiful home can make a wonderful first impression, but a well-built, well-positioned coastal home can offer comfort, confidence, and long-term value.

When I advise buyers on the Gulf Coast, I always look beyond the…

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Windows, Doors, and Glass: The Design Details That Make the Biggest Statement in Ono Island and Orange Beach Homes


 

Ono Island Homebuilding Construction

Some homes make their statement with square footage. Others make it with finishes. But on Ono Island and in Orange Beach, Alabama, I believe the biggest design statement often comes from something more elemental: windows, doors, and glass.

When a home is built near the water, glass becomes more than a construction selection. It becomes the way the home captures light, frames the view, welcomes the breeze, and connects indoor living to the Gulf Coast landscape. I have seen beautiful homes become unforgettable because the windows were placed with intention. I have also seen homes with wonderful water frontage lose some…

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The Gulf Coast Masters Returns to Orange Beach: Big Boats, Big Energy, and a Signature Weekend on the Water


Orange Beach Alabama Fishing Tournaments

There are certain weekends on the Alabama Gulf Coast that seem to capture everything I love about living and working near the water. The Gulf Coast Masters, hosted by the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club, is one of them.

From May 20-23, 2026, the 49th Annual Memorial Day Tournament returns to Orange Beach, Alabama, bringing big boats, skilled captains, offshore crews, and a tremendous amount of dockside energy to Orange Beach Marina. For anyone who loves sportfishing, boating, Gulf Coast real estate, or the atmosphere of a true waterfront community, this is one of those events that reminds you why Orange Beach is so special.


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