Found 48 blog entries tagged as searchthegulf.

Ono Harbor Boat Slips on Ono Island: What Buyers Should Know About Dock Styles, Boat Fit, and Everyday Boating Comfort

Ono Island Harbour Boat Slips and Sizes

Typical Boat Sizes and Slip Setups in Ono Harbor

When buyers ask me what “typically fits” in Ono Harbor, I frame it this way: Ono Harbor is primarily a private, residential dock environment, so slip and lift sizes are not one-size-fits-all. That said, there are very consistent patterns in the kinds of boats homeowners keep here and the dock setups that support them.

In Ono Harbor, “fit” is a combination of length, beam, lift capacity, and how comfortably you can come in and tie up on a breezy afternoon.

Boat sizes you commonly see working well in Ono Harbor

  • 20–26 ft bay boats and inshore…

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Luxury Meets Offshore Performance: The Refined Fishing Boat Upgrades I’m Seeing More and More

Orange Beach Alabama Fishing Boats

Why “Refined” Offshore Boats Are Having a Moment on the Gulf Coast

Over the last few years, I’ve watched certain offshore fishing boats quietly evolve into something more versatile and more luxurious, without sacrificing performance. The best builds still run hard, fish clean, and handle messy water, but now they also reflect a higher level of intention in the layout, the finishes, and the small design choices that make long days offshore feel easier.

Here along Orange Beach and Ono Island, I hear the same refrain from neighbors at the marina. They want a boat that can chase tuna at daylight, run a calm sunset cruise later, and still feel…

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Buying an Income Property on the Gulf Coast: A Smart, Practical First-Step Guide

Real estate investing is different from most investments because your equity and profitability usually build slowly, especially early on. Between borrowing costs, reserves, and the reality that repairs happen on real timelines, an income property is often a long-term strategy, not an overnight win.

If you want to browse opportunities and track neighborhood trends, I keep it simple for buyers here: Search Gulf Coast real estate on SearchTheGulf.com.

Do You Have What It Takes to Own a Rental

A quick self-check before you shop

  • Are you comfortable with marketing your rental and handling showings, or hiring someone who will
  • Are you willing to…

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Sportsman Open 252 in Orange Beach, Alabama: A Practical Gulf Coast Guide That Also Thinks About Real Estate


When I’m helping buyers compare Orange Beach waterfront options, one question shows up fast: “Where will the boat live, and how do I want to use it.” The boat in this photo is a classic example of what works well here, a Sportsman Open-style center console with the glass-windshield enclosure that’s become a signature look on many Sportsman Open models.

Sportsman Fishing Boats Orange Beach Alabama Search The Gulf

I’m going to use the Sportsman Open 252 as the reference point because the proportions and enclosure in your image closely match this configuration, and it’s one of the most common “sweet spot” sizes I see across the Gulf Coast for boaters who want inshore flexibility with…

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 December Harbor Sunset on Ono Island: A Quiet Gulf Coast Moment

Ono Island Sunset Meredith Folger


December Harbor Sunset on Ono Island: A Quiet Gulf Coast Moment

On a gorgeous December afternoon, I filmed the kind of harbor sunset that makes time feel slower on Ono Island in Orange Beach, Alabama. The sky eased into amber and tangerine, and the water turned reflective, like it was holding the last light in place for a few extra minutes.

“Winter sunsets are the reward for staying put. The harbor gets quieter, and the light gets better.”

A neighbor, said dockside as the sky changed

What I Love About December Light on the Harbor

December has a clarity that summer doesn’t always give you. The air is cleaner, the horizon looks sharper, and the…

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My Top Pick for 2026: The Gulf Coast Center Console I’d Choose for Orange Beach

When I think about a “do-it-all” center console for Orange Beach, I picture early-morning runs past Perdido Pass, a short steep chop on the way to the rigs, and that clean salt-bright air that makes everything feel sharper. For 2026, my top pick is the Regulator 37 rigged with triple offshore outboards. It’s the rare boat that reads like a serious fishing machine, but lives like a refined day boat when the plan shifts from lines-in to cruising. Orange Beach Alabama Center Console Boats

 

“If the forecast is honest, you want a hull that feels calm even when the Gulf is not.”

— A neighbor who runs offshore year-round out of Orange Beach

Why the Regulator 37 works so well…

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Federal Red Snapper Season Reopens for Charter Boats: What It Means for Gulf Coast Anglers

 

Along the Alabama Gulf Coast, red snapper season is a big part of our rhythm on the water. Friends who run charter boats out of Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Dauphin Island often tell me that the snapper opener feels like another holiday on the calendar. This year, that “holiday” is getting a quiet but important encore.

NOAA Fisheries has announced that the federal red snapper season for federally permitted for-hire vessels (charter and headboats) in the Gulf of Mexico is reopening to close out 2025. After reviewing updated landings data, scientists determined that anglers did not catch the full federal for-hire allocation during the primary season, so…

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Vista Bella & Legacy Key: Ole River and Ono Island Condo Living in Orange Beach, Alabama



Along this stretch of Orange Beach, two riverfront buildings sit quietly side by side on the north side of Perdido Beach Boulevard, watching boats move along Ole River and looking across to Ono Island. Vista Bella sits to the west; Legacy Key sits immediately to the east.

When I walk this corridor with neighbors and future neighbors, the conversation almost always turns to these two communities. Both offer deeded Gulf beach access across the street, both are beautifully sited on Old River, and both are designed for people who want a more residential, low-density feel rather than a high-turnover vacation environment.

Where Vista Bella…

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Radicchio Salad with Hazelnut Brittle, Apple, and Blue Cheese

I love having a seasonal salad on the table that feels a little dressed up but still easy enough for a weeknight. This radicchio salad does exactly that. Bitter radicchio, a sweet, crisp apple, tangy blue cheese, and a crunchy hazelnut brittle all come together with a simple honey–Dijon vinaigrette.

It holds up well, so it is easy to take to a friend’s house or tuck into the fridge for a quick lunch the next day.

Gulf Coast Living

Ingredients

For the hazelnut brittle

  • 3/4 cup whole hazelnuts
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Pinch of kosher salt

For the honey–Dijon vinaigrette

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons white wine…

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How Builders Use String Lines To Start New Home Construction In Orange Beach, Alabama


When I walk a new-construction lot in Orange Beach, Alabama, or over the bridge onto Ono Island, one of the first things I look for is the web of bright nylon lines stretched across the sand. Those simple strings tell me a builder is being intentional about layout, level, and long-term performance on the lot.

New home construction on the Gulf Coast is very visual for me. I love standing on a cleared site and imagining where the front porch will face, how the primary bedroom will catch the morning light, and how high the floor system will sit above the water or street. Before any of that becomes reality, the crew does something very old-school and very…

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