I need more than 5 stars to rate Distraction Charters! I would give them 100 stars if I could. My family and I had a blast with Distraction Charters! There were 5 of us which included a 6 y/o, 9 y/o, and our 87 y/o grandfather. Captain Troy was very welcoming and pleasant. He showed so much concern and compassion towards my grandfather which was a huge plus for us as this was a trip about us having fun and making lasting memories with him. He was great with the kids, which was another huge plus, and treated us like part of his own family. I was nervous about the 6 y/o at first, but seeing Captain Troy with her immediately eased my worries. Captain Troy is huge in providing the opportunity for families to have fun and catch fish in the process. You can tell he is a big family man and just loves people. He talked to us the entire time, joked around, invited the kids to ride up top while going out to the fishing spots, and even took pictures for us so we could just spend time together and reel in our amazing catches. We were able to relax and be ourselves. The deckhand, J.T., was amazing at helping us and making sure we had everything we needed. He helped the kids catch fish and provided an impressive learning experience. J.T. was always respectful, made sure the boat was clean and safe at all times, answered any questions we had, made sure PawPaw was taken care of, and smiled the entire time! We had plenty of fish for meals afterwards, but most importantly we were given the time as a family to make memories with a crew who were knowledgeable, knew how to turn a simple fishing trip into an actual learning experience, and knows the importance of family while providing an opportunity to have fun with each other. Love, love, looooove Distraction Charters and can't wait to go back with them again! If you are looking for a charter that provides a great fishing experience with a family atmosphere Captain Troy and Distraction Charters is where it's at! Thank you again, Captain Troy and J.T., for a wonderful experience! -Jessica Gadsden, Al read more

July 23, 2014 We selected Distraction Charters because Troy seemed to be very family focused. He has built his business being a good steward of the environment, providing people the opportunity to catch fish and having fun. He also seemed to be a person of moral character. That is very important when we spend our hard earned money. We picked the right charter when we picked them! Troy and his first mate (Stephen) were really focused on our family having a great time and leaving us with memories that would last a lifetime. You could tell that they both loved what they do. It showed in everything they did. They took the time to answer all our questions, seemed genuinely interested in learning a little bit about our family and making a personal connection with each one of us. We also learned allot about the different species of fish in the area and how they are working to keep the fish populations strong for generations to come. Troy took pictures throughout the day and provided us with a disc of those pictures and a video tape during the entire outing. They do the little things that mean allot and differentiate themselves from other charter services. Troy and Stephen also put us on the fish and made sure that each of us caught fish. We trolled and reef fished; catching both red snapper and mackerel. The highlight was catching a 30 pound Cobia and a 7 foot, 250 pound Bull Shark that took 30 minutes to land. We only took a couple of fish home because we were there to make memories. The trip exceeded our expectations. We are already planning on coming back and will tell all our friends to book with Distraction Charters and have the experience of a lifetime deep sea fishing in Alabama. You are looking for a great family experience- you cannot go wrong with them. Mike Jones (Nashville, TN) read more

Unforgettable Deep Sea Fishing Trip with Captain Troy and Sam! We had the most incredible deep sea fishing adventure thanks to Captain Troy and his amazing deckhand, Sam! From start to finish, it was an experience we'll never forget. Captain Troy was an absolute blast--funny, full of energy, and fantastic with our whole family (adults, young adults, & teens). He even let all of us take a turn driving the boat, which made the day extra memorable. His upbeat personality kept everyone laughing and completely entertained the entire time. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does, and it made the trip even better. Sam, the deckhand, was equally awesome. He was kind, extremely patient, and worked so hard to make sure everyone had a great time and caught as many fish as possible. He helped us every step of the way and even filleted all of the fish we caught so we could take them home ready to cook. Such a hard worker with a great attitude! And the cherry on top...Captain Troy surprised us at the end with three of his very own special seasonings to cook our fresh fish with. They were absolutely delicious and made the whole experience feel even more personal and memorable. We cannot recommend this trip enough. If you're looking for a fun, family-friendly, and truly unforgettable fishing experience, Captain Troy and Sam with - Distraction Charters - are the dream team. We'll be talking about this trip for years to come!! read more

After reviewing many different options in the Orange Beach area we chose Capt. Troy and Distraction Charters for our boating/fishing adventure. I was looking for a trip to take our 5 and 10 yr old on. This was my firsts time trying to pick a charter and with so many options I was a bit lost. After much research I contacted Troy via email and just asked what type of trip would be best for the time of year. We were not looking to bring a ton of fish home, but just wanted to catch fish!! We went on a 4 hr trip (perfect length for small children) and each of the four of us caught 2-3 fish a piece (even took one home and had it for dinner). Troy let my kids up in the captain's area with him when we were moving between areas. (and yes there is a working bathroom!!) Life vest was provided for my youngest. Very family friendly (clean, no smoking or bad language) First Mate was awesome in helping the kids with their bate and I can not tell you how many time he helped my daughter with her fishing line and every time with a smile!! It made it so my husband and I could fish and enjoy the experience as well. I would recommend the picture package. We have over 50 awesome shots that Troy took of use fishing and with out catch so everyone is in the picture and no worries of losing a camera! We even got to see dolphins jumping around the boat. We will be back to Orange Beach and Capt Troy will be a part of our vacation!! read more

As a mother of 3 boys (13, 9, and 5) who love fishing and outdoor activities, deep sea fishing has always been on our bucket list. When we decided to book our end of summer trip to Orange Beach, we knew we wanted to check this off the list. I googled and read review after review. Distraction Charters caught my eye immediately. This company highlighted both children and calming moms! (ha!) When we arrived on the dock at 6am, we met Captain Troy and Sam. They were awesome from the start. Our 5 year old is BUSY. He bonded with both Troy and Sam instantly. Troy offered to let Knox drive the boat and from that moment, he was captivated. His favorite spot was the captains seat from there on out. Troy and I bonded during our trips in and out to our fishing spots. We talked about EVERYTHING. He's so down to earth and I felt like I had known him for years. Sean and Sam talked about all kinds of things as well. The pair made sure our kids were entertained and on the fish the entire time. Our kids had a blast and their excitement made my heart burst. I loved seeing their smiles. Troy and Sam had our family in mind the entire trip. Troy and I also spoke about conservation which spoke to my heart strings as I am a wildlife rehabber. At one point he put our boat in reverse to save a fish. Hands down, we will be back. If you are fishing with kids, this is the charter for you. read more

My family an I thoroughly enjoyed our 6 hour excursion this morning. Capt Troy & Stephen were wonderful hosts, and ensured our trip was safe and fun, and our fishing was responsible. The boat, Distraction, was comfortable and well out-fitted. We departed the dock on time and immediately headed out without stopping to catch live bait and therefore without wasting any of our fishing time thanks to Capt Troy's investment in frozen bait (Spanish Sardines). We kept a limit of Red Snappers, but released quite a few more back into the Gulf; a testament to Capt Troy's bait strategy. On the run out and back Capt Troy high speed trolled and we picked up a Bonito and a King Mackerel. Once at the fishing grounds, Capt Troy put us over fish time and again, and when, at one spot, we kept catching undersized Red Snappers, quickly moved us to a better spot. Stephen, our mate, did a great job of coaching the total novices among us (that would be all of us) in the finer points of Gulf reef fishing and landing all our fish. He was incredibly patient with our back-lashed reels, our crossed lines, and noob questions (how far out are we?). :-) Stephen also was a quick and sure hand cleaning and packaging the fish we decided to keep. As the previous reviewer, Joe, noted, a plus to the trip is the DVD so we can share and relive the memories of this fantastic trip for years to come. read more

Capt. Troy and Stephen were great! Very clear communication from booking to arrival. Troy's focus is families and safety and FUN. He made us all feel at home and engaged from the minute we showed up - even my 14 y/o daughter who was a little apprehensive beforehand. She was baiting her own hooks by the end of the trip! The kids got to take turns at the helm on the way out. Troy is so friendly and funny and doubles as a local tour guide as well - great stories about the area. Stephen was so organized and helpful. he put everyone at ease w/ the equipment and explained everything very thoroughly. We happened to be out on an exceptionally clear day w/ clear waters. Could not have asked for better conditions. Troy "put us over the fish" and we started catching! It was so exciting. The adults had as much fun as the kids. Troy snapped pictures as Stephen moved around helping non-stop. We received about 80 high-res photos and a video on a cd when the charter was over. The boat is very clean and organized. AC, potty, and comfy benches for the kids to snooze on as we headed back in to the marina. I can't say enough about Distraction Charters. Very personalized attention and exhilarating fun. Can't wait to go again someday. Worth every penny. The only complaint we had was that the six hour charter was not long enough. We didn't want to stop! Loved every minute. read more

I cannot say enough great things about Captain Troy and Sam. I had searched charters for weeks and couldn't decide on anyone until I came across distraction. His website was so informative that as a beginner I had NO doubts about anything going into it. I knew exactly what to bring, what to expect and they made it so easy for someone who overthinks everything. Sam was awesome from explaining how to handle the rods to helping my kids reel in their fish so I could capture it. He kept the boat top notch clean and did a heck of a job cleaning our catch. Captain Troy right off the bat made us feel like family and took my kids right under his wing. I have two kids (8,11) the youngest being so shy she barely speaks. He treated them like his own grandchildren, let them ride up top with him and even let my daughter drive. He has a great personality and kept you talking and laughing. If you have any doubts about taking your kids on a charter, if they have disabilities, are shy like mine and anything else along those lines I guarantee Captain Troy will make them feel at home and do everything he can to make it their best experience ever. I am so thankful we found him and we will hopefully be back every year to see him. Fish or not read more

We had the ABSOLUTE BEST TIME with Troy and Sam yesterday! We booked a 6 hr trip and were a little nervous the 6 and 9 yr old with us would get bored especially given the hour plus ride out to the fishing spots but nope! They loved it!The boat has a nice air conditioned inside cabin they both napped in so when we got to fishing they were ready to go! They even got to climb up and sit with Troy as he drive out. Sam was so helpful getting everything rigged and ready and giving us tips and tricks and telling us very specifically how many "seconds" to drop the lines. Troy took us to the very best spots and moved us when the fish stopped biting. He is clearly super knowledgeable about the fishing hot spots. We all caught so many fish! We had one experienced fishing enthusiast, 3 total amateurs and 2 kids and every single one of us had a blast. When we got back Sam cleaned and filleted our fish and told us the best way to cook them and man was he spot on. They were DELICIOUS! Troy bases his whole operation on being family friendly and he does a great job. We will absolutely be back and would absolutely recommend his boat to anyone who wants a great fishing trip...kids, amateurs or expert fisherfolk. Thanks for a great trip! read more

Captain Troy and Mate Corey were exceptional hosts on our family fishing trip last week. The boat was beautiful, comfortable, clean and very well maintained. The ride out was very pleasant. I even spent some time up top with Cap Troy learning about the spots we would visit and what to expect. All 5 family members caught fish nearly every 2-5 minutes at each stop we made! It was so exciting and Corey was on the ball, caring for the fish, baiting hooks, giving us tips, fixing our tangled wires. There was a clear emphasis on getting us DIRECTLY on top of the fish we wanted (snapper) and keeping our lines baited and in the water catching fish the entire time! Our video of the experience was awesome- it captured my sister and I teaming up to bring in a 9 pound triggerfish- an experience neither of us will soon forget! The pictures were great too! One we docked back at the marina, Corey cleaned our fish quickly and Capt. Troy even gave us some of his very own fish rub, which we used when we cooked our fish and it was EXCELLENT (broiled with butter and a few shakes of the rub). When we go back to Gulf Shores, we will book with them again! Best experience any of us have had in the gulf! I highly recommend them. read more

We had the pleasure of venturing on a fishing excursion with Distraction Charters, Captain Troy, and JT. I cannot recommend them enough. It was our favorite experience of our family's vacation to the Gulf Shores area. Our 4 kids (ages 10, 7, 5, and 3) all had the best time. JT took the time to teach our oldest kids how to bait their own hooks, drop their fishing line, and everyone had the pleasure of reeling in (*or helping to reel in*) a great fish! We caught Trapper and Red Snapper. Each of the kids took a turn driving the boat, which my youngest loved as much as the fishing. JT cleaned the fish we wanted to keep, which we took right to the marina, where they cooked it for our dinner! Troy captured dozens of pictures on a CD for us: they are wonderful memories that we will always have and we are so thankful. Distraction Charters crew was nice, knowledgeable, and great company during our 5-hour tour. We will absolutely be back to visit them next time we are down in that area. If you are looking for a fun, family-friendly adventure, please do yourself a favor and take a trip with Captain Troy and Distraction Charters! read more

Let me start off by saying I was super nervous about deep sea fishing. I've always been scared of water I can't see my feet in so the thought of being so far away from land and so close to big fish made me extremely apprehensive. Troy is the captain and worked his hardest from the time I stepped on the boat until we docked again to make me feel relax and made sure I had a blast. He went over the safety rules in a humorous way to engage the group and also helped us remember key safety points. The talk and Troy's hilarious mannerisms put me at ease. He was also super kind to one of our passengers who got seasick and made sure she had a place to lay down until she felt better. Distraction Charters created an amazing atmosphere for our family and we all loved it so much! We had an amazing time fishing and the crew was so helpful with giving tips on how to better fish. This was such an amazing experience and so family friendly we already have started talking about our next trip and who can catch better or bigger fish. When we go back to Orange Beach or Gulf Shores I definitely want to use Distraction Charters! read more

Distraction exceeded our expectations! We read all the reviews, and expected so much to begin with, but the experience itself was still so much more than we expected. Captain Troy and Corey were the picture of service and courtesy. It is clear that they have developed a knack for serving families that are looking to have a fun time fishing and building memories together. We were not looking to fill a cooler full of fish, but rather to catch a lot and keep only what we could eat while on vacation. Troy and Corey helped us select the best ones to keep. They were very knowledgeable on species and conservation of resources and were willing to pass on that knowledge without being overbearing. We have a 16 and 11 year and both thought this was a fantastic experience and we still can't stop talking about it. We wouldn't hesitate to book another trip with Distraction. If you are looking to make a lasting memory, this is the boat to book! We had considered a group party boat, but are so very glad that we went with the private and personal experience of Distraction Charters instead. What a great trip! read more

My family and I just visited Orange Beach last week for our first time and had a great vacation! The absolute highlight of our trip was going on a 6 hour fishing trip with Captain Troy and Stephen. This trip was the first time my wife and kids had ever been offshore and they were very excited but a bit nervous at first. Captain Troy was very professional and patient and made them all very at at ease. The Distraction was a very comfortable and safe boat. We went out on a day that had particularly rough seas and we never felt unsafe (or sea sick). My 11 year old son and girls had a blast fishing and Stephen was very patient and helpful with them. Captain Troy put us on fish right away and we brought lots of Red Snapper home to grill. He even shared some secret cooking tips with us to prepare our catch. This was an absolutely awesome experience for our family and as parents we would look no further for a fun, kid friendly and safe fishing charter for our family. read more

I have been deep sea fishing on both coasts and in the gulf and this was the best trip ever. We took the 6 hour trip and Capt Troy and Stephen put us directly on the fish. There was no wasted time "fishing for bait", Stephen had the boat and everything ready to go. They were both the friendliest crew I have ever sailed with. They are totally concerned with your happiness and safety. Any other fishing charter is a gamble wiht your money. Capt Troy is knowledgable (he has the fish sense), friendly and great Capt. Stephen is the best of the mates. He is patient and knowledgable. They were both great hosts and the boat was very comfortable. They are a family friendly crew! They made my daughter's first excursion into deep sea fishing the best I could hope for. I would sail with them again (and I will next year on my next trip). Thanks Capt Trot and Stephen. This was the best trip ever! read more

So to start off, 2 couples attended distraction charters. To book, it was a piece of cake and Mr Troy contacts you directly. He makes it a breeze. The morning of the trip we made our way to the beautiful orange beach marina, which is packed full of cute restaurants and nautical stores. We began our 5 hr fishing trip with a safety briefing and meet and greet with our deck hand JT, which was absolutely perfect (He is so quick cleaning fish). The boat is stunning and well kept plus there is AC. Once we got to the fishing spots, everything was set up and ready to fish. From the time we put the hook into the water, it was non-stop reeling and catching. Just fantastic. My group of four can not stop talking about the blessing Mr Troy and JT is to us. We will forever book our future trips on distraction charters. I can not stress enough to please choose Mr Troy and support your local businesses. read more

My family fished with Distraction Charters on 7/7/12. For my two boys, ages 7 & 9, it was their first deep sea fishing experience. We chose Distraction Charters after hearing that it was a family friendly ship, and we were not disappointed. From the moment we arrived, Captain Troy and his first mate Kyle made everything easy for us. As we trolled out to the reef, Troy encouraged us to come up to his cabin to visit and see how the boat worked. The boys loved that. Once we arrived at the reef, Kyle gave us instructions and helped us with the fish. We caught our limit of red snappers in no time. I'm afraid that Troy and Kyle have spoiled my boys into thinking that all charters are like Distraction. The truth is, they aren't. For a family friendly fishing charter, this one beats them all. Would recommend highly and we will see them again next summer. read more

My nine-year-old son Jack selected this fishing excursion for his birthday this year. We chose the Distraction and Captain Troy based on his website's claims that the Distraction is a family-oriented charter boat. The website was completely right on! Captain Troy was very friendly and encouraging, putting our two little guys at ease on their first trip out into the open ocean. Safety was the foremost concern for the captain and his mate Zack. The entire family felt secure on board. We spent eight hours enjoying the water, the boat, and reeling in forty or so fish! Captain Troy DVD'd the fish-catching and posted a bunch of pictures on his Facebook site of our trip. We would have been fine had I forgotten our camera. We had a most amazing and memorable day. I am sincerely hoping that Jack picks this trip again for his ten-year-old birthday. read more

If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity that the whole family will thoroughly enjoy, look no farther than Distraction Charters! Troy and his deck hand Sam were an absolute blast to be around, and they made this trip incredible. My mother, sister, brother in law, my husband, and myself had the best time. Troy does his absolute best to put you on the big fish, and honestly, even if the big fish hadn't been biting we still would have had an amazing time. You couldn't beat the sunrise views on the 6am trip. The fish were biting, the views were incredible, and the crew was a pleasure. Mr. Troy even let us climb up top and check out the pilots seat. You won't find a more laid back, family friendly charter. We were already planning our next trip before we even left the parking lot. You won't regret booking a trip with Distraction Charters! read more