Tracking fish with sonar has been available to the public since 1948, when the famous Furuno brothers introduced the product in their native Japan. A 'salty' charter captain might add that it was Lowrance that brought it to the U.S. fishing market. But whomever you credit, NOAA has now combined it with artificial intelligence (AI) to provide better chart mapping and even fish count locations of fish in the gulf. The results could impact local fishing seasons in the future.

It’s Saturday morning, the second day of the 6A Section 1 Track Meet at Saraland High School. Coach Brewer has piloted the Dolphins bus to this place several times this season, but today a thick, milky fog has engulfed the panorama, limiting the vision of what’s ahead, save for head coach Jason Hill. He’s studied today’s upcoming events and is hopeful for the upset.

A decorated urn containing human ashes washed up on Gulf Shores beach this past week, starting a mystery that local police have now solved. The container was discovered by people walking along the shore on West Beach on April 17. The urn had no name or identification on the outside.

The Gulf Shores International Airport is preparing for their future growth and addition of a national airline service. Allegiant Airlines is scheduled to begin it's round-trip airlines service in May. Initially the flight will service six different cities with direct flights to Gulf Shores. The airport is rapidly finishing work on a new passenger terminal to accommodate the non-stop airline service.

News readers across the nation have seen images of chaos in many spring break beach towns. The Police Chief in Panama City even posted that their community would have to stop being a spring break town. Incidents in Myrtle Beach, Daytona and Miami have those cities questioning the future of spring break along those beaches.

Gulf Shores is preparing for a busy month with two major events at the Gulf Shores Public Beach. The NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship and the Sand In My Boots Music Festival are both coming to town in May. City officials are making changes to parking and beach access to help with the crowds. According to the City of Gulf Shores, residents and visitors should plan ahead for closures and detours.

A Foley police investigation helped lead to the sentencing of two men in a counterfeit gold and silver scheme. The men conspired with a minor to sell fake precious metals across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Victims lost more than $120,000 buying fake items. The investigation began when a Foley victim contacted police in 2023.

As the Gulf Coast transitions into mid-spring, the week of April 28th through May 4th offers a variety of events and experiences that capture the region’s unique blend of culture, cuisine, and community. From savoring coastal flavors at local eateries to celebrating time-honored traditions like hot air balloon rides and Kentucky Derby festivities, the Gulf Coast invites residents and visitors to explore its rich offerings.

Fabulous fashions, delicious cocktails, a week of partying – sounds a little like Mardi Gras, doesn’t it? But this celebration is the Kentucky Derby, the oldest, continuously running sports event in the United States. Since its first run in 1875, the event has been held the first weekend in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, despite wars and the Great Depression.

When it comes to sports there are a few actions that have become the pinnacle in each genre. There is the hole in one in gulf, the home run in baseball and the perfect fly-cast in fishing. Thousands of books have written and even an Academy Award winning movie focuses on the sport of fly fishing.

Each year the Orange Beach Full Moon Paddles for kayakers fills up it's registration early. 'Night Paddles' are a very peaceful cruise cruise through the local waters. If you have not experienced the tranquility it is advised to do these with professional groups.

We have all heard some version of the "In My Day" stories, right? Your parents or grandparents had to walk for miles to school, uphill, in a blizzard or in pouring-down rain to get to school ... both ways! Of course, we don’t advocate children walking for miles in extreme conditions but a little exercise each day doesn’t hurt.

Along the local beaches there are thousands of rental homes and condominiums. While the vast majority to not allow dogs they do offer exemptions for legitimate service dogs. This allowance is not meant for "comfort" dogs, but those who legitimately offer service to disabled visitors. A special meeting is meant to clarify those ADA rules for local businesses.

Ecotourism is a form of responsible travel to natural areas that aims to conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local communities. This genre of tourism has experienced steady growth along the Alabama beaches but has not had the facilities to manage and educate the ecotourism efforts.

Orange Beach officials and community members gathered to celebrate the opening of a new glamping site named "Young's Hideaway" in honor of longtime residents Cecil and Jesse Young. The project adds a unique accommodation option to the Alabama Gulf Coast.

A new public boat ramp on County Road 6 in Bon Secour was officially opened today during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Baldwin County Commissioners. The ceremony, held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 24, marked the completion of the long-awaited boat access to the Bon Secour River, providing boaters and fishermen with improved access to local waterways. Construction took about 1 year to complete.

In the past year there has been pressure applied by the State of Alabama for restaurants and stores to provide locally sourced seafood. The most consumed seafood in the area are the famous shrimp. Now the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has just made it more difficult for outlets to obtain those shrimp from local providers.

Travel on West Peachtree Avenue will soon be smoother after the Foley City Council approved road repairs. The council voted to fix the road near Foley Airport last week. Jeff Phillips, the city construction projects manager, explained that collapsed metal storm drainage pipes buried alongside the road had damaged the street.

The management and owners of the Perdido Beach Resort have been generously giving back to the community since opening their doors in 1987. They have hosted dignitaries and events, been a central point of communication during crisis, introduced thousand of visitors to the beaches and always shown leadership in community government and organizations.