Surely busy ports all along our Gulf coast require that some ships anchor offshore out of the traffic pattern before they are allowed to steam up the channel and tie up to the docks. Whether the reason for this is due to shortage of dock space, legal technicalities, or just bureaucratic paper work the result is the same - it's good news for fishermen. You might check it out at the port nearest you. The two closest approaches to Mobile's freighter kings are from Dauphin Island near Alabama Point. Navy Cove Marina is located near the end of Alabama Hwy 180 after it turns west off Hwy 59 at Gulf Shores.
All supplies are available including block ice and frozen cigar minnows.
Overnight boat slips and two launching ramps are manned with helpful personnel well schooled in where the fish are most active. Dauphin Island has public launching facilities at the east end of the Island which is located south of Mobile at the end of Hwy 193.