Going fishing is my favorite thing to do in Destin. I’m not exactly sure why but it could have something to do with the sparkling water or the amazing memories that we always make. Whatever the reason, this is fact: We are the closest port in Florida to “deep” water in the Gulf of Mexico. Why is this important? Because, deep water is where the BIG fish live.
Anglers are able to target snapper, grouper, amberjack, swordfish, tuna, wahoo and other species within a short boat ride from Destin. Not only are these fish fun to catch, they are delicious to eat!
Snapper, Grouper, and Amberjack live on the bottom of the ocean floor around relief or structure such as rocks, ledges, or wrecks. We catch these using heavy tackle, thanks sinks to the bottom, using pinfish, cigar minnows, or other live bait.
Wahoo, sailfish, and mackerel are caught trolling rigs at the edge and beyond. You may go hours before getting a hit but landing one sailfish or large wahoo makes for a great trip.
Destin Charter Fishing Boats
For those with their own boats, many of our Destin waterfront homes have docks, but if you don’t have your own boat, the best thing to do is hire one of our professional Destin Charter Boats to take you fishing. You will find the fleet docked in the Destin Harbor when not out on the water.
There are many Charter Fishing boats in Destin to choose from and you can find several listed in our directory. A few of my favorites are:
Big John : I have fished on this boat numerous times and he is arguably the best bottom fisherman in Destin. One time, we caught so many fish, that we had to ask him to stop. We were physically drained from reeling grouper, snapper, and amberjack at depths of over 300 ft. At the end of the day, my cooler was packed with fish.
SS Enterprise : This has nothing to do with Star Wars, but you will find Captain Kirk. I have a few clients from Missouri that come down every spring to go Cobia fishing on this boat. If you have ever Cobia fished, you know how much fun it is. My clients have never failed to catch a fish with Captain Kirk and have caught as many as 7 in one day. They tell me some of the fish weigh 90 lbs or more but since they are 20% exaggerators, 50-60 lbs is more likely.
Rocked Up Charters: My friend Captain William Pugh owns and operates this Contender center console fishing boat. Powered with twin Yamaha’s, he’s got the speed to get you to deep water in less than 45 minutes allowing you to fish more and ride less. He can easily take four people with him and you can also find him on television via the Gary Finch outdoor show.
For those that wish to go deep sea fishing in Destin, we have many great boats for you to choose from. If you don’t want to fish, feel free to stop by the docks. It’s always great fun to see happy anglers coming in from a successful trips. If you ask, they will probably even let you take a picture of their catch.
If you're looking for a home close to great fishing, Destin has to be your first choice! Email us or (850) 325-0004 , we'd be happy to help you find your fisherman's paradise.
Posted by Tim Shepard - Broker on
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