Boasting the largest and most elaborately equipped charter fishing fleet in the state of Florida, and the closest deepwater access in the Northern Gulf, fishing options are plentiful in Destin! If you’re planning a fishing trip in Destin, the options can be overwhelming and it can be difficult knowing where to start. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help narrow down what type of fishing charter you’re looking for. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to find the perfect fishing charter, so you can get the most out of your vacation!
- Are you looking to join a large number of anglers or have the boat to yourselves? A head boat or party boat is a large boat that accommodates many passengers. The boat will go out into the gulf and bottom fish, then return to the docks and the bounty will be evenly divided between the customers. This is the least expensive form of fishing charter, with rates figured on a per person basis, and also the least personalized. A private charter is more expensive but you have more options. Rates for a private charter are hourly, typically with a 4-hour minimum, and vary from boat to boat depending on the size, motor, amenities available, and number of people in your group. For something in between, if you have a small group of less than 4, you can also try to team up with another group to split a private charter. Knowing whether you want a party boat, private charter, or split charter will help us set you up with the fishing charter that best suits your needs.
- How many people are in your group? If you are looking for a private charter, know how many total passengers you will have in your charter. The size of your group will decide which options you have for the size of boat you can charter.
- How many hours do you want to spend on the water? There is typically a 4-hour minimum on private charters. Standard trips are 4-hr, 6-hr, 8-hr, 10-hr, and multiday.
- Is there a particular type of fishing you are looking to do? Are you interested in backbay fishing for redfish and trout, offshore fishing for grouper, amberjack, snapper, mahi, or mackerel, or deepsea fishing for big game marlin, tuna, or mahi?
- Any amenities you would like to have on the boat (cabin, a/c, bathroom, etc)? Maybe you’re not picky and just want to fish, or maybe you want to fish in comfort and have the option to relax in an air-conditioned cabin. Do you want a bathroom onboard? Knowing these answers will help us match you with a charter boat that will best suit your needs.
I am bringing my kids to Topsail state park march 17-21. I would be interested in taking them fishing. 6 total in group youngest is 15. Type of trip doesn’t matter…my guess is they would be a happy group just getting on the water. We are from Iowa….all of my kids have been on several walleye trips to Minnesota and Canada and are familiar with jigging etc. 4-8 hour trip would be nice…all of us love the water
Hi Mike! Great talking with you today and we appreciate your reservations. Look forward to seeing you soon!
Looking for charter: a/c cabin, offshore fishing, bathroom, 2 people (wanting to share 6 hour charter), experienced captain, want to relax also a bit.
Hi Nancy! We’re happy to help you out with your charter! Thanks for the comment.
Who allows a three and four year old fish? We are in Destin this week and leave on Friday.
Nice and useful information.. thank you for sharing… :)
My family is planning a trip March 21-28. We are interested in a 4 hr trip. There are four in our group which includes a 9 and 12 year old. What type of rates are we talking? I would prefer a private charter and fish type is not as important as keeping my boys catching fish. Thanks.
I’ve been thinking about what to do for some of my nieces and nephew’s birthdays. A party boat could be a great idea! Some boats come with snorkeling equipment so you can see what’s going on in the ocean around you. Thanks for your post!
Thanks for sharing this information about booking a fishing charter. It’s great that I would have more options with a private charter. It would be nice to a smaller group on a private charter. I liked that you brought up how many hours I would want to spend on the water so that I can be aware of how that would affect my rates for boat rentals. It seems important to factor that into my budget for a boat rental.
Thanks for the tips for booking a fishing charter. I had never thought about factoring in the number of people in my group, but that makes sense. I want to get into fishing, but I haven’t done it much before, so I need all the help I can get!
I think that fishing charters sound like an amazing experience. Thank you for providing these questions that one should ask before booking a trip. It is good to consider how many people one is willing to be with during the charter. Two other things to be thought about would be which kind of fish are being sought and which kind of scenery is one looking to enjoy.
I’m looking for a split trip for deep sea fishing on July 2, 2017. This will be my first time fishing in Florida and I really want to fish for mahi mahi and wahoo. No shorter than an 8 hr trip.
Any help to make this trip a reality would be greatly appreciated.
Excellent article. Thank you for helping with a difficult subject!
I like that you said that your group’s size will help to determine the size of boat that you can charter. My husband and I are planning to rent a fishing boat that we can rent. Our children want to experience boating, and we thought that this would be a good family bonding event. We will be sure to consider all your tips so we could rent a boat that has the right size.
This is very informative and useful thought you share. Thank you.
Great post! Fishing is a pleasant activity to spend some time on the water with family. You can choose fishing charters in Morehead City, NC, for a day out.
Hi there! Thank God I came across this article just as my husband is preparing for a fishing trip next week. I really like it when you said that there are indeed many types of fishing for us to choose. I’ll forward this article to him so he’ll enjoy the trip even more later.
There seems to be a lot to consider when going on a fishing charter. There is especially a lot to consider in the type of fishing you want to do. Your list of considerations is very inclusive, such as backbay, offshore, or deepsea. It isn’t just the kind of fish to consider. We are going to book our first fishing charter for our family reunion this year. Your information has helped a lot.
It made sense to me when you said that you must know the total number of passengers you will have in your charter when looking to book a private charter. This is something that I will consider because I am planning to hold a boat party on my 25th birthday next month. Also, I want to try fishing activities with my husband, so I will consider guided trips to enjoy the activities well.
Yay! We meet again, huh? Now, I just couldn’t stop thinking about what you highlighted regarding the benefits of having as less people as possible on our fishing boat as it will reduce the risk of our boat sinking or overturned. My husband and his colleagues have been considering spending some time next weekend at a nearby river. I’ll let him know about this aspect so he can book a proper trip arrangement later on.
I found it helpful when you said that you could determine the size of the charter that you need to rent when you consider the number of people in your group. My sister is planning to rent a charter boat next month to celebrate her 32nd birthday ultimately. Since she will invite a small group of friends, I will ask her to consider your tips.
Hello! My son is currently on his semester break and he’s been thinking of going on a fishing trip with his friends in Florida. If that’s the case, I think it would be nice if he calls a company to manage all the necessary arrangement for them later on. In the meantime, I must salute you for highlighting that we could spend up to almost half a day on a charter boat as long as the period is agreed upon by the provider too.
You made a good point when you said that you must be aware of the total passengers that you will have in your charter before booking a fishing boat. My sister and our friends are thinking of renting a fishing boat for a trip next month. Since we want to easily find a fishing boat that can accommodate all four of us, we will consider your tips.