One of the best things in life is having the opportunity to have fun and relax with your friends and family. Vacation is the perfect time to get that rest! The good news is, there’s a place in Florida that is highly recommended for everyone from families to students to couples. Whether searching for relaxation or adventure, look no further than Destin.
Destin is located in Okaloosa County, Florida. It’s known for its breath-taking white beaches, emerald green waters and world-class fishing. The city of Destin was a small fishing village until the mid-1900s when it became one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Florida. And now, Destin is frequently referred to as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village!”
When you hear Destin you may just think of beaches. There are, of course, miles of beautiful beaches to explore here but there are lots of other fun activities available, too:
I’m hungry 🙂
Gator Beach
Where else in can you feed a live alligator? Gator Beach is fun for the whole family with over 100 alligators on-site that you can feed yourself. It’s become one of the most well-known gator farms in the country.
Henderson Beach State Park
The park offers fine white sand beaches and spectacular emerald-colored waters. There is a small fee required to enjoy this state park but activities include nature trails, picnicking, camping and grilling. Henderson Beach State Park receives a lot of positive feedback from visitors for being one of the most family friendly, off-the-beaten path things to do in Destin.
Big Kahuna’s Water Adventure Park
Big Kahuna’s Water Adventure Park is the perfect day activity if your family’s sick of the beach. Here you’ll find water rides, feature slides, and even a wave simulator – and, of course, a Lazy River so the parents can relax, too. There’s even a miniature golf course to cap off the day.
Charter Fishing Expedition
Destin is the perfect place to try deep sea fishing for the first time. In fact, in Destin people say, “You’ll come for the beach, but you’ll come back for the fishing!” Going on a deep sea fishing voyage is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities in town and it’s appropriate for all age groups. Booking a private charter fishing tour with a local expert mariner is the best way to learn the ropes and reel in some big fish.
Kelly Plantation Golf Club
Adults and avid golfers love the Kelly Plantation Golf Club. The club itself was designed around a lush stretch of coastline along Choctawhatchee Bay, and the course is as beautiful as the landscape. Go enjoy a round of golf while in town and tell your friends you experienced one of the state’s top-ranked courses.
Destin is indeed an awesome place for relaxation and enjoyment, and there’s more here than meets the eye!
Captain Jason Mikel and Finest Kind Charters of Destin, Florida believe that fun and fishing should go together! The captain always goes out of his way to help youngsters have a great experience and make every charter trip as memorable as possible.
A Trip on the Finest Kind
Read about one of our recent charter guests’ experience below. Hope to see he and his family again next year!
Our family enjoyed a fun-filled day aboard the Finest Kind and we would like to share with you a little of our adventure in case you considering introducing your family to a deep sea fishing experience.”
Some of the things that contributed to our fun outing were all the signs we had selected the best charter boat and captain in Destin. Chris, the deck hand and first mate, put us at ease immediately. It was obvious that he was knowledgeable and experienced, and boy was he ever great with kids! No time was wasted as we headed to deep water. Chris taught everything we needed to know and got us set up with the tackle and gear necessary for the first of many catches. He even baited our hook… a great relief to the kids as well as my wife!
Once we reached the first of Captain Mikel’s secret fishing spots, our catches were rapid fire, one fish after another! As we reached each prime fishing spot, we listened for instructions…”Drop your hook to 140’ …count to ten…”and as promised we landed numerous Amberjack, a Destin specialty. In another location we reeled in Red Snapper. The captain told us that Finest Kind Charters specializes in 30–50-pound fish that will give you a whale of a fight!
We found the six-hour trip to be about right for our family with a ten-year-old and a twelve-year-old. It seems Captain Mikel thought of everything, even video games to help the kids pass the time on the trip back to the dock. Our family had a great time and has memories to last a lifetime…although we are sure to book another adventure soon!
Good Equipment Helps
The Finest Kind comes fully equipped with high-tech fish-finding sonar. Combine that with Captain Mikel’s knowledge of over 1,200 local reef areas and you’re bound to catch a lot of fish! Rod holders on board make it easier for young children to fight the big fish, and not all boats in Destin have them. And of course, a charter on the Finest Kind means all the basics are provided, from your fishing license to ice!
As with anything, you get what you pay for when it comes to deep sea fishing in Destin.Finest Kind Charters provides a true deep sea fishing experience which includes plenty of fuel to reach Captain Mikel’s secret fishing spots and all the latest gear and technology. You may notice that many boats take their customers out just off shore – for a cheaper rate, of course – but their end result is very different.
Returning from a charter experience with knowledge and a whole load of delicious Destin specialties makes the adventure well worth it!
Everyone’s seen an ad for charter fishing with a price that seemed too good to be true.
That’s probably because it was.
Too many people have booked a charter after trusting an ad only to arrive to find out the expedition isn’t at all what was expected. They find a boat that has not been well-maintained, a cabin without AC, and lacking other basic features you would expect on a private charter.
Many of these “bait and switch” boats don’t even have adequate fishing equipment! To make matters worse, these boats rarely take people where the fish are because the cost of fuel outweighs their payment. Thus a trip that was supposed to be a bargain ends up feeling like a rip off.
First-Hand Reports from a Scammed Fisherman
John Latham, a client who had previously booked such a trip said his excursion, “was pure misery.” He goes on, “The trip was a real scam. It was hot and very noisy.” This was the first trip deep sea fishing trip John had booked for he and his 11-year old son. He had hoped it would be a memorable day and that he would enjoy watching his son land a good-sized fish. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened.
A Bad Fishing Trip
On this particular trip, John said, “The charter barely got to what most would even say is deep sea fishing.” For hours, he and his son futilely reeled in tiny, bait-sized fish. “Then my son finally hooked a Red Fish”, John says. To his dismay, the deck hand then grabbed the rod out of his son’s hand and reeled it in! “My son looked disappointed because he did not feel he had actually caught the fish,” John explained. “It was a real scam compared to how the flyer portrayed the charter. I was best described as a bait and switch.”
Beware Charter Boat Scams
The lesson here: It takes a few hundred dollars in gas for a charter boat to take passengers out and back to really great fishing spots. Nice, well-equipped boats cost a lot to buy and maintain. If you find yourself considering a discounted deep sea fishing charter, ask yourself why the captain can afford such low rates. All too often it’s because the charter guests usually end up paying the price.
Charter Fishing Destin the Right Way!
Don’t make the mistake so many well-intentioned parents make. Expect to pay a reasonable rate for a full-day or half-day charter in Destin and anywhere else deep sea fishing is popular, and always pay close attention to recommendations. If possible, ask to see the boat itself before agreeing on a charter – the state of the boat can tell you a lot about the kind of experience you can expect.
Deep sea fishing can be an unforgettable adventure, but avoiding bait and switch charter scams are the first step to a great day on the water.
With hunting season coming to an end, many outdoor lovers look to the Gulf of Mexico for a fishing adventure similar to the experience of sight hunting for deer. Cobia season answers that call! Warmer weather and rising water temperatures signal the beginning of Spring’s migration of Cobia, a hard-fighting gamefish. Leave your camo, stands, and rifles at home. With a charter outfitted to catch Cobia, we include the boat, bait, top-notch equipment, and Cobia catching experience that will have you and your group screaming, “Fish-on,” before you can tell the difference between a shark and a strike from this local favorite! Spring is the Optimum time to go Cobia Fishing in Destin, FL
Water temperature is the key to a plentiful Cobia population: 68-70 degrees is optimal. They’re spotted cruising inshore flats and channels along the northern Gulf Coast and show up around mid-March to early April in response to the warming surf. While migrating, Cobia travel northward along the coast of Florida, then westward into Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. You can target Cobia while fishing nearshore along the shoreline, but they may surprise you by taking your tolling or bottom fishing bait.
Cobia can be tricky to locate at times for the average angler, especially if you are not familiar with Destin fishing. An abundance of Cobia nearshore on day one is not guaranteed on day two. They may spread out and head for deeper waters offshore, in any area that provides them with both plenty of food and ample shelter to hide from larger prey. An experienced charter captain offers the best chances for a successful hook up while targeting Cobia.
Spring Cobia Fishing is Huge in Destin
Spring Cobia fishing in Destin is huge! Destin is home to the Cobia World Championships Tournament, as well as the HarborWalk Marina Annual Cobia Tournament, and the Hog’s Breath Cafe Annual Cobia Shootout! The Spring migration of Cobia introduces the kick-off to warm weather fishing in the Destin area. Locals and visitors alike head out for a chance to hook up with this prize catch, as Cobia is a favorite among anglers of all ages.
One of the most amazing features of the Cobia World Championships Tournament is that Harbor Docks utilizes the funds collected during the event to accomplish the Take-A-Kid Fishing Day every November, which offers 500 underprivileged children the opportunity to experience a once in a lifetime deep sea fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico out of Destin, Florida. Watch the video below to learn more about the World Championships Tournament, and how Cobia fishing is carried out in Destin.
Experienced Destin Charter Boat Captain Key to Successful Cobia Game Fishing
As plentiful as Cobia can be around Destin, they’re not all that easy to find. The most popular method of fishing for Cobia is called “sight fishing.” The fish are often spotted around markers, ships, rigs or anything else that can provide cover for them. Once spotted, fishermen cast free-lined live sardines, crab, or good-sized shrimp out in front of them with twenty-thirty pound test line (Cobia are incredibly strong!)
The only problem with this method twisted lines after only a couple of battles with a fish. Free-spool reels can be substituted with heavy jigs in place of live bait. The advantage of these is no line twist. Either way, smooth operation of tackle is imperative and you should rely on your charter boat captain to make good recommendations regarding choice of tackle and gear.
Image Source: Saltwater Sportsman
Once the Cobia is Hooked, the Thrill Begins
Cobia caught with Captain Jason Mikel of the Finest Kind
The Cobia is a muscular, powerful fish and a thrilling catch to make. Once the fish is hooked, expect lots of line to come screaming off the reel – and watch those fingers! At this point you can’t do much more than hang on. And even after the fish is into the boat, the battle may not be over! Cobia have been known to damage boats and equipment and in cases of unnecessary danger, injure the fisherman, too. The key is to keep the fish under control using a smooth single motion which is something your charter crew can help with. Beware of the 7-10 dorsal spines on top of the Cobia’s that stand erect when the fish is threatened, ready to gouge anything that gets in their way. Rely on the experience of your charter boat crew to keep you safe and ensure your catch is successful.
Cobia is a Prized Catch in More than One Way
The meat of Cobia is white, flakey, and very mild and some say it even has a slight lemon flavor. It’s sometimes actually referred to as the “lemon fish.” Most recipes that call for a white mild tasting fish are well-suited to cobia meat. Its firm flesh makes it perfect for grilling. If you decide to harvest the fish to use it for food, the Cobia must be netted or gaffed and placed on ice immediately. The first mate on board your Destin charter boat will most likely prepare the fillets and package them for you. A single large fish will provide enough steaks to feed your family for several meals, or enough for a fish feast!
Charter Fishing Expedition
Everyone’s seen an ad for charter fishing with a price that seemed too good to be true.
