While many anglers see fishing as a contemplative and peaceful effort, and we think that’s OK, sometimes it takes some old-fashioned mano-a-mano combat to really get the blood flowing. Competing in fishing tournaments is a great way to test your skills, feed your competitive juices, and perhaps pay for your hobby.
Fortunately for residents of Destin and travelers to the Emerald Coast, our fertile waters and multiple world-class fisheries provide the playing field for everything from weekend small scale derbies to competitions that bring the best of the best from all over the globe.
The Destin Fishing Rodeo
Perhaps the best known is the October Destin Fishing Rodeo, which is more than just a fishing competition. It includes everything from a 5K run to a pageant to events and activities for kids too young to compete.
The Destin Fishing Rodeo is considered the “ultimate saltwater tournament” because of its incredible scale, which includes not only huge prize payouts, but also 29 divisions for over 33 species of fish. Virtually every meaningful gamefish found in local waters is eligible for some sort of prize. That means the various local snappers and groupers, as well as King Mackerel, and massive billfish like sailfish are marlin are all valid targets. In other words, no matter what your favorite species, what kind of craft you own, and where you think your competitive advantage lies, there’s a way to get in on the action.
It’s possible to competed out of a kayak or paddle board, or even from a bridge or the beach, but if you want to hit the depths and you don’t own a boat, you can charter one.
What makes the Destin Fishing Rodeo stand apart from other tournaments is the emphasis placed on children during the event. The biggest investment that the fishing communities across America have is in our children. The Destin Fishing Rodeo is a time to involve children and families in the traditions of coastal living.
Other Fishing Competitions in Destin
If you won’t be in Destin in October, or you want to fish a different time of year, or simply have the itch to fish multiple tournaments, there are other major events taking place throughout the calendar year.
One of the most exciting fish to chase, as well as one of the tastiest, is the cobia, and Boshamps Seafood and Oyster House runs a major Cobia tournament (the “Flathead Classic”) in April. Also in the spring, Harbor Docks runs a Cobia World Championship out of Destin Harbor.
In June, there’s the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Tournament, where competitors chase one of the Gulf’s apex predators for hundreds if not millions of dollars in prize money.
If none of these appeal to you, or more likely if you simply want more, consult the calendars of local fishing clubs, bait and tackle shops, and tourism boards. No matter when you’re coming, or what you want to catch, there’s an option that’ll fit your needs.
Tournament fishing takes a hobby and turns it into a serious competition, and possibly a business. While everyone has to start somewhere, this is a serious endeavor, and some of the best anglers in the world reside in or frequent Destin’s contests. Everyone has to start somewhere, though, so with a simple game plan you can make the most of your chances.
Do this to be your best on the water:
Pick Your Events Carefully – Know what species you are able to chase and might have a competitive shot at capturing. You’re probably not going to be able to compete in the blue marlin events from a paddleboard. Even if you have a larger craft, understand how far you’ll need to go and in what type of seas. Remember, there are always charter boats you can hire, but the best ones tend to fill up months or even years in advance.
Know the Rules – Each competition has slightly different rules and regulations and you’ll be expected to know them and abide by them. Read them in advance. If you have any questions, ask the tournament director. You don’t want to miss out on a valuable prize or honor because you violated a rule, nor do you want to get the reputation (deserved or otherwise) of someone who operates in a gray area.
Understand Seasonal Fish Habits – You may be the world’s greatest snapper or marlin or King Mackerel fisherman in a given month, or a given venue, but in the world of fishing, things are changing all of the time. Know where you’ll need to be to encounter the winning fish and how to tempt them at that particular time. Ninety percent of the fish are in 10 percent of the water, so if you’re in the wrong areas, you might as well not compete at all.
Come Up with a Game Plan – Look at past tournament results so that you know what it will take to win. That way you’re not tilting at windmills trying to chase a winner that doesn’t exist. Then take into account factors like tides, your gas budget, your time limitations and likely fishing pressure to give yourself the best chance to win. You don’t need to catch a world record, although they certainly exist in our waters, but you do need to beat everyone else.
Put Together the Right Team – Some fishing tournaments are individual affairs, while others allow you to compile a group of anglers to help your cause. If you’re participating in one of the latter, get the right folks on board, people who are willing to work and who know what they’re doing. Of course, it can behoove you to add in a newcomer to grow the future of the sport, but this is a time for seriousness and concentration.
Prepare Your Equipment – A pulled hook or a broken line can result in lost fish that cost you thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Prior to even loading gear on your boat, make sure that everything is in top notch shape and of premium quality. Once you’re out there, you’re limited on time and attention, so do the “busy work” when you’re onshore, waiting for competition to start. Halfway through the battle with a winning fish you don’t want to wonder whether you lubricated your reels, tested your drag or spooled on fresh line.
Gauge the Weather – The behavior of your quarry depends heavily on seasonal and daily weather changes, so be aware of what’s going on around you and what’s likely to ensue. You may have the best game plan in the world, but wind or rain or sunshine can impact it significantly. This is not just a matter of competition – it impacts safety, and you don’t want to put yourself in a position where chasing the winning fish puts you, your crew or your boat into a compromising position.
Whether you’re a first-time offshore angler or a veteran of hundreds of trips, the key to having a great experience on the water starts with hiring the right charter boat. You can occasionally have a good trip with the “wrong” choice, or experience tough days with a great operation, but you substantially tilt the odds in your favor by doing your homework in advance. When you come to a world-class fishing destination like Destin on the Emerald Coast, there are a wealth of options to choose from if you act in time, and it’s not always an apples-to-apples comparison.
The best charters include top-notch equipment, considerations of safety, an understanding of the likely species you’ll encounter, and a desire to please the customers. The worst ones are unsafe or may just end up turning into an expensive boat ride. There are all sorts of gradations in between, and there’s not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution, but if you ask the right questions, and take certain factors into consideration, you’re more likely to skew towards the side of excellence.
Act Early
The best charter boats in Destin tend to get booked months or even years in advance, especially for certain times of year when the fishing is particularly good, and their services are therefore in higher demand. You may be able to make a call or walk the docks and find an open charter the day before you want to go – and there are sometimes circumstances when that’ll turn out to be a great trip – but typically you’ll be hard-pressed to get the best of the best on short notice.
If you know something about the fishery and you have some flexibility, inquire on your initial call whether there’s some factor that favors one time or day over another. Certain tides or moon phases may be considered good or bad, and sometimes there are tournaments or other events that put boats in short supply and crowd the waterways.
Understand the Fishery
If you’re an experienced angler, you probably know that the Emerald Coast has one of the most varied and dynamic fisheries in the world. Figure out what you want to catch and whether that’s a realistic expectation.
Are you looking for nonstop action or for the chance at a single fish of a lifetime?
Do you want to take home fillets, or just enjoy the experience? If the former, are the fish you want in season and does a particular boat target them?
There are lots of great charts that will explain the various seasons and limits and thereby help you ask the right questions.
Set a Realistic Budget
While there are Destin charter boats in a wide range of price points, make sure you know what you’re getting. How many people are allowed onboard? Does it include fish cleaning or drinks or snacks? And don’t forget that mates work for tips, and the best ones work their butts off all day. Sometimes there are surcharges for gas or for certain types of bait. Be sure that you know exactly what is included in advance.
Also, once you are spending a not-insubstantial amount of money on the trip, ask if there are ways to take it better. Your initial budget, for example, might support a half-day or three-quarter day trip, but if the captain tells you that a longer run and more time on the water substantially enhances your chances of success on a certain target species, listen to him.
Do Your Research
You can always call marinas or locals and ask for recommendations to find the right operation for your group. Sometimes that works out swimmingly, but not always, as they may take a commission or not understand what you want. However, you can supplement that starter set with a little bit of elbow grease.
In the internet age, there’s a ton of information out there about various fisheries, seasons, and the boats that ply their waters. Start off by trying to figure out the basics – who’s going, what are their goals, and what is your budget, and hit the web. You’ll be able to rule out some operations immediately, but when you find one or more that look promising, that’s when the fun starts. Try to find reviews in online forums, or places like Tripadvisor. Sometimes those reviews are only the best and the worst, but usually you can read between the lines See what people liked and what they didn’t and how that plays into your needs.
It also pays to make sure that you’re going with an established operation. There are plenty of fly-by-nights and people who want you to supplement their fishing habit or boat payments. Occasionally a newcomer will be excellent, but usually the proven hands win out.
So now that you have a candidate or two, email them to ask about availability or set up a call. You want to get the captain or someone who’s more than just a booking agent on the phone – both to ask your questions and to feel them out. If the Captain or staff is non-responsive or dismissive of your questions when you’re still in the asking phase, you can only imagine how poor the communication will be once they have your money or you’re standing on the boat.
If you like what you hear, put down a deposit and get on the calendar!
Understand the Policies
Backing up one step, before you make a nonrefundable payment, ask what the policies are. At any time can you cancel and get all or some of your money back? Can you reschedule without a penalty? What happens if you get canceled due to weather? What happens if the boat has issues at sea? Make sure this is spelled out clearly.
Congratulations, you’ve booked a charter boat. Probably a pretty good one, too, after going through this lengthy process. Remember, fishing is never guaranteed, but you’ve given yourself a great chance of success.
If you’re a little obsessive, monitor social media reports or local fishing reports in the weeks leading up to your trip to gauge expectations. A few “grip and grin” shots should get your whole group excited.
Once you’re a week or two away, call the charter boat to know where you’re going and when to be there. Also, make sure that you have a list of everything you’ll need, from sunblock to a hat to ice to seasickness medication (never hurts) so it’ll all be ready to go. Once you push off from the dock, there are no stores where you’re headed. You may, however, be preparing not only for the adventure of your life, but also for a grocery run, with the ocean’s bounty coming home with you as another reminder of careful planning and Destin’s amazing opportunities.
Guests displaying catches from a Finest Kind Charters trip.
Beautiful start to the morning with Finest Kind Charters.
The area around Destin, Florida, comes by its “Emerald Coast” moniker honestly – it’s a jewel of the Gulf of Mexico, one of Florida’s most desirable beaches, with temperate weather and soothing seas, but there’s more to it than that. In this resort zone, where people from across the globe travel to enjoy rest, relaxation and miles of white sand beaches, there’s a not-so-hidden world class fishery.
So, what’s biting in Destin, you might ask?
Something’s biting all the time. In fact, there are few places in the world where there are so many different types of highly prized sportfish available throughout the calendar. Whether you’re a globe-traveling tournament angler, a first timer who wants that “hero shot” for your office, or a family looking to enjoy the great outdoors together, there are multiple options.
Choose your time of year, and whether you like to cast, troll or bottom fish, whether you’re looking for pure sport or to fill your freezer, there are more options than you can shake a line at – and often you can catch several of them in the same day.
Your dream may be a leaping marlin, the hard-pulling amberjack, or one of the highly coveted and table-worthy species of snapper, but they’re all here to be caught
Why Destin is a Premier Fishing Destination
Destin is the perfect location for the whole family to vacation, with a Jimmy Buffett vibe and the ability to “get away from it all” without getting away from any creature comforts. But its location on the Emerald Coast is also an ecological gift. There’s an amazing array of fish here, because the quick access to the deepest portions of the Gulf provide natural highways for the fish to travel. There’s a veritable buffet for all of them to eat, so whether they’re migratory or residents, there’s always something on the menu – until you put them on your menu.
Because Destin has long been known as a fishing haven, there’s also the infrastructure here to get you going, whether you own a boat or need the assistance of a charter boat. The marinas, bait shops and ancillary businesses provide a long history of fish catches and a competitive environment where there’s enough around for everyone to make a living, but substantial information to tell you who to book with and when.
Destin caters to both novice and experienced anglers, with ample information and services for both. Our friendly locals will steer you in the right direction, and if one species of fish isn’t biting, there’s almost always something else that is. Usually the biggest problem is figuring out which one of the region’s world-class fisheries to target. Don’t be surprised if you need more than a day to get it all done.
Even non-anglers will be tempted to take their shot on the fish, but if they just want to enjoy the scenery, Destin’s temperate climate, incredible coastal scenery and wealth of marine mammals make any day on the water a memorable one. Our skilled local captains, and the entire staff associated with the Finest Kind, know all of the details and lore about this region, and they’ll regale you with tales of the area while you reel in fish after fish after fish.
Types of Fish you can Target in Destin
Red snapper caught aboard the Finest Kind Charter.
So, what are you going to catch in and around Destin?
Many conversations start with snapper, including species such as gray snapper, mutton snapper, lane snapper, and the highly desirable red snapper. The latter, which fight like banshees and taste divine, grow to record proportions here. Some of the red snapper can live a few hundred feet deep, so if you want to learn about structure fishing and marine electronics (while catching one of the best-tasting fish on earth) they’re the ones you want to target.
Some other tasty fish include mahi mahi (AKA, dorado or dolphinfish), which are brightly colored, taste incredible, and reproduce multiple times a year, so there’s no harm in harvesting them. They’re lightning fast and can grow up to 80 pounds.
Grouper are another popular fish, with various types residing here. They include Black, Goliath, Nassau, gag, red, Warsaw, yellowfin and yellowmouth. The Goliath lives in gnarly wrecks and will test your physical fitness. Several others live on the bottom, but we often catch them trolling artificial lures in the winter, too.
You want to catch a billfish? We have tasty swordfish, which are best caught at night, and majestic sailfish that jump and swim like underwater cheetahs. There are also tuna and spotted seatrout and cobia, all renowned for their plate worthiness. If you time it right, you can often catch several of these in the same day.
What’s in Season?
While state and federal regulations limit what anglers can target and/or what they can keep, there’s always a good bite going on in Destin. The local charter captains stay on the fish, understand the seasonal patterns, and want you to have the day of a lifetime.
If you’re coming with the family, or for a summer vacation, you’re in luck. There’s plenty going on at this time of year. Those include a wide variety of snapper – frankly, you can catch a lot of snapper 12 months out of the year – as well as mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna, sailfish and marlin. It just depends on whether you want to drop to fish near the bottom, or troll, and what your crew is capable of handling.
The real joy of being able to come to the Emerald Coast in the shoulder seasons or “off seasons” (there really isn’t an offseason here, at least for fishing) is that there’s always a great bite. Come in the winter and you’ll be thrilled to chase tuna. Come in the fall, and there’s almost always a great mackerel run. During the spring, just about everything is wide open as the Gulf of Mexico jumps to life and the food chain starts in earnest.
Cobia are best in the spring, and if your goal is to catch “Jaws,” there’s always some type of toothy shark biting somewhere. All sorts of other species like triggerfish and amberjack fill out the calendar and days on the water that end all too soon. The best local charter captains have the appropriate tackle to handle multiple types of tackle onboard, so when you see them bring out a different type of gear, you’re about to experience a new and special thrill.
Planning Your Perfect Fishing Trip
Planning your perfect Destin fishing trip starts with a good attitude and a willingness to learn. Ask your charter captain and booking staff what to expect and what to bring. They’re used to dealing with all sorts of anglers, and they welcome clients from every walk of life. Make sure that your group all has the same expectations. While there are plenty of trips that are family-friendly and child-friendly, not all of them are equally suited for everyone. Gauge your companions’ aptitude, patience and interests when you book your trip.
While Destin’s local waters are typically quite calm, some people do get seasick, so consider over the counter or prescription remedies. Seasickness affects different people differently, and some not at all, but it pays to be prepared.
Of course, the weather is a huge part of fishing success and comfort. While Destin is lovely just about year-round, you need to be prepared for the heat, or the rain, or a little bit of spray. Check the weather report, and remember that you’ll be out in the elements, where everything feels al bit more extreme. Bring sunscreen, lip balm, sun protective clothing, rain gear if needed, polarized sunglasses to cut down on glare and eye fatigue, and shoes that are non-marking yet grippy, so you don’t lose your balance. Hydration is also key – so bring plenty of liquids to stay comfortable.
Ask your captain if he’ll have a cooler with ice onboard for your drinks and snacks. If not, bring your own, just nothing so big that it’ll get in the way. Fishing is active so bring a few items that will help you maintain your energy levels. Soft drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks can be a good choice, but remember water is more important.
Also, water – whether from rain, spray running the boat, or flipping fish – tends to get into everything. Bring Ziplocs or waterproof bags to store your valuables and to protect them. That includes phones and wallets, which should be stowed away, because if they go into the drink they’re likely gone forever.
In Summary
When you charter a boat, it’s your personal adventure, so ask a lot of questions, and demand that you get what you pay for – not just an overpriced boat ride. Start with concerns about safety, then ask for duration and what’s included. You’ll want a seaworthy craft, like the Finest Kind, a 53’ G&S Sportfish. It’ll provide speed, comfort and fishability. You’ll want it to be equipped with the tools necessary to get the job done, from radar to GPS to sonar. And of course there’s the safety factor – don’t skimp there, either.
Once those prongs are met, it comes down to fishing experience and knowledge. Miss your target by a hundred yards or a mile, and even biting fish might as well not exist. You want staff that knows the Destin area and lives and breathes Emerald Coast fishing.
Questions About Your Destin Fishing Trip?
Check out our FAQ page for important information about your charter here in Destin. And of course, call us if you’ve got questions – we’re happy to help you plan your upcoming fishing trip! We promise a day on the Finest Kind will be a memory you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Whether you’re a first-time offshore angler or a veteran of hundreds of trips, the key to having a great experience on the water starts with hiring the right charter boat. You can occasionally have a good trip with the “wrong” choice, or experience tough days with a great operation, but you substantially tilt the odds in your favor by doing your homework in advance. When you come to a world-class fishing destination like Destin on the Emerald Coast, there are a wealth of options to choose from if you act in time, and it’s not always an apples-to-apples comparison.
