A Destin family fishing charter is a kid-friendly deep sea fishing adventure where the entire family can enjoy the love of fishing. Along the way, kids and anglers learn about fishing, the fishing environment, safety, and best of all, how to battle big fish. If you are visiting Destin Florida, consider booking a kid-friendly fishing charter for the whole family. Here’s how to choose a great charter for kids and families.
What Type of Trip Is Best for Your Family?
Charters are half day trips which can mean four hours or six hours or full-day trips which can mean eight to ten hours, depending on the charter. If this is the first time your kids and family have been on a boat, aim for a half day charter to let them feel out the motion of the ocean and the thrill of catching fish.
A few things to consider as options for setting up your trip include:
Booking the Boat – You can do a private charter which is just your party – kids, and family, or a group of buddies. You can also join a charter where the other members of the charter are not part of your group. It’s a good way to make friends and learn from other anglers. If you are booking a Destin family fishing charter with kids, and you should, make sure the charter is kid-friendly.
Choose the Target – Many charters specialize in specific groups of fish, such as big Trophy game fish – marlin, tuna, etc. You can find charters that target groups of fish you are interested in fishing. Because the fish change from month-to-month and season-to-season, it is important to choose the target you want.
For kids, handling a big Marlin is a bit much. Sure, it’s exciting, but they will likely have more fun hauling in big (smaller) fish hand over fist. Inshore fishing is a good option for reds, snook and bone fish, but you can also go deep sea fishing and target things like sharks (still kid-friendly.)
Fishing is relevant to everything in life, so you can adapt a fishing charter trip into an educational experience where everyone is having fun. The perks of a Destin family charter trip is that families bond with each other while learning how to fish or expanding their fishing skills. A good Captain and crew make it possible to achieve a lot, even in a short amount of time.
Do they have young kids, teens, or adults?
The odd thing about “kids” is that they come in all sizes and ages. Set up your Destin family fishing trip to appropriately target the age of your kids. The captain of the boat will have options for kids of all sizes and with a safety-first attitude there is still plenty of fun to be enjoyed by all.
Options include in shore charters, near-shore charters, deep sea charters. Inshore charters stick near the coast with about a mile of water to fish. There are plenty of options that include smaller fish and even larger sharks. Near-shore fishing takes you between the coast and about three miles or so out to sea. You are still on the shelf, but there are deeper areas where you can find bigger fish, and plenty of smaller fish in the one-two foot range. Deep sea fishing is where you find a variety of fish most of which are huge – marlin, tuna, big sharks, etc.
How To Prepare for A Family Fishing Charter?
What to pack – What you need to bring is a short list – lunch, snacks, drinks, sunscreen, camera, possibly rain gear. In terms of clothing, dress in layers, so you can add or subtract layers to keep yourself comfortable.
Safety measures and information – You may want to talk about with your family and kids, especially if you have younger kids. The captain will go over the safety rules before the boat leaves the dock. Life jackets are a must. There is a first aid kit onboard for small issues. The boat is equipped with communication system for more serious situations. The goal is to have fun, stay safe, and enjoy the trip.
Sea sickness – Most people do well with the OTC motion sickness meds. Please be sure to read the directions and take them accordingly. Does anyone in the family get seasick? A good rule of thumb is to talk with your doctor or your child’s pediatrician about motion sickness medication options. There are also manual aids that can help with motion sickness, such as bracelets, etc.
Finding The Right Family Destin Fishing Charter
The first thing you want to look for when choosing the best Destin fishing charter is that the boat is family and kid friendly. Kids are more than just small anglers. They have different need from adults, they tire quickly, and may need to rest. Five or more hours of fishing is a lot of work for an adult. A kid-friendly fishing charter should have a place for kids to relax a bit.
A good charter provides everything you need to enjoy a day of fishing. That means they provide your license, fishing gear, and rod and reel. They should also be willing to teach you how to fish. The mates on the boat are your guides, and they should be knowledgeable and interested in the quality of your adventure.
Experience is worth its weight in gold. A good captain has a deep knowledge of the fishing area and will be able to help you while you fish by positioning the boat accordingly, changing the type of fishing to fit the conditions, and put you over the fish, so you are having a good time.
Destin, Florida has kid-friendly charters available. If you are curious about fishing or want to expose your kids and family to fishing, then consider booking a kid-friendly Destin family fishing charter.
Image source: Sam Carlson