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?
Will your group include children or first-timers?
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.