• Fishing in Destin means fishing the Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.Charter Fishing Boat image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com
  
  Destin is a small town in Florida's panhandle. It is situated on a strip of land separated from the mainland by Choctawhatchee Bay and joined to the Fort Walton Beach area by a thin strip of land, with state road 98 bridging the gap. The Bay pours out into the Gulf of Mexico, giving visitors to Destin their choice of fishing possibilities, the Bay or the Gulf.
  
  

Bay or Inshore Fishing Charters

• The First Shot boats are small and without the big canopy.Small Boat in the Harbour image by Arne Bramsen from Fotolia.com
  
  Destin has a number of what are referred to as "Four-Pack" charters, boats that are licensed only for four individual fishermen. These boats are typically chartered for fishing the Choctawhatchee Bay and some of the backwater areas of Destin. These ships are a bare-bones charter, with few of them having the convenience of restrooms or shaded areas where passengers can escape the elements. Some charter companies have both the bay charters and deep-sea charters so in listing them there may be some overlap. The Bay Fishing targets trout, redfish, flounder and other inshore species.
  
  The AAA Destin Charter Boat Fishing Service is one option. They have anywhere from 8 to 12 boats out on a daily basis. Each of these boats is individually owned and operated as the AAA company mainly handles the scheduling and payments.
  
  First Shot Charters, owned by Captain Mike Dates, who has over 40 years experience in fishing the back-waters of Destin, is another "Four-Pack" charter. Don't let the size of the boat fool you; many a trip will net thirty or more fish.
  
  

Gulf of Mexico Fishing Charters

• For Deep Sea Gulf Fishing, pick a boat you will be comfortable with.fishing trawlers, jaffa , israel image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
  
  There are two main reasons to fish in the Gulf of Mexico: either you are looking for the thrill of sport-fishing and catching a sailfish, or you are just wanting to find some good-tasting fish like Red Snapper, Grouper, Sea Trout, and Amber Jack.
  
  Breakaway Charters boat, the "Breakaway," is equipped with cabins, restrooms, air conditioning and XM Radio. The boat is certified for up to 10 passengers, although it is available for private charters for smaller groups.
  
  Just-B-Cause Charters owns the boat, "Just-B-Cause." Charters are for either half-day or full day and the boat is equipped with the luxuries of restrooms, an inside cabin with air conditioning, and room to rest when the excitement has gotten to be too much.
  
  The Fish' N Fool refers to their experience as "Full-Contact Fishing;" they specialize in full-day 10 and 12 hour trips for the "Big Fish," which include Giant Grouper, amberjacks and Sailfish. Join Captain Casey and Firstmate Wayne for your full-contact fishing experience.
  
  

Overnight and Evening Charters

• Shark Fishing is an intense sport.shark image by Irena Hnidkova from Fotolia.com
  
  Night charters in the Gulf of Mexico means one thing, shark fishing. A few of the Destin charter companies offer this option. Some offer overnight excursions off the shores of Nicaragua for a little surf fishing. Fish' N Fool is one of these. The overnight charters involve serious fishing 24/7 for those who are willing, and fold-out bunks for those who are not.
  
  The Olin Marler's Charter Fishing company has a number of boats that will take you out overnight. These overnight voyages are mainly to an area that is famous for the Blue Marlin, a noted trophy fish.
  
  The Just B Cause is another charter that promotes their experience in shark fishing. You can expect to see Nurse Sharks, Tiger Sharks, and an occasional Hammerhead. Evening is when the sharks begin their hunt and when the chum hits the water. Every shark within several miles knows it's dinner time. A small shark is going to be about 150 pounds, so be prepared for a fight when you finally hook one.