What to expect
On a Captain’s Choice trip you hand the decision to the person who was on the water yesterday. The captain picks the bay or the nearshore Gulf, picks the target species, and picks the spots, based on the wind, the tide, the water temperature and what has been biting that week.
It is the trip for anglers who care more about bent rods than about a particular fish. In spring that might mean sight casting cobia along the beach. In autumn it is usually redfish schooling in the bay. In summer it can be snapper and mackerel over the reefs.
Anything you catch that is inside the current regulations is yours to keep, and it is cleaned at the dock before you leave.
It depends on the day, which is the point. These are the species that most often make it into the box:
One rate, whichever water the captain picks on the day.
Rates Per Boat
Includes up to 4 passengers
Extra Passengers $50
Includes Gear + License
Why Choose Destin Inshore Guides
Fifty years of combined time on this water is the whole product here. You are buying the judgement about where to go, not a fixed itinerary.
Knows Destin and the Emerald Coast inside and out
Great for beginners and seasoned anglers
Quality rods, reels, and gear included
We go where the fish are — no wasted time
Our Cape Horn 31t is rigged for serious nearshore work. Twin 2023 300hp Yamahas, full electronics suite, and a deep-V hull built to handle the Gulf out to 9 miles. Plenty of deck space for a party of 6, with hardtop shade, bow cushions, and the rod storage to chase snapper, grouper, kingfish, and amberjack on the same trip.
Open Deck Layout
Open space for easy movement and casting.
Stable Fishing Platform
Wide hull keeps the boat steady and secure.
Guide Ready Performance
Built for daily use and consistent results.
Family-Friendly
Comfortable layout for a smooth experience.
Call Now: 850-502-9170
Have questions or ready to book your trip? Send us a message or give us a call — we’ll help you plan the perfect day on the water in Destin.
Questions about Captain's Choice trips
How the captain decides, what you keep, and what the day costs.
What is a Captain's Choice trip?
The captain decides where to fish and what to target on the morning of your trip, using the wind, the tide and what has been biting that week. You get the best fishing available that day rather than a fixed plan made weeks earlier.
Is Captain's Choice a catch and release trip?
No. Anything you catch that is inside the current state and federal regulations is yours to keep, and it is cleaned at the dock at no extra charge. The captain will tell you on the day which species are open.
What does a Captain's Choice charter cost?
$900 for four hours, $1,125 for five and $1,350 for six, per boat rather than per person. Up to four passengers are included, each extra passenger is $50, and rods, reels, bait, ice, tackle and the group fishing licence are in the price.
Will we fish the bay or the Gulf?
Whichever is fishing better. In calm weather that often means running nearshore for snapper and mackerel. When the Gulf is rough, the bay holds redfish, trout and black drum in protected water.
Before you book
The rest of the answers, written by the captains who run the boats.