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Destin Florida Fishing

Destin earns its name as the "World’s Luckiest Fishing Village" by virtue of its famed emerald Gulf shore – deep and inshore waters that hold enough sailfish, grouper, mackerel, cobia, tarpon and wahoo to inspire an extensive fleet of fishing charters, a bevy of tournaments (including the October-long Fishing Rodeo), and a glorious selection of seafood restaurants. With the speediest deep-water access to the Gulf, Destin claims more billfish catches annually than any other Gulf port and up to four times more fish species than most other destinations.
World's Luckiest Fishing Village
Famous fruitful waters are internationally recognized. The offshore shelf dips straight from Destin's East Pass to 100-foot (30m) depths within 10 miles (16km) -- the speediest deep-water access on the Gulf.

Widest Variety of Catches in Florida Gulf
Up to four times more than most destinations, 20 species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs.

Largest Charter Boat Fleet in Florida
Destin harbors more than 140 vessels from party boats to private charters. All offer deep sea, inshore and bottom fishing for as little as $25 a half-day. Free fish cleaning for the day's catch provided by many charters.
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Offshore
More billfish are caught each year off the coast of Destin * Fort Walton Beach * Okaloosa Island than all other Gulf ports combined. Offshore trolling begins only 27 miles (43km) out. Prime months run April-October for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo.

Bottom
Year-round concentrations lure red snapper, grouper, warsaw, amberjack, scamp and triggerfish.

Inshore
The elusive cobia begins running in March. Lasting through November, subsequent runs include Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, tarpon and blackfin tuna.

Water's Edge
1,200-foot (360m) Okaloosa Pier is lighted for night fishing and known to shelter 100-pound (45kg) tarpons. Casting from finger jetties, sandy shores and the 3,000-foot (900m) Destin Bridge Catwalk hooks speckled trout, white snapper and redfish.

Bay and Bayou
Catch sheepshead, white trout, channel bass, croaker, sailcat, bluefish and buckets of blue crab all year.

Freshwater Fishing
Some of the best fishing is found in Blackwater, Shoal and Yellow rivers -- teeming with bass, bream and catfish.

An array of stocked ponds, such as the 350-acre (140ha) Hurricane Lake in Blackwater River State Park, are filled with channel catfish, large-mouth bass, bluegill and shellcracker.