Dawn Patrol Charters 

4.9/5 (297 reviews)
 
Federally permitted
 538 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541, United States

Dawn Patrol Charters 

Over 9 miles offshore
Destin, FL, United States
22 ft
5
4.9/5 (297 reviews)

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Dawn Patrol Charters invites you to explore offshore, back bay, and inshore Gulf fishing in the 'World's Luckiest Fishing Village.' For Captain JT and his team, everything swimming around Destin is fair game. Join the crew for a fun and productive day with your family and friends.

Whether it's a trip to the Choctawhatchee Bay for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Flounder, and Pompano, or an excursion to the prolific Gulf waters for the likes of Grouper, Amberjack, King Mackerel, Red Snapper, Cobia, and Tarpon, Dawn Patrol Charters has it all.

Bay fishing is a great year-round opportunity to enjoy live bait and light tackle action. There are plenty of grass flats, jetties, bridges, pocks, points, and drop-offs to be explored. Plus, you may also catch Ladyfish, Bluefish, Black Snapper, and many more!

If you're after a trip to the Gulf, then just let your captain know. You will be bottom fishing for various species of Snapper and Grouper, as well as Amberjack, Flounder, Triggerfish, and who knows what else. Or go trolling for Wahoo, Mahi Mahi-Mahi, Cobia, Bonito, Spanish and King Mackerel, and Jack Crevalle. These trips can be organized anytime from April until November.

Dawn Patrol will take you out aboard a 22' Cape Horn center console. This spacious boat can accommodate up to six anglers. It comes powered by a single 250 HP Yamaha 4-stroke and can cruise at a top speed of 35 knots. The boat features a dual helm and a Cobia Tower - key features of any sight fishing trip.

The vessel is outfitted with top-notch navigational and fish finding electronics to save your time while searching for fish. As well as that, there is a 30-gallon live well loaded with all kinds of bait to make your hooks irresistible. Depending on which trip you chose, you will use cigar minnows, herrings, redefines, and speedos.

All trips come with the licenses, bait, fly fishing equipment, and quality spinning rods and reels mainly by Penn International.

Dawn Patrol Charters invites you to explore offshore, back bay, and inshore Gulf fishing in the 'World's Luckiest Fishing Village.' For Captain JT and his team, everything swimming around Destin is fair game. Join the crew for a fun and productive day with your family and friends.

Whether it's a trip to the Choctawhatchee Bay for Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Flounder, and Pompano, or an excursion to the prolific Gulf waters for the likes of Grouper, Amberjack, King Mackerel, Red Snapper, Cobia, and Tarpon, Dawn Patrol Charters has it all.

Bay fishing is a great year-round opportunity to enjoy live bait and light tackle action. There are plenty of grass flats, jetties, bridges, pocks, points, and drop-offs to be explored. Plus, you may also catch Ladyfish, Bluefish, Black Snapper, and many more!

If you're after a trip to the Gulf, then just let your captain know. You will be bottom fishing for various species of Snapper and Grouper, as well as Amberjack, Flounder, Triggerfish, and who knows what else. Or go trolling for Wahoo, Mahi Mahi-Mahi, Cobia, Bonito, Spanish and King Mackerel, and Jack Crevalle. These trips can be organized anytime from April until November.

Dawn Patrol will take you out aboard a 22' Cape Horn center console. This spacious boat can accommodate up to six anglers. It comes powered by a single 250 HP Yamaha 4-stroke and can cruise at a top speed of 35 knots. The boat features a dual helm and a Cobia Tower - key features of any sight fishing trip.

The vessel is outfitted with top-notch navigational and fish finding electronics to save your time while searching for fish. As well as that, there is a 30-gallon live well loaded with all kinds of bait to make your hooks irresistible. Depending on which trip you chose, you will use cigar minnows, herrings, redefines, and speedos.

All trips come with the licenses, bait, fly fishing equipment, and quality spinning rods and reels mainly by Penn International.

John Tenore
Captain
John Tenore
29 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
July 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Almost there...
2 Hour Trip – Kids/Beginners Fun
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
2 hour trip starts at 1:00 PM
US $500
Entire boat: up to 4 people
3 Hour Trip - Kids Fun (5 MAX)
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
3 hour trip starts at 1:00 PM
US $700
Entire boat: up to 4 people
4 Hour Trip AM (5MAX)
In high demand Last booked: 5 days ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
US $880
Entire boat: up to 4 people
4 Hour Trip PM (5 MAX)
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 1:00 PM
US $880
Entire boat: up to 4 people
Tarpon Fishing
In high demand Last booked: 5 days ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
5 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip
Jun 1 - Aug 1
US $1,000
Entire boat: up to 4 people
Half Day Trip – Extended (5 MAX)
In high demand Last booked: 5 days ago
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
5 hour trip multiple starting times (6:00 AM, 1:00 PM)
US $1,100
Entire boat: up to 4 people
3/4 Day Trip (5 MAX)
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
6 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
US $1,350
Entire boat: up to 4 people
Full Day Trip (5 MAX)
FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
US $1,700
Entire boat: up to 4 people
There are 26 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.9
297 reviews
4.9
Boat & equipment
4.9
Captain & crew
4.9
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (655)

What anglers say

96%
Great experience
96%
Family friendly
99%
Friendly captain
98%
Good boat
96%
Recommended
93%
Caught fish

All reviews (297)

Frequently mentioned
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Showing 15 of 297 reviews
Jessica Olaby
Jessica Olaby
us
Iowa, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
New
JT was amazing
4 Hour Trip AM (5MAX) on June 25, 20263 adults

My family (dad,sister, fiance, and myself) had such amazing experience with JT! My dad has some very tough mobility issues and JT was so patient and caring when getting him in and out of the boat. JT also helped us when reeling in all those big fish! My dad caught the most and biggest fish on our trip! lol..it was like 27 inches long! JT was cheering us on and hopping all over that boat to make sure we weren’t missing an opportunity to catch a fish. We also saw dolphins! It was perfect! We would definitely do it again! Thank you so much, JT!

Logan Dums
Logan Dums
Repeat angler
us
Wisconsin, US
Member since 2026
2 trips
5.0
Verified
May need a nap after this one!
Tarpon Fishing on June 10, 20262 adults

What a great time. We started the day catching bait on sabiki rigs. When the captain decided we had enough we headed out to look for tarpon schools and caught a bonus redfish along the way. Our first tarpon school produced a bite that led to an hour plus long fight before she broke off. Three schools and a couple non target bonus fish later we hooked up again and after an hour long battle we got our tarpon pictures and high fives. Hire this guy and dont forget your sunscreen.

Reported catch:
Tarpon
Redfish
John Tenore
Response from Captain

Had a blast fishing with you guys, very successful trip. We've seen lots of tarpon managed to catch a big red fish bonitas, Spanish mackerel, and had another tarpon on it broke off, found some more. We hooked another one and managed to catch that one turned out to be an awesome day. great day of fishing. See you guys next time.

Sarah Wiley
Sarah Wiley
us
Tennessee, US
Member since 2023
5.0
Verified
Great outing with JT
2 Hour Trip – Kids/Beginners Fun on October 14, 20252 adults1 child

We had a great fishing trip with JT. It was myself, my best friend, and my 6 year old son. It was his first time fishing and we started catching small bait fish right away that he was really excited about. After a bit we headed further out and started angling for the bigger stuff! I caught a grouper and a snapper. The trip was only a couple of hours which was perfect because that’s about the time my little boy lost interest! For the adults, it was both very relaxing and of course thrilling when we got one of the line. I will definitely go back out with JT for a longer trip when we’re down here again. He’s very personable, provides just the right amount of guidance, and was fun to be around! Highly recommend!

Reported catch:
Mangrove Snapper
John Tenore
Response from Captain

A fun trip. With new friends. We had a lot of action a 2 hour hope to see you again soon. Thanks, captain j. T.

Sanjay Gogate
Sanjay Gogate
us
Florida, US
Member since 2025
5.0
Verified
Awesome first-time fishing trip!
4 Hour Trip AM (5MAX) on August 21, 20251 adult1 child

I took my 10 yo son for a 4 Hr AM local off shore fishing trip. He has wanted to go for a few years now and I’m not an expert at saltwater fishing. Parking was easy and used Harbor Docks parking lot, as the boat is parked behind at their dock. We wore sunshirts, hats and sunscreen and croc type shores ate a must when it’s 90+deg daily. The Captain fixed all my worries of saltwater fishing as he used his 30+ years of experience to handle the “hard” part: boat driving, baiting/hooking lines, casting, gaffing and getting fish off. We had a wonderful day as we started with catching bait fish just outside the Destin harbor, seemed like 20+ fish in 30 minutes. This was fun for the kid as he was able to bring in 5 fish on one cast while we bait fished. He definitely was beating me, which was a huge thrill for him. We then made our way out to a farther off shore spot and BOOM! We were shocked as it was Fish-ON from the get go. We had two bait fish lines out and next thing we knew both lines made the whirring & zooming sounds of fish taking the bait and running fast away. The next three hours were a blur as we reeled in Spanish mackerel and King mackerel non-stop. I guess we had a lucky day and we were tired from reeling in fish who gave a really good fight for the whole time reeling them in one after another. Overall it was an awesome and amazing experience. Dawn Patrol made it easy. We were ready to come back after the 4 hours because we were exhausted as it was in the 90’s and humid the whole time. T-storms rolled in two hours later so we timed it perfect. We ended up with a total of a DOZEN king and Spanish mackerel total brought back. There were quite a few that either cut us off or stole the bait and lived to see another day. There were also at least 4-5 more reeled in that we had to release as they were juveniles that were under the regulations size. Overall, awesome and we’ll likely return to the Dawn Patrol again someday. Best of luck and now we LOVE Destin fishing and had a lifetime experience as a Father-son.

Reported catch:
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
John Tenore
Response from Captain

Wow!! ,what an action pack 4 hour trip? Non-stop action as we caught king mackerel in Spanish. Mackerel, the fishing was super hot, along with the temperatures, had a blast fishing with you and your son hope to see you guys next year. Thanks, captain j. T.

Mike Dufner
Mike Dufner
Repeat angler
us
Utah, US
Member since 2022
3 trips
5.0
Verified
New
June fishing trip
Half Day Trip – Extended (5 MAX) on June 24, 20264 adults1 child

Solid day in the water. Captain JT worked hard to put us on the fish. Snapper weren’t cooperating so he found a great grouper hole. Even made an early trip back for one guest not feeling so well before getting us back out there. Solid day in the water.

FAQs about Dawn Patrol Charters

Dawn Patrol Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $500 per group, additional US $50 per person after 4 guests - 2 Hour Trip – Kids/Beginners Fun (2 hours)
  • US $700 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - 3 Hour Trip - Kids Fun (5 MAX) (3 hours)
  • US $880 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip AM (5MAX) (4 hours)
  • US $880 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - 4 Hour Trip PM (5 MAX) (4 hours)
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - Tarpon Fishing (5 hours)
  • US $1,100 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - Half Day Trip – Extended (5 MAX) (5 hours)
  • US $1,100 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - Half Day Trip – Extended (5 MAX) - 1:00 PM (5 hours)
  • US $1,350 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - 3/4 Day Trip (5 MAX) (6 hours)
  • US $1,700 per group, additional US $100 per person after 4 guests - Full Day Trip (5 MAX) (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Dawn Patrol Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Flybridge
  • Live bait well
  • Ice box
  • Sonar
Trips booked with Dawn Patrol Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Fishing license
Dawn Patrol Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore fishing
  • Nearshore fishing
  • Reef fishing
  • Flats fishing
  • Backcountry fishing
Dawn Patrol Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light tackle
  • Bottom fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Fly fishing
  • Deep sea fishing
Top targeted fish species with Dawn Patrol Charters include:
  • Amberjack
  • Cobia
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Flounder
  • Grouper (Gag)
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Redfish
  • Shark (Thresher)
  • Snapper (Mangrove)
  • Snapper (Red)
  • Speckled Trout
  • Tarpon

Your captain

John Tenore
John Tenore
John Tenore

Destin, Florida, United States

10 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
297 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since June 2015
Angler's Choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

Captain John 'JT' Tenore was born and raised in North Carolina. JT was first introduced to fishing by his father and was fishing along the coastline at a very early age. In the 1980's, JT moved to Destin and started fishing the local piers. And the rest is history!

10 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
297 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since June 2015
Angler's Choice

The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.

Captain John 'JT' Tenore was born and raised in North Carolina. JT was first introduced to fishing by his father and was fishing along the coastline at a very early age. In the 1980's, JT moved to Destin and started fishing the local piers. And the rest is history!

The fish you can target

Amberjack
Amberjack
Cobia
Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Flounder
Flounder
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Redfish
Redfish
Thresher Shark
Thresher Shark
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove Snapper
Red Snapper
Red Snapper
Speckled Trout
Speckled Trout
Tarpon
Tarpon
Amberjack
Amberjack
Cobia
Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Flounder
Flounder
Gag Grouper
Gag Grouper

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
5 persons
Boat length
22 ft
Year built
1994
Restored in
2020
Boat manufacturer
Cape Horn
Boat type
Center console
Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 225HP
Max cruising speed
35 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Reef Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Fly Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Fishfinder
Flybridge
Live bait well
Ice box
Sonar

What's included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Fishing license

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child friendly
You keep catch
Catch and release allowed

How you can pay

Book with 25% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 25% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

 Cash

 Visa

 Mastercard

 American Express

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 4% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Destin right now

AmberjackAmberjack
CobiaCobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
FlounderFlounder
Grouper (Gag)Grouper (Gag)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)King Mackerel (Kingfish)
RedfishRedfish
Snapper (Red)Snapper (Red)
Speckled TroutSpeckled Trout
TarponTarpon

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