1st Choice Charters (Formerly Southern Country Charters)

Rating

Anglers' gallery (314)

What anglers say

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  Giancarlos Mancini

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  Georgia, US

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  Member since 2024

  5.0

  Verified

  had a blast! it was our boys 1st time out and couldnt have went better.

  6 Hour Trip – Offshore Summer on July 10, 2026 • 5 adults • 2 children

  big shout out to Captain Anthony! The trip started out slow but Capt Anthony worked extremely hard moving around until we got fish in the boat. He did an awesome job entertaining our boys on a fun boat ride as well. We ended up with around 47 Mingos which is almost the limit for our crew and 1 big red grouper. Not counting the nice Cobia we caught that wasnt quite big enough and a bunch of Trigger fish too bad they was out of season. But will definitely hook up with this charter again. Dont let 1 bad review turn you away i would 100% advise you to trust the good ones with 1st Choice. Great guys!

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  Response from Charter operator

  July 29, 2026

  Thank you so much, Giancarlos! It was a pleasure having you and your boys aboard. Captain Anthony works hard to make sure every trip is a success, even when the fishing starts off slow, and we’re glad it paid off. Those Mingos and that red grouper made for a great day! We appreciate you trusting us and taking the time to share your experience. We hope to have your family back on the water again soon!

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  Dana Hansen

  Repeat angler

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  California, US

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  Member since 2025

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  2 trips

  5.0

  Verified

  awesome trip!!!

  6 Hour – Offshore Fishing on June 24, 2026 • 2 adults • 1 child

  We had an amazing fishing trip with Dusty in Destin, to say the least! He was friendly, patient, and made the whole experience so much fun. This was my stepdaughter's very first fishing trip, and she said it was her favorite part of our entire vacation! Seeing how excited she was every time she caught a fish made the day even more special. Dusty knew exactly where to take us, the boat was really nice, and he made sure everyone had an unforgettable experience. We caught lots of fish including groupers and limits of red snappers, then took to local restaurant he recommended for them to cook! We highly recommend fishing with Dusty at First Choice Charters and can't wait to come back! 🎣🌊💙

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  Response from Charter operator

  July 8, 2026

  Thank you so much, Dana, for the amazing review! It means the world to us that your stepdaughter’s first fishing trip became the highlight of your vacation. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to Captain Dusty he takes great pride in creating unforgettable experiences for every guest. We’re thrilled you caught some great fish and enjoyed a delicious fresh-cooked meal afterward. We can’t wait to welcome you back to Destin for another incredible day on the water! 🎣💙🌊

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  Luke Johnson

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  Missouri, US

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  Member since 2026

  5.0

  Verified

  Best fishing I’ve ever had!

  6 Hour Trip – Offshore Summer on June 24, 2026 • 4 adults

  Anthony is a heck of a guide! He made sure that everyone on the boat was included in catching fish and for the less experienced fishermen on the boat he was there to answer any and every question they had. We caught over 50 mingos and were able to keep 40 for our 4 person limit. We also caught many many trigger fish and rock fish and were able to catch some trophy sized Amber jacks! This trip was above and beyond anything we could’ve imagined and I can’t thank Anthony enough for being so kind and friendly and taking care of us while sending us home with a cooler full of fish and memories to last a lifetime!

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  Response from Charter operator

  July 8, 2026

  Thank you so much, Luke! We truly appreciate the incredible review. We’re thrilled Captain Anthony made your trip such a memorable one and made sure everyone had a chance to catch fish and enjoy the experience. Congratulations on an awesome catch, and thank you for choosing 1st Choice Charters. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable day on the water! 🎣🐟🌊

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  Latoya Perry

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  Georgia, US

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  Member since 2026

  5.0

  Verified

  Absolutely Amazing Fishing Trip

  4 Hour – Offshore Fishing on May 3, 2026 • 2 adults

  I recently had the pleasure of going on a fishing trip in Destin, Florida with 1st Choice Charters, and the experience was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The crew was professional, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable, making sure everyone felt comfortable and had a great time on the water. We caught plenty of fish and truly enjoyed every moment of the trip. I highly recommend 1st Choice Charters to anyone looking for a top-tier fishing experience. This trip was a 10/10, and I’m already looking forward to booking again soon! 🎣

  

  Response from Charter operator

  May 7, 2026

  Thank you so much for the amazing review! We truly appreciate you choosing 1st Choice Charters for your Destin fishing trip. Our crew works hard to make every trip fun, safe, and memorable, so hearing you had such a great experience means a lot to us. We’re glad y’all caught fish, had a great time on the water, and felt taken care of from start to finish. We can’t wait to have you back out with us again soon! 🎣🔥

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  Holly Rode

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  North Carolina, US

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  Member since 2026

  5.0

  Verified

  Awesome trip — tons of fish and a great captain!

  5 Hour Trip – Offshore Fishing (PM) on April 10, 2026 • 4 adults

  We had an amazing time on this trip! We caught around 40 fish and stayed busy the whole time, which made it a blast from start to finish. The captain was awesome—super fun, easygoing, and clearly knew exactly where to go to keep us on fish. He also had great music playing, which made the whole experience even better. If you’re looking for a fun, productive fishing trip with a great vibe, I highly recommend this one. We’ll definitely be back!

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  Response from Charter operator

  April 12, 2026

  Holly, this is what we aim for every trip! 🎣🔥 40 fish and nonstop action—that’s a day to remember. Capt. Anthony knows how to keep it fun, keep you on fish, and keep the energy right the whole time. Appreciate you trusting us and taking the time to share this. We’ll be ready for y’all when you come back—next trip, we’re topping it. 💪