What would you recommend to anglers fishing in Destin, Florida for the first time?

The Destin Fishing Rodeo, which takes place October 1-31, is a must for your bucket list. The harbor is buzzing with fun activities and the rodeo weigh-in dock is a great place to see all of the day's catch.

The main thing we caught were Spanish Mackerel. Hopefully there is more of a variety of fish you can catch during different seasons. We were not disappointed though! Sounds like Cobia have been fished out.

Captain Mitchell was a horrible host and captain with no sense of humor or personality. It really felt like he really did want to deal with us and seem slightly racist, just by his demeanor and the way he acted when we showed up. I only pretended like he was trying to put us where the fish were. So not only did we NOT catch but 3 keepers, his attitude made the trip even worse. Not to mention, that he dumped fuel in one of the area we spotted to fish. But he didn't know I realized what he had done. I may not have a lot of experience driving a boat, but I've been on enough charter trip to know better. So, to sum it up. This was the charter experience ever. A complete waste of time and money. This review is based only on the captain himself, not the company. But he is a reflection of the company, which was not a good look at all. So please know that.

Surf fishing slow due to colder water. Pretty much expected in any type of fishing. The bigger fish have not yet migrated to the area. I would imagine chances for bigger fish improve as the season progresses. On the plus side, much less crowded.

Spend the extra money and do 8 hrs at least because it takes 90 minutes just to get to the good areas about 60 miles off the coast or so otherwise you will be very limited on what you can vactch. I did a 4 hour one prior to this and it definitely wasn't worth it

Know what you can catch for the season and chartered time. Understand limits of kids to pull up big fish (small-medium is not sexy but kids watching mom and dad catch everything can be awful for them). If I take first timers, I always make sure there is a nice enclosed Air condition cabin- in case someone gets sick or if it’s too hot, especially during summer. I’ve never had a bad time in Destin. I average 5–6 hour trips.

I recommend you enjoy the experience & take the time to ask questions & learn how to catch those giant amazing creatures! It’s like A big beach party and everyone is invited. So pray up, stay up and get ready for some good times! It was really enjoyable for the kids. Zachary was great at answering all the crazy questions and explaining his methods to everyone & anyone who asked at anytime. Go have fun and the sharks will come!

Expect to be busy catching fish. From trolling to bottom fishing, there are plenty of opportunities for you and your group to catch your targeted species. The Captain will take care of you and make your experience worthwhile.

The 8 hour trip is not for small children. This is a great experience for older kids and adults. The temperature is great, but storms may be experienced. Book your trip and have plans to alter the date due to storms in the area.

Make sure the type of fishing (trolling, bottom, etc), fish and size that you are interested in are clearly defined with the captain. Ask about coolers and storage to be clear about what to expect for packing ahead and while on the water.

August is super hot in Florida. You may or may not catch the fish you want so don’t get discouraged if you don’t catch a trophy. And don’t get upset if the weather is a factor in what and how you catch fish. Any fish are good fish.

The boat felt like driving a Cadillac on the ocean. It was very smooth. The boat had a clean restroom. The boat had comfortable seating for the drive. The deck hand baited everyone’s hook and removed the fish. He was very fast and good at his job. We caught a huge variety of large and small fish. This was my first fishing deep sea experience. I am hooked! The captain and deck hand were very respectful to me and my family. I highly recommend Tyler and Isaiah for your next deep sea adventure.

For our first time ever deep sea fishing, we learned alot and had a wonderful time with Captain Jared. We highly recommend booking with 850 Charters, as we had an exceptional time. Thank you so much.

Like any fishing you have good and bad days. We caught fish and had fun. Just hoped for something to take home and eat. But we got sick and asked to return early so it is nothing against the captain or mate.

Keep looking. The crew was nice but the boat condition and smells ruined any thing that was kind of good. For that kind of money it definitely was disappointing. I read the reviews and expected way better. I felt the group that just finished looked at us like maybe they wanted to warn us. Due to the crew being nice I gave the experience a 2 star.

It’s called fishing and not catching because you can always go fishing, just sometimes you just can’t catch what you’re after. Been there done that on my own lake so it’s understandable. Just when you pay to go, you think you always gonna catch. Be Humble

Bring gloves if you are shark fishing. The 3 hour battle gave me blisters. Though I wouldn't trade my blisters for the world. If you are looking for a down to earth captain who can get you on your fish, look nowhere other than Vengeance Charters. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Understand that if you're searching for larger game fish like mahi, it's a little more difficult earlier in the year, and also red snapper season does not start until the 1st of June. We were able to pull in a ton of Mingo snapper, which is an even better tasting fish. And the right captains will put you on the king mackerel and the wahoo!

Top notch group! The captain was absolutely great. He was very knowledgeable about the body of water, the fish, & extremely patient with the 7 yr old n his questions. I highly recommend n would use again. Thus captain was very professional.

As a first time visitor to Destin you are dependent on the experience and knowledge of your captain. You have to put all trust in your captain and go with the flow. Your captain will take you to a spot where he feels you hav free the best chance to catch something and get you warmed up. After you are warmed you should ask about options. If you want to target a particular fish ask that question before you book your trip. You may be there at the wrong time. When I am in a new location and have no local knowledge I just tell the captain I would like to catch as many different types of fish as possible and always target what ever is biting at that time.

Definitely consider the type of species you aim to catch. Bigger fish require bigger/deeper water. This of course turns into longer boat rides to the necessary habitat. The time in travel can eat into the scheduled time for your trip. If bringing smaller children, you'll be able to get into feisty smaller fish for sure much sooner. They'll have a fantastic time getting into fish much sooner in the trip and have a very memorable time.

Need to have realistic expectations for January fishing. Probably better to target smaller fish where you have a better chance to catch more fish, especially if you want to keep some. We didn't know when we might get back, so intentionally took a shot at bigger fish, knowing the timing wasn't ideal. Naturally we were hoping to have that rare "GREAT" day, that didn't happen, but we were very satisfied. We saw sharks close & dolphins at a distance which was fun.

For first timers, try a four-hour nearshore charter, but if you want to deep sea fish you will probably need a full day. We booked with Captain Jayson Self on the King of Kings boat, a 38-footer with covered area and a toilet. Captain Jayson & Juan were very helpful and fun to be with. Having a great captain, crew, and a boat with a covered area and toilet makes for a great trip. We caught 35+ fish which also makes for a great charter!

Fishing in Destin is great. If you get with a good outfit, you're guaranteed to catch fish. However, if you want to keep the fish you catch, you need to check the seasons for your targeted fish and plan accordingly. The seasons for many of Florida's game fish are pretty short. Booking a trip and catching a bunch of amazing fish you can't keep can be frustrating. But, all in all, great place to fish!

If fishing on a charter for the first time, one be cause of sea sickness. Anyone that gets sick riding in the car will definitely get sick out at sea. Also pay attention to the wind and swell, high wind equals big waves, which will make you or those in your party sick. Plus for the ones that don't get sick, it's more difficult to fish. Other than that enough yourself, and listen to the first mate he will have to teach you a few new things when fishing for large fish in the deep, its a little different than fishing off your bass boat, lol.

Captain Steve said he would put us on top of fish, that's exactly what he did. We had 4 of us on the trip and almost every stop we were all hooking up on Fish that we could keep as well as getting a look at some that will; be ready to keep on a later trip as they get a little bigger. First mate Steve was great as well, experienced as well as fun to have along. Sometimes you would forget that he was working and was not just one of the gang that you brought with you. We ended up going out two days in a row and would highly recommend Steve and Steve. We have been going to the area for years and have found a boat and crew that will become our new regular go too crew !!!! We are already looking at the colander for our next opportunity to book.

Pick shamrock ll and let them take all of your worries away! If possible take you're Dramamine the night before and the morning of. Drink plenty of water or Gatorade. Talk to the captain ahead of time and be specific on what you're expecting. He can put you on sharks even if you didn't book a shark trip. Remember it's called fishing not catching so don't expect the fish to jump on as soon as it hits the water!

Check on the fish in season and verify with your captain that they can put you on your desired fish. I have fished many times in Destin and will continue for as long and often as possible. I have yet to have a bad or even mediocre experience. You will relish your time on the most beautiful water off the shores of the "World's Luckiest Fishing Village". Be sure to have a local restaurant like Dewey Destins cook up your catch. This will show you how to cook it up yourself when you take home a freezer full of fish.

I would avoid fishing Destin in the month of March. We tried fishing the gulf from shore as well as the bay from shore and by boat. There just wasn't much activity in the area. We talked to several other anglers who were also having a stroke of bad luck. I think it would be best to wait until the water has a chance to warm up and bait fish/shrimp move inshore. I couldn't say what month that would be because this was my first time fishing Destin but maybe mid summer after the water has a chance to warm up.

Experience matters ! Capt. Troy put us on fish at an early season date with cold water temps. His mate Dakota was knowledgeable and personable. My wife said she can't wait to come back, that say's it all !