DESTIN'S BEST FISHING CHARTERExperience

Black Grouper are some of the strongest and hardest-fighting grouper species you can catch in the Gulf of America. They are big, powerful, and aggressive, and once hooked, they will immediately try to retreat to structure, making them one of the toughest fish to land.

It’s highly sought after for its firm, flaky white meat and mild, slightly sweet flavor. Mild, clean, slightly sweet—less "fishy" than mackerel or tuna. Firm, meaty, and flaky—similar to Red Grouper, Snapper, or Halibut. Black Grouper is a top choice for grilling, frying, blackening, or baking.

Black Grouper are primarily an offshore species, meaning you’ll need to head at least 20-50+ miles offshore into the Gulf of Mexico to find them. They prefer deep ledges, reefs, wrecks, and rocky bottoms, making them a challenging but rewarding target. We recommend an 8 hour trip to target Black Grouper.

Catching a Blackfin Tuna is an adrenaline-pumping experience! These fish are fast, powerful, and relentless fighters, making them one of the most exciting offshore species to target. They are often between 10 to 25 pounds in size and never stop fighting. Any Blackfin over 30 lbs is a serious challenge and an incredible catch!

Blackfin Tuna is delicious and highly sought after for its tender, flavorful meat. It has a rich, buttery taste with a firm, meaty texture, making it perfect for sushi, sashimi, searing, or grilling.

Blackfin Tuna are an offshore species, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 20-50+ miles into the Gulf of America to find them. They prefer deep blue waters, strong currents, and areas with abundant baitfish. We typically recommend an 8 to 12 hour trip for Blackfin Tuna.

Catching a Blue Marlin is one of the ultimate big-game fishing experiences! These massive, powerful fish are known for their explosive runs, acrobatic jumps, and sheer strength, making them one of the most prized catches in the Gulf of America.  Large Blue Marlin (500+ lbs) often require more than one angler to handle the rod during an extended fight. A big Blue Marlin fight can last anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours!

You can eat Blue Marlin, but it is not commonly consumed due to its high mercury content and status as a prized sportfish. Many anglers choose to catch and release Marlin to help conserve the species.

Blue Marlin are a deepwater species, so you’ll need to travel at least 50+ miles offshore into the deep blue waters of the Gulf of America to have a good chance at catching one. They prefer warm, deep waters (300-1,500+ feet deep) and are usually found along the continental shelf, offshore oil rigs, and current breaks where baitfish gather. We recommend at least a 24 hour trip to target Blue Marlin.

If you hook a Bonita, be ready for an explosive, high-speed fight! As soon as the Bonita is hooked, expect it to scream drag and make a blistering run, sometimes over 100 yards in seconds. Unlike some fish that tire quickly, Bonita can fight hard all the way to the boat. These fish are a fun fish for teenagers to catch and a fish you can catch nearshore in Destin on a quick trip.

You can eat Bonita, but they are not typically prized as table fare due to their dark, bloody, and oily flesh. Most anglers in Destin use them as bait for larger fish like snapper, grouper, and sharks.

You don’t always need to go far offshore to catch Bonita (False Albacore) in Destin. These fast-moving, hard-fighting fish frequently cruise near the Destin Pass jetties, along the beaches, and around inshore wrecks, feeding on baitfish. While many anglers consider them bycatch, they provide exciting light-tackle action and are excellent for bait. Bonita are regularly caught on all trips that we offer.

Hooking a Cobia is an exciting challenge—they are strong, stubborn, and unpredictable fighters. Known as one of the best game fish in the Gulf of America, Cobia can test your strength with their powerful runs, headshakes, and last-minute dives.

Cobia is one of the best-tasting fish in the Gulf.  Mild, white, flaky meat similar to grouper or snapper. Great for grilling, blackening, baking, or sushi. High in protein, low in fat, and very clean tasting.

Cobia can be caught nearshore and offshore, so you don’t always need to go far! They are often found just off the beaches, in the Destin Pass, and around offshore wrecks.

Flounder are not be the hardest-fighting fish, but they are sneaky, ambush predators that require skill and patience to hook. Expect a stealthy bite, slow but strong resistance, and a unique fight compared to other fish.

Flounder is one of the best-tasting fish in the Gulf. It has mild, flaky white meat that is perfect for frying, grilling, or baking. There are many popular dishes: Stuffed flounder, blackened flounder, flounder piccata.

Flounder are mostly an inshore and nearshore species, so you don’t need to go far to catch them! They prefer sandy or muddy bottoms where they can ambush prey, and they can be caught right off the shore, in the bays, or near inshore wrecks. When in season, they can be caught on a 4 or 6 hour trip.

Hooking a Gag Grouper means you’re in for a hard, bulldog-like fight, especially if you’re fishing around structure. These fish are strong, aggressive, and love to dive straight back into cover, making them a challenge to reel in.

Gag Grouper has a mild, flaky white meat makes it a favorite for grilling, frying, and baking. It is a low-mercury fish, making it a safe choice for regular consumption.

Gag Grouper are mostly caught offshore, but they can sometimes be found inshore and nearshore during certain times of the year. Their preferred habitat is rocky structure, reefs, wrecks, and ledges, where they ambush prey. We recommend a 6 to 12 hour trip for Gag Grouper.

Hooking a King Mackerel (Kingfish) is an adrenaline-filled experience! These fast, powerful predators are known for their blistering runs, aggressive strikes, and sharp teeth, making them one of the most exciting fish to catch in the Gulf of America.

Yes, you can eat King Mackerel, but they are high in mercury, so they should be consumed in moderation, especially by children and pregnant women. Many anglers prefer to smoke, grill, or turn them into fish dip, as the meat is oily but flavorful when prepared correctly.

During the Spring and Fall, you can find King Mackerel relatively close to the shore. They can be caught on a 4 to 6 hour trip. During the summer, they move to deeper water 10 to 30 miles out. We recommend a 6 to 8 hour trip in the summer.

Catching a Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish) is one of the most exciting experiences in offshore fishing! These fish are known for their explosive strikes, acrobatic jumps, and vibrant colors, making them a favorite among anglers in Destin.

Mahi Mahi is a very popular fish in restaurants and is one of the best-tasting fish you can catch in Destin. It’s highly prized for its mild flavor, firm texture, and versatility in cooking.

Mahi Mahi are an offshore species, so you’ll need to head out 20-50+ miles into the Gulf of America to find them. While at times we can catch Mahi Mahi on an 8 hour trip, we recommend a 12 hour trip if you are looking to target Mahi Mahi specifically.

Catching a Red Grouper means you’re in for a strong, steady fight with hard headshakes and deep dives. They are aggressive predators that prefer to ambush prey near reefs, ledges, and rocky bottoms. While not as strong as Gag Grouper, Red Grouper still put up a tough fight and taste amazing!

It’s highly sought after for its mild, sweet flavor and firm, flaky white meat. It has a mild, slightly sweet, and clean—less "fishy" flavor than mackerel or tuna. Its meat is firm, flaky, and moist—similar to Snapper, Halibut, or Gag Grouper.

Red Grouper are primarily an offshore species, so you’ll need to head out at least 20-50+ miles into the Gulf of Mexico to find them. They prefer hard-bottom areas, natural ledges, and deep reefs. We recommend at least an 6 hour trip to target Red Grouper.

Hooking a Red Hind Grouper is an exciting catch, especially if you're fishing around rocky reefs, ledges, and wrecks. While they are smaller than Gag or Red Grouper, they still put up a strong, aggressive fight for their size. They are a great species for kids to catch! They are smaller, fight hard but not too aggressively, and are usually found in shallower water, making them an excellent target for young anglers.

Red Hind Grouper is delicious and highly prized for its mild, flaky white meat. It is one of the best-tasting smaller grouper species, making it a great fish for eating. It is similar to Red Grouper but a bit sweeter.

Red Hind Grouper are primarily a nearshore and offshore species, preferring rocky bottoms, ledges, and reefs. Fortunately, you don’t have to go as far out as you would for larger grouper species like Gag or Red Grouper. Red Hind Grouper can be caught on a 4 or 6 hour trip.

Scamp Grouper put up an exciting but manageable fight. They are aggressive, strong, and structure-oriented, meaning you’ll need to work fast to pull them out of their hiding spots before they escape!

Mild, slightly sweet, delicate white meat. Great for grilling, frying, blackening, or baking. Very moist and flaky when cooked—prized by chefs! – Even better than Red Grouper!

Scamp Grouper are mostly found offshore, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 20-50+ miles into the Gulf of Mexico to find them. They prefer deeper, hard-bottom areas, natural ledges, and deep reefs. We recommend a 6 to 12 hour trip for Scamp Grouper.

Catching a Red Snapper in Destin is an exciting and rewarding experience! These fish are strong, aggressive, and put up a great fight, making them one of the most popular offshore species in the Gulf of America. Red Snapper hit bait aggressively and can pull hard right away. They use their body shape to fight with pure strength. If you don’t pull them away fast, they’ll dive back into rocks or reefs. Large Red Snapper (15+ lbs) can take longer to bring up from deep water. Snapper over 10 lbs put up a serious fight, especially in deep water (100+ feet).

Red Snapper is one of the most delicious and sought-after fish in the Gulf of Mexico. It has mild, sweet, and flaky white meat, making it less "fishy" than mackerel or tuna. Red Snapper is prized for its versatility—it's great in almost any dish! Firm yet flaky—similar to Grouper, Halibut, or Mahi Mahi.

Red Snapper are primarily found offshore, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 10-50+ miles into the Gulf of America to find them. The biggest Red Snapper (20-30+ lbs) are usually found in 150-250 feet of water, 30+ miles offshore. We recommend an 8+ hour trip for Red Snapper when it is in season.

Hooking a shark is an adrenaline-pumping experience! These powerful, fast, and unpredictable predators put up an intense fight with long runs, deep dives, and aggressive headshakes. The size and fight depend on the species, but even smaller sharks will test your gear and strength. The Blacktip Shark (3-6 feet) – Hard runs, acrobatic jumps, and aggressive. The Bull Shark (5-10 feet, VERY Strong) – One of the hardest-fighting sharks in the Gulf. The Hammerhead Shark (5-12 feet, Epic Fight) – Long runs and intense power. The Tiger Shark (6-14 feet, Monster Shark) – Rare, but will test any angler’s strength. The Spinner Shark (3-6 feet, Jumps Like Crazy) – High-flying action like a tarpon!

Yes, you can eat shark, but not all species are good for consumption. Due to many regulations around catching sharks, we only do catch and release trips for sharks.

Sharks can be found everywhere in the Gulf of America. Larger Bull Sharks are often found 5 to 15 miles offshore. The biggest sharks in the Gulf—Mako, Tiger, and Great Hammerhead—are usually found 30+ miles offshore.

Catching a Spanish Mackerel is an exciting, high-speed experience! These fish are fast, aggressive, and acrobatic, making them one of the most fun nearshore species to target.

Spanish Mackerel are good to eat if prepared fresh. They have mild, slightly oily, flaky white meat that works well for grilling, frying, or smoking. However, they spoil quickly, so proper handling is key to getting the best flavor.

Spanish Mackerel are primarily a nearshore species, so you don’t have to go far to catch them! They are often found right off the beaches, jetties, and piers, but you can also target them a few miles offshore when trolling or sight fishing. They can be caught on a 4 or 6 hour trip.

Hooking a Tarpon (The Silver King) is one of the most thrilling experiences in sport fishing! These massive, acrobatic fish are known for their explosive jumps, long fights, and pure power, making them one of the most prized catches in saltwater fishing. The average size of a Tarpon is 50 to 100 pounds with them regularly over 100 pounds in the Destin area.

No, Tarpon are not considered good eating. While they are a prized sportfish, their meat is tough, bony, and full of connective tissue, making them unappetizing compared to other saltwater fish.

You don’t have to go far to catch Tarpon in Destin! They are a nearshore species and can be found right along the beaches, in the Destin Pass, and in the bays. However, larger Tarpon can also be found further offshore, especially near deep channels and wrecks.

Catching a Triggerfish (Gray Triggerfish) is fun, challenging, and a great test of your fishing skills! They may not be the biggest fish, but they are incredibly strong for their size, have powerful jaws, and are notoriously sneaky when stealing bait.

Triggerfish have a mild, sweet, firm white meat – Similar to lobster or crab. The best cooking methods are grilled, blackened, fried, or baked. Triggerfish fillets are small but highly prized for their delicious flavor!

Triggerfish are an offshore reef species, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 10-30+ miles into the Gulf of Mexico to find them. They prefer deep, hard-bottom areas, artificial reefs, and wrecks where they school in large numbers. They can often be caught on a 4 to 6 hour trip.

Catching a Yellowfin Tuna is an intense, high-speed, drag-screaming battle that will test your strength, endurance, and gear. These fish are one of the strongest, fastest, and most sought-after offshore species in the Gulf of America. The average size is between 40 and 80 pounds. Yellowfin over 100 lbs is a serious challenge and a bucket-list catch!

Yellowfin Tuna is one of the best-tasting fish in the ocean. It has a mild, buttery flavor with firm, meaty texture, making it perfect for sushi, sashimi, seared tuna steaks, or grilled dishes. We will properly bleed the fish andmake sure it is kept cold immediately after catching for use in sushi or sashimi.

Yellowfin Tuna are a deepwater offshore species, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 50-100+ miles into the Gulf of Mexico to find them. They prefer deep blue waters with strong currents and are often found near oil rigs, deepwater ledges, and temperature breaks. We recommend a 24 hour trip to target Yellowfin Tuna.

Catching a Wahoo is one of the most thrilling experiences in offshore fishing! These high-speed, razor-toothed predators are known for their explosive strikes, blistering drag runs, and aggressive fight, making them a top target for anglers. They average 20 to 50 pounds and hit baits at 60+ mph, often nearly ripping the rod from your hands.

Wahoo is one of the best-tasting fish in the ocean. It has mild, sweet, firm white meat, making it perfect for grilling, searing, blackening, or even sushi when properly handled. Firm, lean, and meaty—similar to Swordfish or Mahi Mahi but flakier. It is often called "the filet mignon of the ocean" because of its delicious taste and firm texture.

Wahoo are an offshore species, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 30-100+ miles into the Gulf of Mexico to find them. They prefer deep blue waters, fast-moving currents, and areas with structure like ledges, oil rigs, and floating debris. It is rare to catch them closer to shore but is possible. We recommend an 8+ hour trip to target Wahoo.

Catching a Vermilion Snapper (locally called Mingo Snapper) is a fun and fast-paced experience! These fish school in large numbers, so when you find one, you can usually catch more. They aren’t as big or strong as Red Snapper, but they still put up a solid fight for their size. We typically target vermillion snapper when we have younger kids on the trip as they are easier to reel in and provide quite a bit of excitement for them.

At Kraken Reels we feel that this is one of the best-eating fish in the Gulf of America. It has mild, sweet, flaky white meat, making it perfect for grilling, frying, blackening, or baking. We prefer Vermilion Snapper over Red Snapper because the meat is even more tender and delicate.

Vermilion Snapper (Mingo Snapper) are primarily an offshore species, meaning you’ll need to travel at least 10-40+ miles into the Gulf of America to find them. They prefer deep reefs, ledges, and wrecks, where they school in large numbers. These are our favorite fish on a 4 hour family trip.