First Choice Charters in Destin

First Choice Charters offers private fishing and recreational boat trips from Destin. Its vessels are named Betsy and Momma Tried. The fishing menu separates bay and inshore trips from offshore outings in state or federal waters.

Contact and booking details

A charter for fishing or a broader boat day

The business serves Destin and the nearby Emerald Coast, including visitors staying along 30A. It advertises fishing, family outings, Crab Island visits, sunset trips and special celebrations. Tell the booking team whether angling is the main purpose or one part of a broader day on the water.

The reviewed company pages do not identify a confirmed individual captain or provide full specifications for Betsy and Momma Tried. Request the assigned boat and captain when comparing trips. Boat facilities, permits and fishing plans should match the option you reserve rather than a general description of the whole business.

Three fishing categories

Inshore fishing listings describe light tackle, casting and bottom fishing. The state-water offshore option combines bottom fishing and trolling without going beyond the company's stated state-water range. Federal-water bookings advertise deeper offshore fishing, including deep dropping. These categories are different reservation choices.

Listed fish include redfish, trout, sheepshead, snapper, grouper, triggerfish and mahi, depending on the package. The long species lists do not mean all fish fit the same habitat or trip. Ask the captain which targets make sense in the chosen category and which can legally be retained on your date.

Published rates need one clarification

Inshore and state-water offshore bookings are advertised at $250 per hour, with a four-hour minimum and options up to ten hours. They start at $1,000 for up to six passengers. The fishing page lists a $400 booking deposit.

The federal-water listing displays a starting price of $1,800 but also states $350 per hour with a six-hour minimum. Those figures do not agree arithmetically. Obtain a written total for that category before payment. Its listed durations run from six to ten hours, so your final quote should also establish exactly how long the trip lasts.

Gear, facilities and retained fish

Fishing license coverage, rods, reels, tackle and lures are included. Cut and frozen bait are supplied, with live bait collected with the group before traveling to the fishing grounds. Ask how that bait collection fits into the booked time if fishing hours are especially important to you.

The amenities list includes a flushable console head, fish finder, GPS, a trolling motor, live bait storage and an icebox. Confirm those features on your assigned boat. Catch cleaning and filleting are provided for legal fish; a 15 to 20 percent captain gratuity is described as customary and separate from the fare.

Contact and practical planning

Call 850-376-0122 or send an inquiry through the contact form. The business lists 580 Harbor Boulevard. Confirm the precise boarding point, parking and arrival time when your reservation is accepted. Ask for the cancellation, weather and payment conditions that apply to your chosen trip.

Bring food and drinks in a small cooler, with no glass. Sunscreen should be lotion rather than spray. Hats, sunglasses, towels and personal essentials are recommended. Six passengers is the published fishing limit, including anyone joining only to ride, so count every member of your party when making the booking.

Details checked October 11, 2026, using the operator’s published information. Rates, boats, meeting points and policies can change; confirm the final trip details directly. Listed species describe possible targets, not a guaranteed catch or an open harvest season.

Featured photo: First Choice Charters colorful center console cruising across Destin water. Photo from First Choice Charters.

Explore more Florida fishing charters or check local tides and weather before planning your day.