Federal Red Snapper Announced! The 2021 Red Snappers season will start June 1st and go through August 2nd closing on August 3rd.

Along with Red Snappers, Gag Groupers are set to open June 1st, 2021 as well. This is a great time to come fishing and be able to capitalize on the chance to harvest both species at the same time. Snappers and Groupers are by far some the most delicious fish to eat!

June and July are our busiest months of the year. Popular by demand we usually book up 2 to 3 months out for this particular time. Don’t be left at the dock!

Call Shelby directly at (850) 685-9368 to book your trip now.

FUN FACTS: Here is are the 2020 preliminary Gulf Red Snapper Landings (as of 1/20/2021)

-June Landings : 591,358 lbs.

-July Landings : 503,202 lbs.

-October Landings : 103,791 lbs.

That is a total of 1,172,208 lbs. harvested (62% of Florida’s allotted quota).

Federal Waters: Gulf of Mexico: Gray Triggerfish 2021 Season

MARCH 1ST – MAY 31ST and AUGUST 1ST – DECEMBER 31ST

(please note potential early closure if quota is met prematurely)

Triggerfish regulations are required to be 15”. Only 1 per person per day included within 20 reef fish aggregate.

With Red Snappers, Gag Groupers, and Amberjacks being closed until later in the year, Triggerfish are an awesome bonus to be able to keep during the Spring. They are one of the tastiest fishes to eat. Triggerfish are not only good to eat but fun to catch as well! No better way to spend your Spring Break or Late Summer then catching your own dinner. It doesn’t get any fresher then walking off the boat and taking your fish right to a restaurant on the harbor for a “hook n cook” or a “cook your catch” dinner. A fun way to spend time with friends or family!

Destin’s 72nd Annual Fishing Rodeo, Triggerfish, and Amberjack season are coming to an end as we wrap up the last week of October.

The 2020 Gray Triggerfish season will close on October 26th.

The 2020 Greater Amberjack season will close October 31st.

Triggerfish and Amberjacks are both delicious to eat and fun to catch! Both species represent the experience of Deep-Sea Fishing in Destin, FL perfectly. Triggerfish and Amberjacks are hard fighting fish. This duo makes deep sea fishing in Destin fun for the whole family!

We had a record hurricane season this year which made for an interesting September and October to say the least. Most of our trips were spent dealing with the big seas that Mother Nature pushed in. We are thankful for the trips we were able to make and the fish we were able to harvest.

On November 2nd, The Backlash is set to be hauled out and undergo a face lift. We will be working with the Coast Guard in order to officially be certified to carry more than 6 passengers. We will resume normal operations starting the first of the year once we are finished at dry dock and the certification is completed.

Anyone who has fished with is during the 2020 season who would like to reserve the same date for the 2021 season is welcome to book now. All other bookings will be on a first come, first serve basis starting January 1st, 2021.

Looking forward to seeing y’all on the water and a huge THANK YOU to all the customers who fished with us this season

Don’t Miss Shark Saturday!

Hang ‘Em High every Saturday in October. It’s time to put all that muscle work from the summer to the test. If you bring in the largest shark of the day, you’ll get a cash prize! What are you waiting for? Start reeling!

Aboard the Backlash, your captain will be Chris Kirby and his professional team of fishermen. Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean the fishing fun has come to an end. Book your fishing trip today to take part in this yearly event!

The sun had set and it wasn’t much longer, Chris is pulling them out of gear signaling it is time. Chris started to rig baits while I broke out the grill and started to prep our feast. I already had a good buzz from tea-time mixed with some ultras. Once we landed in Sword country it was about 9:00pm. Chris shut the big girl’s motors off and we began to drift slowly in the middle of nowhere. We let out three baits and began to wait. 20 minutes later, I’m pulling ribeyes off the grill, 50 yards off the back of the boat appears a pissed off, bill swinging Swordfish on top. I threw the plates down, it was pure chaos for about 15 long seconds before I was holding the rod. Ten minutes later Chris Kirby was leaned over the gunnel reaching down to pull this mighty-might out of the water. This girl was healthy, lit up with the bluest cobalt blue down her back and measured in at 47 inches. We snapped a few pictures of her as her eyes swiveled, looking at each of us like we were aliens. With a good luck kiss, I deposited her back into the deep. We all smiled and laughed as we ate our luke-warm steaks and discussed how the trip had already been made.

We reset our baits and finished cleaning up dinner. Chris picked up the jig rod and started searching for a Blackfin. It wasn’t long until he had one on. The three of us shot the shit and drank, telling stories and listening to music. I felt so relaxed and thankful to be alive. About the time the buzz had increased to a cloud, ZZZZZzzzzzZzzzZZZZZZzzzZZZzzzz. There she was. We all ran around the boat like squirrels. I harnessed up as she ran to the bottom. Chris Kirby woke the Backlash up as Chris Hunter reeled in the other lines. This would make the 15th time I was in the harness and saddled in to reel in a sword. Every time prior to this, ended with being a shark, pulling the hook, or some giant eel. While I have been on the boat multiple times as part of the crew, I had yet to ever reel in a sea monster I could call mine. I concentrated on the reel and watched my rod tip position to make sure I didn’t screw this up. Little while later we got our first glimpse of her. She came up on top and was trying her best to escape the lasso she had around her. She made another short run and then came back up and straight down off the starboard side. She was comfy there and refused to come up any further for a harpoon shot. She raised up and made a big run straight under the boat. Chris Hunter unclipped the rod, followed her and yelled “HARD TO PORT”. Chris Kirby blew some diesel smoke and flipped the Backlash around to save it. She would then take off for her final run. With the line straight down and taking drag off the stern, I was hooked back in and waited for her to stop. When she did, I could almost feel how tired she was. (So was I) I started to ease her up and gain back the line lost. 10 minutes later Chris Hunter said, “ Oh shit, shes dead.” I looked up from the reel and saw a tail coming towards me. The fight was over. I never stopped reeling until the swivel hit the rod tip. Chris squared and myself heaved this monster over the side. We all stood in awe trying to comprehend what the hell just happened. The hook had ripped through her dorsal fin and landed in top of her head. The leader completely wrapped around her stomach and then again around her tail. With a smile so big it kind of hurt a little, I grabbed Chris Kirby and hugged him so hard I thought I broke him in half. I thanked him from the bottom of my heart. He never gave up and the curse was broken. I was officially holding a broadbill that was mine. My Dad’s face crossed through my mind and a tear ran down my cheek. With some hoops, hollers, high-fives, a little photo shoot, drinks and some music cranking, we celebrated in the middle of nowhere, as a speck of sand in the Gulf. While the rest of the world was sleeping, we rounded back to the spot where the madness began, iced our trophy, and put out some more lines. Chris squared went to sleep a short while later. It was now 4:30am. I watched the moon rise and then the sun. I spent the whole night talking to God and singing Miranda Lambert songs on the back deck as I watched the lines. I thanked God for this harvest. As the sun got brighter the guys woke up. I reeled in our Sword rigs and put out lures. It was time to head back. On the way there we swung by some shrimp boats off in the distance to see if they had any friends hanging around. Sure enough we found some yellowfins wanting to play. What a way to cap it off.

I called my Dad as soon as we came into cell range to tell him what had just happened. Redemption at its absolute finest. Thank you Chris squared. Thank YOU Chris Kirby. Thank you God. My first broadbill, a trip I will tell my grandchildren about.

Thank you for reading,

Shelby Lynn Kirby~

Its that time of year! Destin Offshore Charters specializes in Cobia fishing and the best bay fishing in Destin, Florida.

Cobia can be found in a variety of habitats including coral reefs, rocky shores, and inshore around pilings. They are found in clean, offshore waters around drifting and stationary objects. Along the Gulf Coast, Cobia tend to inhabit the Panhandle area in late February, early March. They then travel southward along the coast beginning in April and peaking all along the Gulf Coast in July and August.

Cobia feed on fish, crabs and squid and can be caught by bottom fishing and trolling. They can be spotted as they travel in shallow water, markers, around pilings, buoys and anchored boats. They will also accompany other large fish and rays. You want to cast ahead of the fish, bring the lure across its path and work the lure with plenty of action. Cobia are tough fish to fight, so use caution getting them into the boat.

The Destin Cobia Tournament began March 1st and ends April 30th at 8pm. Contact Destin Offshore Charters for more details on Cobia fishing along the Gulf Coast.