Boating

Fishing at Sandestin Plenty of bass in the lake behind our unit. Best success has been to the left near the brush piles. Artificial bait works, normally rubber worms. Live bait can normally be purchased at the Sandestin dock or area bait shops. No license needed, catch & release. Charters Available at the Sandestin Dock or the dock in Destin behind AJ's restaurant. Fishing license is included in fee. In offseason ask for reduced rates. Main phone # (850) 837-7095 Gentle Winds, Trade Winds, and Topical Winds are 3 boats that have been recommended. Call in advance and they will combine you with others to complete the minimum passengers expected. Four and six hour trips are normal. To catch grouper the six hour trip is necessary. Summer of 2001, Laurie caught a 25 lb. grouper. Don't forget suntan lotion! Canoes Tip a canoe or not. The choice is yours when you rent a canoe from Sandestin's Baytowne Marina. Keep an eye out for the dolphins swimming close by! Pontoon Boats Fish, sunbathe, swim or party on the local sand bars with 8-10 of your closest friends in the comfort of your very own 24' pontoon boat. Available for rentals by the day from Sandestin's Baytowne Marina. A 1/2 day rental (4 hours) is approx. $175.00, and a full day rental (8 hours) is approx. $315.00. More boats are available for rental in Destin near the Fort Walton Bridge. Prices vary at different times of the year. Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 for more information.

More About Fishing

No trip to Sandestin would be complete without testing your angling skills in the waters of the World's Luckiest Fishing Village. Our proximity to deep water has earned us this acclaim. The offshore shelf dips straight to 100' depths within 10 miles, boasting the fastest deep-water access on the Gulf, and twenty species of edible game fish are always in seasonal runs. Offshore trolling begins as close as one mile out. April through October are the prime months for sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, dolphin and wahoo. Cobia starts running in March lasting through May, followed by Spanish mackerel, tarpon and blackfin tuna. Bottom fishing for red snapper, grouper, warsaw, amberjack, scamp and triggerfish is great seasonally. Fishing licenses are not needed for both fresh- and saltwater fishing on charters or for guests fishing on-property. Fishing Charters The Lucky Stars, Sandestin's 35-foot Donzi fishing charter-boat powered by two 250 HP Yamaha outboards, is now offering full and half day deep sea fishing adventures. Because this boat was designed for speed, adventurers will get to destinations quickly and have more time to lure amberjack, grouper, red snapper and king mackerel. Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 to arrange a six hour Gulf fishing for up to four people for $625.00 or an eight hour trip for approx. $825.00. Baytowne Marina is also home to the Lil' Lucky, a 23-foot bay boat. The popular 4-hour excursion features some of the best flats and fishing holes in the Choctawhatchee Bay. Fishermen will enjoy the chase as they lure the ever-elusive redfish and spotted sea trout. Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 to arrange a four hour fishing trip on the Choctawhatchee Bay for up to four people for $360.00. If you would like to organize a larger fishing trip for as many as 40 people, our friendly crew at Lucky Star Fishing Charter will gladly arrange a fishing charter for you. Bait, tackle and fishing licences are available at the Baytowne Marina. Call 850.267.7777 for more information. Book fishing boats early. Destin Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo For the past 50 years, anglers have competed in over 30 different categories for more than $100,000 in prizes in the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo, which starts every October 1 for a month-long run. All types of saltwater gamefish are eligible, so that pier and surf fishermen, trollers, bottom fishermen and offshore anglers have an equal chance to win. Destin also hosts Cobia Tournaments in March and April.

Waverunners

Get your thrills on a two-passenger Yamaha XL 700 Waverunners, or join in one of our excursions when you tire of donuts and rooster tails (if that's possible). Pick up your Waverunner at the Baytowne Marina for $65.00 per hour. Waverunner Excursions Discover "the secret Sandestin" via an Ecotour Excursion a la waverunner, and explore a part of Florida you never knew existed. Enjoy a continental breakfast and then explore the inlets and outs of Choctawhatchee Bay, Alaqua River, Hogtown Bayou and other off-the-beaten-path waterways of Sandestin, as we spy on nesting osprey and gander at cypress knees and other area fascinations. The three hour morning guided tour is $145.00. Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 for more information.

Sailing

Premier Sailing professional sailing academy now offers sailing lessons at Sandestin. For adults, the U.S. Sailing Basic Keelboat Certificate course is a favorite and can be taken over four full days or two weekends. You will spend the days out on the water with two or three other students and your instructor on one of our Catalina 22s. The course is very practical and involves learning by doing. On the Basic Keelboat course, you will cover leaving and returning to the dock, by sail and by motor, anchoring, points of sailing, tides, weather forecasts, right-of-way rules, man overboard drills, sail trim, rope work, sailing theory, safety procedures and more. You can return the following season to progress further and learn to navigate or take the Basic Cruising or Bare Boat Cruising Course. Premier Sailing School specializes in sailing courses for children. Children from ages 7 to 15 are invited to participate in this aquatic adventure, where they will learn basic sailing techniques from a certified instructor. This course is taught using the Royal Yachting Association program, which breaks down the learning process into many stages allowing each child to learn at his or her own pace. Small kid-size boats are used, Walker 8s and Sunfish for bigger kids. Most children will sail their own boat usually by their first morning. Monday to Friday and two or three day courses are available from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. One day courses are $90 per child/per day. Discounts are available for multiple days. Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 for more details or to book a course. Charters Sandestin's Baytowne Marina is capping off 2001 with the arrival of the 60-foot-long custom motor yacht, the Island Belle. Exclusively offered by Sandestin and only one of eight boats in the area to provide sunset dinner cruising, meetings, parties and day-time excursions, the Island Belle is a vessel like no other along the entire Gulf Coast. Guests can take a two-and-one-half hour cruise on the Island Belle and make full use of the shipÌs dining, bar Û even a private salon. Large enough to comfortably carry up to 49 passengers, the yacht has an open-air upper deck perfect for enjoying the surrounding views and evening sunsets. The Island Belle is captained by Buddy Grosse, a 16-year resident of the area certified by the United States Coast Guard. The Island Belle is open year-round for parties, weddings, corporate functions and holiday gatherings. Costs per adventure vary. Group rates are available. Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 for more details or to book a cruise. The Jennifer Marie sailing vessel now docked at the Baytowne Marina at Sandestin is proudly presented by Blackbeard Sailing Charters. This majestic boat is a traditionally rigged gaf rig schooner that measures 70 feet in length and carries up to 49 passengers. A Merritt Walters design built in 1985, the Jennifer Marie is perfect for day sailing, group outings, weddings or corporate team building. Several daily cruises are available, including the popular sunset cruise, which sail at 5:00 p.m. The 2 1/2 hr sunset cruise is $35.00 per adults and $25.00 per child (ages 5 to 14). Call the Baytowne Marina at 850.267.7777 for more details or to book a cruise. The Spanish Moon, a luxurious 35' sailing sloop, is fully equipped with a bathroom, shower, barbecue grill and Avon raft. With comfort and safety in mind, the yacht can accommodate up to six passengers (not counting crew). We encourage you to participate in the sailing of the boat as much or as little as you desire. So, bring along your favorite beverage and snacks or let us prepare a delicious lobster or steak dinner for you. Full-day, half-day, sunset and lobster cruises depart by advance reservation from Sandestin's Baytowne Marina. A 2 1/2 hour Choctawhatchee Bay cruis is $45.00 per adult and $25.00 per child (ages 5 to 14). By the way, the lobster will be lovingly prepared by Cap'n Chuck himself. Call 850.267.7777 for information and reservations.

Scuba Diving

When you're ready to take the plunge, you'll find 80-100' clarity in Sandestin-area waters. The Emerald Coast is ranked among the top five dive places in the world for shelling. Sandbars about a mile from shore and a limestone reef, three miles out, are treasure troves of shells, some up to 20" and perfectly formed. Natural reefs run in short ledges (ranging from a few feet to a mile long), lending greater concentration of a diversity of marine life. For a special thrill, try night-diving. Many sea creatures (including some fish, shells, and lobsters) are nocturnal, and the depths seem to come alive with life and color at night. Natural Reefs Amberjack Rocks The Sandestin-area's largest reef system is within three miles of Destin Pass. About 80' deep, it is known for spearfishing black snapper and amberjack and shelling. Long Reef This reef is three miles south of Sandestin. It features staircase ledges (2,000 yards long in 80' of water) and is known for lobsters and shells. White Hill Located 20 miles west of Sandestin, White Hill is great for spearfishing, lobsters, and shelling. The Eighteens Excellent for lobsters and large groupers, this is deep diving at 90-108'. Timberholes One of the most beautiful sites in the area. A natural limestone reef 6-18' high and 110' deep, abundant with fish and underwater wildlife. Artificial Reefs Air Force Barge Only 3/4 of a mile from Destin Pass (12 miles west of Sandestin) in 62' of water, this site is particularly suited to novice divers. Liberty Ship Well-known for flounder, the wreck of the Liberty Ship also attracts large jewfish and lobsters. It is found 20 miles west of Sandestin in 80' of water. Butler's Barge This is the largest barge off Ft. Walton Beach, about 20 miles west of Sandestin. An interesting wreck dive, 65' down. Destin Bridge Rubble Here, in about 62' of water, you'll find excellent spearfishing, particularly for flounder.