Staff Answer
Jun 20, 2026 - 05:45 PM
If you're visiting during the summer, the first things to sell out are usually Crab Island excursions, pontoon boat rentals, and the higher rated fishing charters. Pontoon rentals are probably the biggest one. On holiday weekends and during peak summer, it's not uncommon for the best boats to be booked a week or two in advance. If you're planning to visit Crab Island, I'd reserve your pontoon as soon as you know your vacation dates. Private fishing charters are another one that sell pretty fast, especially the experienced captains with lots of history and great reviews. If you have your heart set on a specific captain or want to fish during red snapper season, booking a few months ahead isn't a bad idea. Sunset cruises and dolphin cruises do sell out too, but there are so many boats in Destin that you can usually still find availability unless you're booking last minute over a holiday. My advice? If there are one or two activities you absolutely don't want to miss, book those first and leave everything else flexible. Around here, it's much easier to find a dolphin cruise the day before than it is to find a good pontoon boat on a Saturday in July.
