Destin Charter Boat Association

The Destin Charter Boat Association got its start in 1954. A group of fisherman, from then a small fishing village, had the fortitude to understand that working together as a fleet would be for the betterment of their then small community. Little did they know then, or maybe they did, they were setting the foundation for a for-hire and commercial fleet of fishing boats that would be the envy of the Gulf and possibly the nation. The Destin For-hire fishing fleet since then has developed their own fisherman's cooperative buying fuel, bait, and supplies in bulk. We have our own dry-dock facility. And have a fleet of for-hire fishermen and women that are second to none.

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The concern back then was putting Destin on the map. Getting the word out about the abundance and quality of fish as well as the beauty of the area was the objective. They sent pictures of the catches to regional newspapers driving people to come experience Destin. They developed the Destin Fishing Rodeo, and the fisherman's wives in the 1970s developed the Destin Seafood Festival, both events are still held today along the Destin Harbor. Needless to say the vision worked, and the determination of the generations to follow have made their legacy live on with success.

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With over 60 years under its belt the DCBA has been blessed with strong leadership, all of which believed in the elevating the community approach. This has served the past, present, and future generations of fishermen and women well. The DCBA still owns and operates the Destin Seafood Festival which is its annual fundraiser. This allows us to continue to support our community as well as go to meetings to and advocate for sustainable fishing practices. The DCBA annually contributes to the Destin History and Fishing Museum, the Destin Fishing Rodeo, the Miss Destin Pageant, as well as various other community events and organizations. 

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All the success of Destin has not come without adversity. From natural and man made disasters to the management of our fisheries there is always challenges. Since the 1970s when fishing restrictions first started being developed in the Gulf of Mexico the DCBA has always been apart of that process. The DCBA works with federal and state agencies, legislators, regulators, scientists, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to insure sustainable and accountable harvest of our natural resources. At the DCBA we take pride in advocating for the anglers that utilize our services as their access point to the nations resources.