Location: 580 Harbor Boulevard, Destin, FL 32541
Contact: (850) 650-3825
Hours: 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM daily
Website: pelicanadventures.com
Overview
Pelican Adventures has been running fishing charters out of Destin Harbor for over 20 years. This family-owned operation offers everything from budget-friendly party boats to specialized swordfishing charters, which is pretty rare to find under one roof. They're BBB accredited since 2010 and run multiple vessels to handle different group sizes and fishing styles.
What sets them apart is their range. You can book a seat on the Vera Marie party boat for under $100, split costs on a semi-private trip, or charter a private boat for your group. They even run 10-12 hour swordfishing trips on their 42-foot Hydracat if you're serious about getting into deep water.
Trip Options
Party Boat Fishing (Vera Marie)
$89-$99 per person | 6 hours | Up to 65 anglers
This is the most budget-friendly option for getting offshore. The Vera Marie handles big groups and gives you a solid introduction to Gulf fishing if you're new to it. According to their website, this works best spring through fall when the bite is more consistent.
Be aware: Multiple TripAdvisor reviews mention overcrowding issues. One customer noted the boat was "WAY overpacked" to the point where "you could not drop your line down without it getting tangled." Another reported a delayed departure and poor catch rates with 70 people only keeping 3 fish in 7 hours. If you want elbow room, this probably isn't your best bet.
Semi-Private Fishing
$149-$159 per person | 6 hours | 8-25 passengers
The middle ground option. You're sharing the boat but with fewer people than the party boat, which gives you more space to fish. Target species include snapper, porgies, mingo, sea bass, plus king mackerel, wahoo, and dolphin (mahi-mahi) depending on conditions.
This setup makes sense if you want to keep costs reasonable but don't want to deal with party boat crowds.
Private Charters
Call for pricing | 4-12 hours | Any group size
These are fully customizable trips where you control the schedule and targeting. The crew can run bottom fishing, trolling, or site fishing depending on what you're after. Species range includes red snapper, grouper, amberjack, triggerfish, kings, mahi, tuna, sailfish, and swordfish.
According to their website, charters typically run 10-40 miles into the Gulf depending on trip length and what you're targeting. All trips include license, bait, tackle, and fish cleaning.
Swordfishing Charter (Deep Obsession)
$3,000 | 10-12 hours | Private
The specialty trip. Daytime swordfishing using deep-drop techniques at 1,000-2,000 feet. This is an all-inclusive deal on their 42-foot Hydracat built for serious offshore work. If you've been wanting to get into swordfishing, this is a legitimate opportunity.
What Customers Say
The Good:
Reviews for private and semi-private trips are generally positive. Customers consistently mention the crew being helpful with beginners. One TripAdvisor review noted the crew "would bait my hook from time to time to help maximize fishing times." Multiple reviews mention captains who "knew where to take us for the best fishing" and "kept circling the boat to make sure you were fishing and not waiting around."
FishingBooker reviews describe the crew as "comfortable working with guests of all ages - kids, in particular, feel at ease." Several customers called it "the best fishing charter we have been on" and said they "had us on fish all day."
The complimentary fish cleaning gets mentioned often. One customer appreciated that the crew "cleaned and filleted fish at no extra charge."
The Not-So-Good:
Negative feedback centers on two main issues: party boat overcrowding and customer service around cancellations.
The overcrowding concerns are legitimate. As mentioned above, multiple people report the Vera Marie being packed to the point where fishing is difficult. One TripAdvisor review described a trip that was "2.5 hours late leaving" with extremely poor catch rates for the number of anglers aboard.
Customer service issues pop up in several reviews. One customer reported Pelican cancelled their fishing trip less than 24 hours before departure because not enough people signed up, then refused to refund. Another mentioned a snorkeling trip cut short by weather with "no partial refund or apology" and experienced "no kindness or understanding" when needing to reschedule due to illness.
Something to keep in mind: the negative reviews are heavily concentrated on party boat experiences and cancellation situations. Private and semi-private charter reviews trend much more positive.
The Bottom Line
If you're booking a private or semi-private charter with Pelican Adventures, you're likely getting a solid experience based on the review patterns. The crew knows the waters, they're patient with beginners, and they put people on fish.
The party boat is where things get dicey. If you go that route, understand you're trading price for space and potentially dealing with crowds that impact your fishing. It's still the cheapest way to get offshore in Destin, but set your expectations accordingly.
The 20+ years in business and BBB accreditation show they're a legitimate operation. Just make sure you understand their cancellation policies before booking, especially for party boat trips that depend on minimum passenger counts.
Best for: Families and beginners on private charters, budget-conscious anglers willing to deal with party boat trade-offs, serious offshore enthusiasts interested in specialized swordfishing trips.
Maybe not for: Solo anglers expecting personal attention on party boats, anyone with limited flexibility around cancellation policies.
Sources:
- •Pelican Adventures Official Website
- •Pelican Adventures Deep Sea Fishing Page
- •Yelp Reviews - 92 reviews
- •TripAdvisor Reviews
- •FishingBooker Charter Profile
- •BBB Business Profile
- •Instagram @pelicanadventuresdestin - 2,458 followers, 2,382 posts
Research conducted: January 22, 2026
Tight lines!
