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Destin seeks solutions for young anglers facing dock restrictions on the Harbor

Council members champion harbor access for young fishers, exploring registration system to maintain Destin's fishing tradition while addressing property owners' security concerns.
Source: City of Destin

The Destin City Council is exploring solutions for young anglers who are increasingly being restricted from fishing at local docks along Destin Harbor, an issue brought to light during the Oct. 21 council meeting that sparked a broader conversation about preserving local fishing traditions.

  • Councilman Dewey Destin raised the concern after receiving multiple calls regarding teenage anglers, including members of the Destin High School fishing club, who have been faced with no-trespass warnings and growing restrictions on harbor fishing spots.

“I understand the property owners’ dilemma,” Councilman Destin said during the meeting. “People are doing things that are associated with vandalism down there, and it’s a risk they don’t want to take.” He noted that while the city continues to allow fishing from public docks, the available areas are “getting smaller and smaller.”

The discussion led to a nostalgic reflection from Councilman Johnny King, who recalled similar challenges emerging decades ago. 

  • “We saw this when the Emerald Grande came around,” King said. “When I was a kid, we used to ride our bikes in Destin with a five gallon bucket with a cast in it, a tackle box in your backpack and a fishing pole in the other hand.”

Despite past restrictions, King noted an encouraging trend. “I’ve seen an influx of kids… it just gives me incredible joy. The amount of kids that are riding around on their bicycles, [with] fishing poles, it’s so nostalgic,” he said, attributing some of the renewed interest to the influence of urban fishing content on YouTube.

One potential solution proposed during the meeting involves creating a registration system through the city. “If there’s some kind of system we could put where they would register with the city, so at least the vandalism problem may be not quite such a concern,” Councilman Destin suggested.

  • City staff is already taking steps to address the issue, coordinating with stakeholders including the Harbor & Waterways Board for a meeting in early November to discuss possible solutions.

The timing of this initiative coincides with the city’s upcoming 26th Annual Pinfish Classic, scheduled for 7 a.m. on November 2 at the Highway 98 dock behind AJ’s Restaurant. 

The free catch-and-release event welcomes youth anglers under age 14, with awards given for the largest and smallest pinfish in each age group, as well as a prize for the most fish caught overall.

“They do have to have somewhere to fish,” Councilman Destin emphasized. “And that’s becoming more and more of a problem.”

3 Responses

  1. YES!!! I support this 110%. Get the kids out and away from those game cubes. Get them out to enjoy the beautiful resources we have around here. The fisheries are beyond awesome. These young ones need places to go and fish without being harassed and be able to enjoy the sport if fishing. Let’s get them a stamp like a fishing license. I’d do this with all persons of Okaloosa county. Visitors (tourist) can too at a low out of state cost. (Donation to a dock fund for upkeep and such)(just an idea). Register and get a stamp for fishing the docks. Grown ups like to fish too.

  2. Ft Walton has a fishing pier, Niceville has a great public fishing pier on Boggy Bayou. Destin has the jetties – which are great fishing but a bit dangerous for kids. Does Destin have public accessible fishing piers? I think we need to promote what we have a bit more – a long pier on Joe’s Bayou, other spots, are there fishing piers in the park on Calhoun Ave? How about at Capt Leonard Destin Park?

  3. I have been in the charter industry for nearly 20yrs, I own a successful mulit-boat fishing company, I teach the FISHING CLASS at Destin Highschool and I am also the parent of a teenage boy the eats, sleeps, and breathes FISHING! Though my son has not been “trespassed” he has been asked to leave a property a time or two while fishing docks around the community. I have heard many stories from my students with the same experiences.
    I am so blessed to hear the city of Destin working on a solution for the young fisherman in our area! The more time these kids spend outdoors the less time they are stuck on a screen! A few designated locations, would mean alot for these kids. I would be more than happy to help design a system for accountability purposes. Our school offers a one of kind fishing class in which our students receive highschool credit and OJT, learning the heritage of Destin as fishing community, and the importance of being and ethical angler. These young men and women are given all the tools to succeed in the fishing industry with the knowledge of conserving the natural resources in our local area. Thank you council for addressing this matter!!

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