The Phoenix is the newest and best appointed boat in our Destin field, a brand new 55 foot G&S sportfisher that runs offshore charters out of Destin Harbor. Where most of the port’s six packs are open center consoles, the Phoenix is a full cabin sportfisher with cold air conditioning, a freshwater shower, and the room and range for a serious bluewater day. Its early reviews are flawless, and the only real mark against it is that there are not many of them yet.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 8.1 Phoenix is a strong choice and ranks second in Destin, just behind Maximus. The two trade strengths cleanly. Phoenix is the better boat by a clear margin, the most comfortable and capable hull in the field; Maximus has the deeper, longer record. If your priority is a comfortable cabin, a big cockpit, and the range to chase marlin offshore, Phoenix is the pick. If you want the reassurance of hundreds of consistent trips behind the boat, Maximus has it and Phoenix does not yet. For a lower priced run, 850 Charters and My Destin Charters cost less for a smaller boat, and for a large group the Lady Em carries more anglers. Compare them all on the Destin ranking.
The boat
The Phoenix is a 55 foot G&S sportfishing convertible built in 2025, running twin 550 horsepower Cummins QSC 8.3 diesels. It is the kind of boat the rest of the field is measured against: a cold, air conditioned cabin, a V berth with bunks, and a restroom with a freshwater shower, which on a hot Gulf day or a long offshore run is a real comfort the open boats cannot match. The cockpit is rigged for both bottom fishing and trolling, and at 55 feet it rides drier and more steadily than a center console in a building chop. It is licensed to carry a larger group, up to 20, though trips are priced for up to 6, so it works for a family or a small party that wants room to spread out rather than a packed deck.
The fishing and what you target
Out of Destin’s East Pass the deep water is a relatively short run, and a boat with this range presses it. The Phoenix fishes the Gulf bottom for red grouper year round, snapper and amberjack in their open seasons, and cobia and king mackerel nearshore, then reaches mahi mahi, wahoo, and tuna on the long trips, with marlin and sailfish the big game prize from summer into the fall. The size and the diesel range are what let it run far enough for a true bluewater day, so the 10 and 12 hour trips are where the boat earns its rate. Red snapper is the summer headliner on the federal for-hire season; gag grouper is closed for most of 2026 and amberjack stays shut through August 31, so check the open windows with Florida FWC before you lock a target.
Trips and prices
Phoenix runs 4 to 12 hour charters, all whole boat for up to 6 anglers: $1,400 for the 4 hour, $1,950 to $2,100 for the 6, $2,600 to $2,800 for the 8, $3,250 to $3,500 for the 10, and $4,200 for the 12. That is the top of the Destin price range, which the boat earns on comfort and capability rather than on a deep reputation it has not had time to build. Rods, reels, bait, tackle, and the license are included and the crew cleans your catch, with a customary crew tip extra. For a group of six the per person cost lands well above a head boat seat and a notch above the smaller six packs, the trade for the newest, most comfortable boat in the port. Our cost guide sets those tiers side by side.
The crew
Captain Justin runs the boat with a mate, and the early sentiment is uniformly positive: reviewers describe a professional, knowledgeable captain, a hard working deckhand, and the cleanest, nicest boat they have chartered. The honest qualifier is volume. With a flawless rating across a small number of trips, the record is genuinely good but shallow, and a 5.0 over a couple of dozen reviews does not yet carry the weight of a strong average over hundreds. That gap is the single reason the boat sits a place below Maximus rather than at the top, and it is one a season or two of trips will close.
Booking and what to know
Book direct or through FishingBooker, and book ahead for summer, since a single new boat with a strong start fills quickly. Confirm the trip length and the target with the captain so the plan matches the season, and ask which trips reach the bluewater if marlin or tuna is the goal. The boat departs Destin Harbor. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a cooler with ice; the boat covers the rods, tackle, bait, and license, and the air conditioned cabin means you are not at the mercy of the sun on a long day.
How we scored it
Phoenix scores 8.1: the best appointed and most capable boat in our Destin field, a brand new 55 foot sportfisher with a comfortable cabin and real offshore range, held out of the top band only by a short track record that a few more seasons will fill. Boat and equipment is its standout factor, the highest in the port. See how we scored this boat and the Destin ranking for the field.