Dawn Patrol Charters Customer Reviews

Captain John Tenore was so much fun and we caught so many fish!! In the morning four hour tour we were able to catch Spanish mackerel, triggerfish, mingos, and grouper!! John is very friendly, passionate about fishing and has extensive local knowledge making for a very exciting fishing adventure. He was also really good about taking photos which is so helpful in the heat of the moment when there is so much going on!! I give a big thumbs up and hope anyone considering a charter will choose to go out with him!!

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Captain JT was great. Our two kids (6&8) loved it. It was all our first time on a fishing charter and it did not disappoint. We caught around 20 spanish mackerel and kept 10 of them. JT was kind enough too also take is to try and find some dolphins and we succeeded. Overall this experience was a BLAST! I would highly recommend captain JT for your next fishing charter experience.

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Capt JT was great to fish with! He started us using a Sabiki rig to catch bait and that was extremely fun. We then trolled and absolutely crushed the King Mackerel! Definitely my favorite guided trip I’ve ever been on. Got some bonitas too. Was an absolutely perfect day fishing, even with chilly, overcast weather. Can’t wait to come back and fish with Capt JT again. Thank you for a great time my boys and I will be talking about for the rest of our lives.

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We had a great fishing trip with JT. It was myself, my best friend, and my 6 year old son. It was his first time fishing and we started catching small bait fish right away that he was really excited about. After a bit we headed further out and started angling for the bigger stuff! I caught a grouper and a snapper. The trip was only a couple of hours which was perfect because that’s about the time my little boy lost interest! For the adults, it was both very relaxing and of course thrilling when we got one of the line. I will definitely go back out with JT for a longer trip when we’re down here again. He’s very personable, provides just the right amount of guidance, and was fun to be around! Highly recommend!

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I took my 10-year-old son on a 4-hour morning offshore fishing trip, something he’s been wanting to do for years. We parked easily at the Harbor Docks lot, just steps away from where the boat was docked. The day was hot—over 90 degrees—so we came prepared with sun shirts, hats, sunscreen, and Crocs. Captain made the whole experience effortless. With over 30 years on the water, he handled everything: driving the boat, baiting hooks, casting lines, gaffing, and unhooking fish. We started by catching bait fish right outside Destin Harbor—about 20 in just 30 minutes. My son loved it, especially when he brought in five bait fish on one cast! Once we moved offshore, things got wild. Within minutes, both lines were screaming as fish took off fast. For the next three hours, it was nonstop action—Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel one after another. We were laughing, sweating, and reeling non-stop until our arms were tired. By the end, we had a dozen Mackerel in the box and released several more that were under the legal size. We wrapped up just as afternoon storms started rolling in—perfect timing. It was an unforgettable father-son experience and one of the best fishing trips we’ve ever had. We’ll definitely be booking with Dawn Patrol again soon!

+2

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The only “problem” with the day was that my son hooked into a trophy-quality Tarpon that took up the whole trip! Captain knew the area inside and out and clearly understood the fish’s behavior. We watched sharks doing airborne barrel rolls and saw massive schools of Tarpon rolling and tailing all around us. The one my son fought was truly TV-worthy and gave him an unforgettable battle. The gear handled it perfectly, and the boat ran smooth the entire time. An incredible day on the water.

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The fishing started off slow, but Captain JT’s determination made all the difference—he turned it into an unforgettable trip. It was an incredible experience, and my son and I are truly grateful!

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JT gave it his all from start to finish, working nonstop to get us on the fish. We had several shots at a trophy catch and landed a stunning tarpon. He was courteous, professional, and knew exactly what he was doing. I highly recommend booking a trip with JT—Captain, thank you for everything!

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We had an awesome day on the water with Captain J.T. His 30+ years of experience in these waters was clear from the start. He got us on the fish quickly while expertly navigating around passing storms. We were reeling in Kingfish one after another—an incredible experience all around!

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Had an awesome day fishing with Captain JT! He put us on the fish fast, and the action didn’t let up all trip long!

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I booked a morning trip with Dawn Patrol for my three boys—it was our first time fishing on the Gulf. From booking to cleaning the fish, everything went smoothly. The weather, however, wasn’t exactly on our side. With high winds and 2–4 foot swells, it was definitely a rough ride, but our Captain stayed determined. Whenever the bite slowed, he moved us to new spots until we started getting action. Because of the weather, we eventually headed back into the Bay. We didn’t make it to the red snapper grounds, but we still landed plenty of Spanish Mackerel. Despite the choppy conditions, the boys had a great time, and we ended the day tired, happy, and already talking about coming back.

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We’ll absolutely be back again—hands down the best time we’ve ever had. The captain was outstanding!

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