Originally, the Gulf of Mexico did not connect to the Choctawhatchee Bay near Destin. Since this posed an extreme danger of flooding to the fishing fleet, in 1926, four men cut a drainage ditch two feet wide across Okaloosa Island using only shovels. That hand dug trench opened a torrent of rushing water and within two hours, the ditch was over a 100 yards wide and had created the East Pass. Destin’s East Pass is the only waterway connecting the Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf of Mexico for approximately 60 miles in either direction. The Army Corp of Engineers dredges portions of the East Pass periodically to keep the water deep enough for the boats to move freely back and forth.

The 100 Fathom curve, where the water depth is 600 feet deep, comes closer to Destin than any other spot in Florida providing the speediest deep water access on the Gulf. This access brings a wide array of deap sea game fish within reach of one day charters from Destin, leading to the establisment of a large, modern fleet of charter boats sailing from Destin Harbour. The annual Destin Fishing Rodeo in October offers over 30 different categories for more than $100,000.00 in prizes.

The City of Destin was incorporated in 1984 and has less than 12,000 permanent residents, but plays host to hundreds of thousands of vistors each year. Many attractions have been built in recent year to provide entertainment for these visitors, including a water theme park and multiple golf courses. The sandy beaches that Destin is famous for actually comes from the Appalachian Mountains. Residue flows down the Apalachicola River and is deposited into the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the currents, the sand drifts west and settles from Panama City to the Alabama coast.