Planning a trip to the most popular place to go fishing in Destin? You should know a few things before you go to Crab Island.
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1- The island of Crab is NOT an island! Most people are surprised to learn that Crab Island is actually a sandbar that is fully covered by water and is not an island at all. When it got its name, it was an island, but over time, erosion from the tides and the odd hurricane made it what it is now: Destin’s most popular and beautiful gathering spot. Most of the time, the water is between 1 and 4 feet deep, which makes it a great place to bring a boat and drop anchor for a day of fun in the sun.
2- Crab Island can only be reached by boat. Even though Crab Island looks close to land, even strong swimmers can’t make it across because of the deep waterways, strong currents, and boats that pass by. Sadly, each year a number of people die trying to swim from the mainland to Crab Island. If you’re trying to figure out how to get to Crab Island, be safe and take a boat to enjoy the party. You can rent one or take the Crab Island Shuttle Boat, which has a glass bottom.
3- At high tide, the water looks the best. The natural beauty of Crab Island is a big draw on its own, but the blue-green water you see in pictures is only there when the water from the Gulf of Mexico flows into the mouth of the Choctawhatchee Bay at high tide. You can check the tide charts for Destin on a lot of weather apps to find out when is the best time to go to Crab Island.
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4- Bring cash for the sellers who float around. At Crab Island, there are floating restaurants, food boats that move around, shops that sell souvenirs, and more. Some of them take credit cards, but just in case, bring cash. (Please note that since this story was written, some of the bigger vendors, like the inflatable water park, have closed for good because of new rules. If you are looking for inflatables, you can take a trip that stops at the Gulf Islands National Seashore and then goes to Crab Island.
5- You can drink alcohol. People think that Crab Island has stopped letting people drink because of some recent news. On Crab Island, selling booze has been made illegal. You can bring drinking drinks along if you want to. In Florida, there are no rules about having an open drink on the water. Just like when you drive a car, make sure you have a sober driver.
Conclusion
In the end, Crab Island in Destin is a beautiful place where people go fishing and have fun in the sun. Even though it has a name, it is an island that is completely covered by water. Because the rivers are deep and the currents are strong, you can only get there by boat. It is important to put safety first and not try to swim across.
The best time to go is at high tide, when water from the Gulf of Mexico runs into the Choctawhatchee Bay, showing off the beautiful blue-green water. For the floating vendors who sell food, gifts, and other things, it’s best to have cash. Even though it is illegal to sell booze, people can bring their own drinks as long as they have a sober driver with them.