Sometimes in life, you have to find a detour from the bustling highway and take the path less traveled. Florida’s Forgotten Coast is one of those quieter exits from the thoroughfare. If you need a dose of decompression, then Detour Charters can help you find that diversion on the Panhandle’s pristine coastal waters. From coastal cruising and sightseeing to fishing and scalloping to just relaxing in the cool waters of a remote sandbar, Detour Charters’ custom excursions can reroute you off the beaten path for a perfect escape.
Let Capt. Rob Newell and his 23-foot Tidewater bay boat escort your family or group of up to six people on an excursion of your choice. With 20 years of experience running and fishing the shallow bays and coastal waters of the Forgotten Coast, Rob can help customize the right detour for your crew.
Since leisure activities on the Forgotten Coast change with the seasons, Detour Charters’ offerings change throughout the year. During the hotter summer months, sightseeing tours and sunset cruises along the waters of St. Joe Bay and Mexico Beach are popular choices. For those seeking longer detours, full-day excursions to Cape San Blas offer extended escapes. During the cooler months, fishing activity increases, making inshore and nearshore fishing options available.
We change our trips as the seasons change. If you want a completely custom tour, please contact Capt. Rob.
Start with a scenic tour around the bay, and then make landfall on Cape San Blas for a full Florida sandbar experience. Explore these remote sandy beachfronts by walking, snorkeling, shelling, or just floating around in the cool, clear Gulf waters. Perfect for: Anyone looking to unwind and absorb a rare slice of the Real Florida. It’s also a great introduction for first-time visitors wanting to see what the area is all about.
Total Time: 5 to 6 hours
Max Passengers: 6
Cost: $500
The same beauty and fun of the Cape Escape trip with the added option of wade fishing at the Cape. All necessary gear and tackle needed to toss a line into the Cape’s clear waters to see what pulls back. Perfect for: a full crew that has different ideas of fun. Some may want to walk, explore, shell, snorkel, or just chill and float in the water, while others may need a fishing fix. Detour Charters is licensed and insured for all in-water activities.
Total Time: 6 hours
Max Passengers: 6
Cost: $600
Enjoy a leisurely 3-hour boat ride on Florida’s most pristine waters. Cruise the Gulf waters down into the quiet, clear waters of St. Joe Bay, spying a host of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, and ospreys. The trip finishes with a look around the tip of Cape San Blas, where emerald sandbars skirt just beneath the boat. Return to land refreshed and renewed, invigorated by a few hours of pure salt air and natural Florida beauty. Perfect for: Those who want the “nickel tour” of St. Joe Bay, Cape San Blas, Windmark, or Mexico Beach. Also ideal for those who want to learn how to navigate the tricky shallow waters of St. Joe Bay safely.
Total Time: 3 hours
Max Passengers: 6
Cost: $350
With the cancellation of the 2026 scallop season, we will be offering snorkeling trips in the bay at a discounted rate. You may not be able to pick up scallops, but floating through the crystal-clear water over lush grass beds is still a mesmerizing experience. Plus, it’s a great way to take a detour from the wicked summer heat. All masks and snorkels are provided.
Total Time: 4 hours
Max Passengers: 6
Cost: $400
Cap off a Forgotten Coast day with a short boat ride on bay waters to watch the sun melt into Gulf waters, producing a stunning array of colors.
Total Time: 2 hours
Max Passengers: 6
Cost: $250
Enjoy a scenic ride down the Intracoastal Waterway, through the remote waters of Lake Wimico, and then down the Apalachicola River to the coastal town of Apalachicola, where you can enjoy a dock and dine experience.
Total Time: 5-6 hours
Max Passengers: 6
Cost: $500
If you come to the Forgotten Coast looking for an escape on the water, give Capt. Rob at Detour Charters a call or text at 850-894-0092 to see what kind of detour he can find for you.
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