Giddy up Fisherman, it's Cobia Season!

Harbor Docks proudly announces their 30th Annual Cobia World Championships to kick off this weekend in none other than Destin. Florida. The event is the area’s premier cobia fishing tournament and continues to grow and incorporate new aspects to remain unique in the world of competitive fishing. After hosting the largest and most successful tournament to date in 2013, the Cobia World Championships has expanded to now feature four different weigh-in locations across the Gulf Coast including Orange Beach, Pensacola, Destin and Panama City. 

The 2014 Cobia World Championships will kick off this Friday, March 21 at 6 pm with the annual Captain’s Meeting and Kickoff Party on the downstairs deck at Harbor Docks. The Kick Off party will feature food by Harbor Docks and beer provided by Back Forty Beer Company. The first official day of fishing will begin on March 22 and the tournament will end on May 4, 2014.

Fishermen can compete in several categories including the Overall World Championships, Ladies World Championships, Donut Hole Junior World Championships, the S.U.P. World Championship division, Most fish Caught 50 Pounds and Over, and a division for smaller vessels - 28’ and Under World Championships.

Check out this video by Color Earth with Shane O! 

Harbor Docks Restaurant will also host the Frank Helton Crab Cruncher Classic presented by Back Forty Beer Company. The weekend tournament will take place at Harbor Docks from Thursday, April 10, 2014 through Sunday, April 13, 2014, with top cobia fishing teams converging on the Destin Harbor to compete for a total in excess of $150,000. Each night of this tournament will feature a different event beginning on Thursday night with a BBQ dinner on the dock hosted by Back Forty Beer Company. Friday night guests will enjoy a Low Country Boil hosted by Trey Nick of Nick’s Seafood Restaurant, while Saturday will feature a fajita buffet by local Mexican favorite, La Paz Restaurante & Cantina. The tournament will come to an end Sunday with a Prime Rib and Cobia Fish Fry Dinner and awards ceremony at Harbor Docks. 

Harbor Docks will also host the BOTE Stand-Up Paddle Board World Championships, kicking off on Thursday, April 10, 2014. Added as a new division to the tournament in 2013, the tournament challenges fishermen to catch the largest cobia on a paddleboard. The winner will be announced on May 4, 2014, at the close of the Cobia World Championships and will be awarded a new BOTE HD paddleboard. 

And . . . to make things even sweeter . . . are you ready for this . . . 

Break the IGFA All-Tackle World Record and win this Brand New GMC Sierra Double Cab Pickup Truck from 

Lee Buick GMC Crestview!

The Cobia World Championships and Crab Cruncher Classic serve as Harbor Docks Charities’ main fundraisers for their 20^th Annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day, held Sunday, November 2, 2014. In 2013, the tournaments combined to pay out over $220,000 in cash and prizes and raised over $20,000 for the 19^th Annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day.

Formerly known as Rally for Recreation (founded in 1986), Harbor Docks Charities hosts numerous fundraising events throughout the year including the Cobia World Championships and Crab Cruncher Classic fishing tournament as well as the Caddyshack Classic Golf Tournament and Harbor Docks Charity Auction.

We are thrilled to have Salt Life and Bimini Bay Outfitters as official sponsors of the 2014 Cobia World Championships! We will be giving away a pair of their awesome polarized sunglasses (retail $169.99) to the largest cobia weighed in each week of the tournament.

Cobia Season officially means spring is here. The water is getting warmer, the wind will be switching to the south east, and any day now someone will catch the first cobia of 2014 along the Gulf Coast.

Whether you are a weekend warrior, an every day fisherman or even a paddle boarder, we have a tournament for you.

Heck, even if you aren't a fisherman at all, watching the big fish come to the scales at Harbor Docks over a cold beer and cobia sandwich has always been a spring tradition in Destin. So come on out and enjoy one of Destin's most cherished times of year. You know what? It's cobia season, is there anything better in the world?

Spring at Harbor Docks= Live Music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday!

We are excited to announce we have reopened the “Big Deck” outdoor concert venue here at Harbor Docks, where you can come listen to live entertainment every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night! Featuring local favorites as well as regional acts from as far as Kentucky, our spring lineup will continue to be the epicenter of the exciting nightlife scene of Destin!

Kicking off on Thursday, March 6 , this spring’s lineup hosts a variety of bands from across the Southeast that are steadily making their climb to nationwide fame. Sundy Best, a dynamic duo from Kentucky is well known for crafting music that re-imagines timeless classic rock of the ‘70s and ‘80s. They recently released their official music video for “Until I Met You” on CMT.  Sundy Best is scheduled to appear as the main act on Thursday, March 20.  American Country and Southern Rock group, Connor Christian and Southern Gothic of Atlanta, Georgia, made their first appearance at Harbor Docks in the spring of 2012. Their 2013 album New Hometown debuted in the top 20 of the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and at number one on the Top Heatseekers chart. Back by popular demand, Connor Christian and Southern Gothic will play back-to-back nights April 10 and 11.

Connor Christian and Southern Gothic

Here at Harbor Docks, we also offer Ladies’ Nite every Thursday, featuring drink and sushi specials for the ladies of Destin.

 Ladies’ Nite entertainment begins with an opening band at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by the main act at 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, entertainment begins at 8:30 p.m, unless otherwise noted, and is open to all guests of all ages.  Live entertainment acts for March and April are as follows*:

3/6/14 - Opening Act: Kyle LaMonica, Headliner: Electric Wildlife

3/7/14 - Cadillac Willy

3/8/14 - Stereo Reform

3/13/14 - Opening Act: Chris Alvarado, Headliner: Boukou Groove

3/14/14 - Mojo Rising

3/15/14 - El Dub

3/20/14 - Opening Act: Austin Jennings, Headliner: Sundy Best

3/21/14 – Slack Tide

3/22/14 - Who is BC?

3/27/14 - Opening Act: Drew Tillman, Headliner: Dread Clampitt

3/28/14 - TreeHouse!

3/29/14 - Dismal Creek

4/03/14 - Opening Act: Chris Alvarado, Headliner: Heritage

4/04/14 - Remedy Krewe

4/05/14 - Remedy Krewe

4/10/14 - Opening Act: Billy Gant, Headliner: Connor Christian & Southern Gothic

4/11/14 - Opening Act: Billy Gant, Headliner: Connor Christian & Southern Gothic

4/12/14 - Cadillac Willy

4/17/14 - Opening Act: Drew Tillman, Headliner: Boukou Groove

4/18/14 - Dread Clampitt

4/19/14 - Continuum

4/24/14 - Opening Act: Austin Jennings, Headliner: Hotel Oscar

4/25/14 - Strung Like a Horse

4/26/14 - Dismal Creek

*All dates and acts are subject to change without notice. Check www.harbordocks.com or find Harbor Docks on Facebook for the most up-to-date information.

CHEERS TO GOOD FOOD, LIVE MUSIC, AND SPRING!

What Does FRESH Seafood Mean To You?

Did you know...

This year over 90% of Florida's seafood will be imported from other countries.

According to Oceana: 59% of the tuna sold in the US last year was mislabeled.

A majority of the "tilapia" served in the US are raised in Vietnam & Thailand where they are fed pig feces.

93% of the "red snapper" sold last year in the US were mislabeled.

At Camilles, Harbor Docks and all of our other restaurants we proudly serve FRESH seafood, defined as directly being caught in our local Gulf waters and served on our tables. Whether you eat at one of our restaurants or another dining establishment, be sure to ask where the seafood you're eating is coming from. To find out more information and to see a list of more local restaurants in our area that serve fresh, gulf to table seafood visit our website.

Nothin' better than your Sundy Best

Sundy Best is quickly on there way to becoming one of the most popular bands in the country and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Emerald Coast as they will play at Harbor Docks on Thursday, March 20^th.

Sundy Best crafts music that re-imagines timeless classic rock of the ‘70s and ‘80s – think the Eagles and the smart, whiskey-voiced lyrics of Tom Petty and Bob Seger. With Nick on guitar and Kris on cajon, Sundy Best takes that sound, modernizes it in their own unique way by borrowing hints of country and bluegrass, to make it personal. Offstage, the pair are lifelong friends, college athletes and dog-lovers; onstage the musical duo delivers something wholly fresh and original, blending their best influences with personal music histories.

Sundy Best began as a high energy Lexington, Kentucky bar act. As kids coming up together in Eastern Kentucky, they played music in church and formed their own band in high school.

Both athletes, Nick headed to Pikeville College for football, while Kris played basketball at Centre College in Danville. After college, Nick contacted his old friend Kris about buying some drums. He didn’t have any to sell, but Kris offered to come play drums with Nick and another musician. They jammed all night, revived a friendship and drank a few cold ones; the next evening they played their first gig.

In the three years since, they’ve grown powerfully, defining their sound with solid lyrics and the powerful beats of throwback ‘70s rock influence. Now Sundy Best has a dedicated grassroots following from Lexington to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry and beyond.

We couldn’t be more excited to host Sundy Best at Harbor Dock’s on March 20^th where they will play for our Thurday night Ladies night entertainment. Stop by, and help us welcome them by jamming out to some of the greatest musicians visiting Destin! 

Check out Sunday Best's "Until I met You" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO that was released on CMT on 2.12.14!

An 'American Lunch'

Meet our food truck, 'American Lunch.'

American Lunch began as a school project for our owner, Charles Morgan's son, Chatham, a student at the University of Alabama. Morgan saw a need to make a mobile soup kitchen that could travel to where the needy gathered, places like shelters and high traffic areas. The truck has served meals in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and now Athens, with plans to follow a new store opening in Tennessee. The truck sets up at various locations such as libraries and parks, multiple days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

American Lunch serves delicious, hearty food from beans, rice, and garlic bread to home made chicken noodle soup. The truck has one simple goal: to completely run out of food. Volunteers who work the truck love meeting all of the truck's visitors and more importantly gain satisfaction from seeing the looks on people's faces after enjoying a hot, filling meal.

We believe there is nothing better than good food and goodwill!

A New Year, Another Opportunity to Give Back!

One of the Harbor Docks family’s favorite quotes is “it is better to give than to receive.”

Reflecting on our past year we found this to be true once again. As we think about our favorite moments in 2013, our annual free Thanksgiving Day Dinner was continuously on the top of our lists.

With the support of the Destin community, over 200 volunteers and our tirelessly hardworking staff we were able to feed 1,475 people a free Thanksgiving dinner. Proceeds from the day broke the most successful Thanksgiving of the 19 we have hosted to date raising $20,565 for the Okaloosa Habitat for Humanity and Destin Harvest.

We started this event as a small gathering for people in need nineteen years ago and it has now grown into an event hosting thousands coming from a range of economic backgrounds.

This is a tradition we are proud to continue and we look forward to striving to give back in 2014 and make more of an impact on our community than ever before.

Join us in our challenge and give back. Remember it is better to give that to receive! Happy 2014!

From Our Table To Yours

Our family of restaurants is quaint but expansive. From Camille’s and Harbor Docks here in Destin, to Five and Chuck’s Fish in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, AL, to Red Bay Grocery, American Lunch in Tuscaloosa and Dharma Blue in Pensacola, we have a variety of restaurants that touch all corners of the great southeast.

One of our newest additions, Five, is expanding rapidly into most major SEC college towns. Known for its funky and eclectic ambience and menu of five delicious options, this restaurant is one of a kind. Originating in the great town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama the restaurant is now open and running in Athens, Georgia and in its beginning stages in the orange town of Knoxville, Tennessee.

What makes Five so special is its simple menu that is always scrumptious and the refreshing list of cocktails that are consistently delicious.

How is a Destin harbor restaurant and a SEC town restaurant connected you may ask? Well our very own sushi chef, Yoshie, has a son that many of you may know, Chris Eddings who managers Chuck’s Fish and the Five restaurants. We like to think that this small world of delicious food options is just another way to bring Harbor Docks to you wherever you may be.

Whether you’re enjoying the beaches of the Emerald Coast or tailgating at a bulldog’s football game in Athens, we hope you stop by and see us at any of our family’s locations.