Ocean Isle Beach
Fishing Charters

If you're not sure which fishing charter to book, choose my Captain's Choice Fishing Charter. I'll choose between inshore and nearshore fishing based on the season, weather, sea conditions, and where I expect the best bite that day. If you already know what kind of fishing you want, you can also book an Inshore, Nearshore, Kids, or seasonal specialty charter.

Inshore Fishing Charters fish protected waters such as the Intracoastal Waterway, rivers, creeks, marshes, and docks for species including Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and Black Drum. Nearshore Fishing Charters venture into the ocean to fish beaches, inlets, artificial reefs, and other structure for species such as Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Black Sea Bass, Sharks, and other seasonal fish. If you're not sure which is right for you, book Captain's Choice and I'll choose based on conditions and where I expect the best fishing.

My fishing charters are private trips for your group only. Most charters accommodate 1-4 guests. Sheepshead Fishing Charters are limited to 2 anglers. Your group will never be combined with another party.

My primary charter location is 67 Causeway Drive in Ocean Isle Beach, NC, directly under the Ocean Isle Beach bridge. Depending on the trip and where we're fishing, pickup at another nearby boat ramp may sometimes be available.

No. I provide the rods, reels, tackle, bait, fishing licenses, and necessary permits for your charter. Bring weather-appropriate clothing, cream sunscreen (no spray sunscreen), drinks, snacks, and any personal items you may need.

Absolutely. Families are welcome on my fishing charters, and I also offer a 2-hour Kids Fishing Charter specifically designed for younger anglers. Kids Trips require at least one child age 12 or younger, but parents and older siblings are welcome to fish too. We stay in protected waters, target fish that keep the action moving, and the kids always come first. Kids Fishing Charters are catch-and-release only.

There's good fishing around Ocean Isle Beach year-round, but what we target changes with the seasons. Winter brings Speckled Trout, Redfish, Black Drum, and nearshore Black Sea Bass. Spring brings improving inshore fishing along with Flounder, Sheepshead, King Mackerel, and Cobia. Summer is prime time for Redfish, Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Sharks, and other nearshore species. Fall is one of my favorite times to fish, with strong inshore action, Bull Drum in October, and some of our best opportunities for big King Mackerel into November. I choose where and how we fish based on what's producing at the time of your trip.

Yes. On most trips you can keep fish that meet current legal size and bag limits. Kids Fishing Charters are catch-and-release only, and some species we target, including Sharks and Bull Drum, are also released. I'll keep any fish you're taking home fresh until we return to the dock, so bring a cooler with ice and leave it in your vehicle during the trip.

I monitor Ocean Isle Beach weather and tide conditions closely and make the final call on whether conditions are safe to fish. I won't take you fishing when conditions are unsafe or likely to make for a miserable trip. If an Inshore Fishing Charter can't safely run, we'll reschedule or you'll receive a full refund. If ocean conditions aren't suitable for a Nearshore, Shark, or other ocean trip but conditions are safe inshore, we'll switch to inshore fishing. If we can't safely fish at all, we'll reschedule or refund your trip.

Cancel more than 3 days before your scheduled charter and you can either reschedule or receive a full refund. Cancellations less than 3 days before the trip can be rescheduled but are not refundable. No-shows cannot reschedule or receive a refund. Weather cancellations are handled separately and may be rescheduled or refunded when I determine conditions aren't safe to fish.

Yes. Although my primary location is in Ocean Isle Beach, I regularly fish the waters around Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, Calabash, Shallotte, and Little River. Depending on the trip and conditions, we may fish the ICW, Shallotte River, Shallotte Inlet, Tubbs Inlet, Little River Inlet, local creeks, marshes, and nearshore reefs. Pickup at a closer boat ramp in Holden Beach or Sunset Beach may also be available when it makes sense for the day's fishing.

You can learn more about the trips I run there on my Holden Beach fishing charters and Sunset Beach fishing charters pages.