C-Legs Sportfishing 

4.8/5 (18 reviews)
 1100 South Bay Club Dr, Manteo, NC 27981, United States

Enjoy a day of exciting fishing out of Manteo, North Carolina with C-Legs Sportfishing! Just a stone’s throw away from Oregon Inlet, one of the most prolific offshore fishing spots in the US. Captain John Abel has over 28 years of charter fishing experience, and he’s fished all over the world. He’ll provide you with a customized experience and he’ll make sure you have fun.

You’ll head out on his 28’ Carolina Classic offshore sportfishing boat, a serious sportfishing vessel powered by twin 330 HP Cummins engines. The boat will have you fishing in comfort, featuring AC, fresh water, plenty of seating, and a toilet for your convenience. It’s equipped with the latest electronics to help put you on the fish.

These waters are truly a fishing dream, boasting a variety of species to target. The deep waters are just a short boat ride away, and there’s a whole world underneath the surface waiting to be explored. From world-class Blue Marlin, Bluefin, and Yellowfin Tuna port, to nearshore Cobia, Amberjack, Kingfish, as well as Seabass and Redfish, there’s something for everyone.

Capt. John will have all the fishing equipment ready on board – Okuma, Penn, and Shimano rods and reels, as well as electric reels for deep dropping. You’ll try out a variety of fishing techniques, using both live bait and artificial lures depending on what you’re targeting.

All you need to do is pack some food and drinks, some sunscreen for your protection, and you’re ready to explore the waters of North Carolina. Feel free to bring your kids with you if you want to spend some quality time with your family. They’ll remember a trip like this for years to come!

So what are you waiting for? Join C-Legs Sportfishing and have a day of adventure!

John Abel

Captain

John Abel

33 years of experience
 ID & credentials verified
 responds within an hour

Most popular features:

 Fishing License
 Live Bait
 You Keep Catch
 Catch cleaning & filleting
 Toilet
 Child Friendly
 Air Conditioning
 Ice Box
 Rods, reels & tackle
 Fighting Chair

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Almost there...
8 Hour Trip – Nearshore
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
8 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip May 1 - Aug 15
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,400 
9 Hour Trip – Bottom Fishing
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
9 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
Seasonal trip May 1 - Aug 15
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,500 
12 Hour Trip – Giant Bluefin Tuna
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
12 Hour Trip, starts at 5:00 AM
Seasonal trip Mar 1 - Apr 15
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,800 
12 Hour Trip – Offshore
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
12 Hour Trip, starts at 5:00 AM
Seasonal trip Feb 1 - Aug 15
Price for up to 4 people
US $1,900 
There are 2 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.8/5
out of 5 stars from 18 reviews
Boat
4.8/5
Crew
4.9/5
Experience
4.8/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (19)

Same trolling spread as the big charter boats, same fishing, same locations, just smaller boat.   Recommended!
Four hour trip with Captain John and Owen
Four hour trip with Captain John and Owen
+16

Angler rating

17
1
0
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

85%

Appropriate for children

85%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

92%

Recommend this charter

95%

Caught fish

75%

Showing 1 - 5 of 19 reviews
Tom L.
Tom L.
4.7/5

Experience:

4.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Same trolling spread as the big charter boats, same fishing, same locations, just smaller boat. Recommended!

VERIFIED

12 Hour Trip – Offshore on July 5, 2024

Capt. Tom does a great job and you can tell he has been in love with fishing his entire life. His boat is smaller than the big charter boats but doesn't charge the big boat prices. I worked on the charter boats out of Hatteras in the late 80's and 90's so I know the industry very well. C-Legs Charter's secret to success is that they fish the SAME waters, the SAME baits, the SAME trolling spread, ect. as the big boats. The big boats might have leather couches and tv's, but that is really all you get extra for the $1K + you pay for them. Our charter yesterday was great. Capt Tom leaves the dock earlier than the other boats (because he wants to catch fish for you) plus it doesn't hurt to be first to arrive on a weed line before it's heavily fished for Mahi Mahi or a big pod of bait holding tuna before the entire fishing crowd shows up. Exactly what happened to us. We were first on the scene at "The Point" fishing spot and arrived to a scene with blackfin tuna jumping and working bait and we quickly caught what we wanted (had a blast doing it) and then moved on to fish bigger baits for a wahoo or a billfish. The big boats showed up after we had already "wacked" the Tuna. By then it was a bit too late as the bite had slacked off quite a bit. The atmosphere on the boat is FUN and we had a great day fishing, talking, telling stories, ect. The boat rides very nice in moderately choppy seas and was comfortable. I look at C-Legs as a "hidden gem" if you want to fish out of Oregon Inlet. He'll be my go-to charter in the future. Sure you can pay 1K+ more for a bigger boat, but you just be watching Capt Tom slinging the SAME fish into the fish box knowing you paid a heck of a lot more money for the big boat charter. Capt Tom is a disrupter to the whole charter boat industry in Oregon Inlet, where marina's won't allow anything but a mega-charter boat from taking offshore trips, leaving the smaller boats only eligible for near-shore fishing trips. As someone with 8 years experience as a mate on the big charter boats out of Hatteras, I recommend a trip with C-Legs. You're wallet will thank you while you are grilling the same Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi that people that chartered the big boats will be grilling that evening as well. Great job C-Legs!

Capt. Tom does a great job and you can tell he has been in love with fishing his entire life. His boat is smaller than the big charter boats but doesn't charge the big boat prices. I worked on the charter boats out of Hatteras in the late 80's and 90's so I know the industry very well. C-Legs Charter's secret to success is that they fish the SAME waters, the SAME baits, the SAME trolling spread, ect. as the big boats. The big boats might have leather couches and tv's, but that is really...  

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 Tom L. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing

Erika S.
Erika S.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

GREAT

VERIFIED

8 Hour Trip – Nearshore on June 6, 2023

We tried 2 spots which didn’t pan out but Captain John wanted to put us on fish and 3 was the charmer! Captain John was working solo for our trip but it was AWESOME! 3 out of 4 of our group got caught up with sea sickness BUT we still got a good load of fish and Captain John kept us occupied with fish to catch! Can’t wait to fry them up! Thanks Captain John!

We tried 2 spots which didn’t pan out but Captain John wanted to put us on fish and 3 was the charmer! Captain John was working solo for our trip but it was AWESOME! 3 out of 4 of our group got caught up with sea sickness BUT we still got a good load of fish and Captain John kept us occupied with fish to catch! Can’t wait to fry them up! Thanks Captain John!  

 Erika S. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
John Abel
John Abel (The Captain)
Replied on June 8, 2023
Was a good day and yall were a fun Cree.
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Jessica R.
Jessica R.

Nelsonville, OH

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

12 hr offshore

VERIFIED

12 Hour Trip – Offshore on August 11, 2022

We had a pretty rough trip due to circumstances that were out of captains John's control. However, it was still a good time and a fun trip. He also warned us before going out that it might be slow and rough but we didnt care. We got to see some dolphins and I learned a lot from our captian. Hes very knowledgable, works hard to make sure you have an overall enjoyable time. When we come back down and want to take another trip, hes gonnna be the guy I call!

We had a pretty rough trip due to circumstances that were out of captains John's control. However, it was still a good time and a fun trip. He also warned us before going out that it might be slow and rough but we didnt care. We got to see some dolphins and I learned a lot from our captian. Hes very knowledgable, works hard to make sure you have an overall enjoyable time. When we come back down and want to take another trip, hes gonnna be the guy I call!  

 Jessica R. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
John Abel
John Abel (The Captain)
Replied on August 12, 2022
Man, yall are a glutton for punishment... I had a good crew on the boat that was willing to stick it out. Hope to see yall again soon

Bruce M.
Bruce M.

Fairfield, NC

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Full Day Offshore

VERIFIED

12 Hour Trip – Offshore on April 16, 2022

This was a birthday gift for my husband. Captain John made it one to remember! He kept me informed about weather and possible delays and was very accommodating to our schedule. My Grandson, 12 years old, went on this trip, along with 2 sons. They were still smiling the next day! I highly recommend Captain John as he was very knowledgeable about where to find the fish. Thank you Captain John!!!

This was a birthday gift for my husband. Captain John made it one to remember! He kept me informed about weather and possible delays and was very accommodating to our schedule. My Grandson, 12 years old, went on this trip, along with 2 sons. They were still smiling the next day! I highly recommend Captain John as he was very knowledgeable about where to find the fish. Thank you Captain John!!!  

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 Bruce M. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
John Abel
John Abel (The Captain)
Replied on April 18, 2022
Had a great time with them boys, they are welcome anytime, hope to see y'all again soon.

Alice B.
Alice B.

Powhatan, Virginia

5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Four hour trip with Captain John and Owen

VERIFIED

4 Hour Nearshore AM on July 6, 2023

Great early morning fishing trip! Caught lots of ribbon fish which I had never seen or heard of before but they were fun to catch. We also caught some Spanish mackerel! We hope to fish with Captain John again soon!

Great early morning fishing trip! Caught lots of ribbon fish which I had never seen or heard of before but they were fun to catch. We also caught some Spanish mackerel! We hope to fish with Captain John again soon!  

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 Alice B. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing

FAQs about C-Legs Sportfishing

What are the trip rates for C-Legs Sportfishing?

C-Legs Sportfishing offers the following trips to customers:

  • US $1,400 per group - 8 Hour Trip – Nearshore (8 hours)
  • US $1,500 per group - 9 Hour Trip – Bottom Fishing (9 hours)
  • US $1,800 per group - 12 Hour Trip – Giant Bluefin Tuna (12 hours)
  • US $1,900 per group - 12 Hour Trip – Offshore (12 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with C-Legs Sportfishing?

When you book a trip with C-Legs Sportfishing, you can expect the following amenities onboard:

  • Toilet
  • Air Conditioning
  • Fighting Chair
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Bed
  • Live Bait Well
  • Refrigerator
  • Outriggers
  • Ice Box
  • Radar
What's included in the trip price with C-Legs Sportfishing?

Trips booked with C-Legs Sportfishing include:

  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (If needed for trip)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • First Mate
  • Fishing License
What types of fishing does C-Legs Sportfishing offer?

C-Legs Sportfishing offers the following types of fishing:

  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
  • Wreck Fishing
What fishing techniques does C-Legs Sportfishing offer?

C-Legs Sportfishing offers the following fishing techniques:

  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Deep Sea Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with C-Legs Sportfishing?

Top targeted fish species with C-Legs Sportfishing include:

  • Amberjack
  • Cobia
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Redfish
  • Seabass (Black)
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Tilefish
  • Tuna (Blackfin)
  • Tuna (Bluefin)
  • Tuna (Yellowfin)

Your captain

John Abel

Manteo, North Carolina, United States

6 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
19 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since May 2020

Capt. Abel started fishing at the age of 3, started deck handing at the age of 9 and hasn't stopped yet. Being Active Duty Coast Guard has allowed Capt. Abel to fish some of the most spectacular fisheries in the world, as well as learn those techniques to bring it all into one package. From successfully chasing giant blue marlin and yellowfin tuna in Africa to owning one of the most successful charter operations in Kodiak chasing king salmon and halibut, he hasn't done it all yet, but he's getting there.

The fish you can target

Amberjack
Amberjack
Cobia
Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Blue Marlin
Blue Marlin
Redfish
Redfish
Black Seabass
Black Seabass
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel
Tilefish
Tilefish
Blackfin Tuna
Blackfin Tuna
Bluefin Tuna
Bluefin Tuna
Yellowfin Tuna
Yellowfin Tuna

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Sportfishing boats
Capacity
4 persons
Boat length
28 ft
Year built
2002
Boat manufacturer
Carolina Classic
Boat type
Sportfishing

Engine model
Cummins
Powered by
2 x 330HP
Max cruising speed
28 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing

Nearshore Fishing

Offshore Fishing

Reef Fishing

Wreck Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle

Heavy Tackle

Bottom Fishing

Trolling

Spinning

Jigging

Deep Sea Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

Toilet

Air Conditioning

Fighting Chair

GPS

Fishfinder

Bed

Live Bait Well

Refrigerator

Outriggers

Ice Box

Radar

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle

Live Bait

If needed for trip

Lures

Catch cleaning & filleting

First Mate

Fishing License

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 14 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 14 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child Friendly

Kids are loved, but please state ages in booking.

No Alcohol

Beer n wine is fine, no hard alcohol.

You Keep Catch

Catch and Release Allowed

How you can pay

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

 Cash

 Visa

 Mastercard

 American Express

 PayPal

 Checks

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Manteo right now

AmberjackAmberjack
CobiaCobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Marlin (Blue)Marlin (Blue)
RedfishRedfish
Seabass (Black)Seabass (Black)
Spanish MackerelSpanish Mackerel
TilefishTilefish
Tuna (Blackfin)Tuna (Blackfin)
Tuna (Bluefin)Tuna (Bluefin)
Tuna (Yellowfin)Tuna (Yellowfin)
2 people are looking at this charter.