Cricket II – The JAWS Boat
Veteran owned
+29This isn’t just a fishing trip, this is a chance to be a part of a legend. Hop aboard the Cricket II, the very same boat that inspired author Peter Benchley to write the book on which the movie Jaws is based on.
This 45’ boat was built in 1947 and belongs to a different era. She was fully restored and outfitted a few years ago in order to provide free fishing trips for disabled veterans. Certain alterations were made, to make the boat wheelchair accessible. The boat is powered by a 250 HP Detroit engine, features a private toilet, navigational electronics, a fighting chair, trolling gear, tuna tubes, and all kinds of top-notch fishing equipment.
To live up to its legend, this boat will take you to Shark hunting. You can go after Blacktip and Tiger sharks that gather around wrecks. The crew provides Shark tags, so you can also be a part of this species preservation. But there’s so much more. Captain Joe and Captain Chaz have over 50 years of experience and can put you on Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, Spanish Mackerel and more. It all depends on what technique you’re using and which fishing grounds you visited.
All fishing equipment, licenses, and catch cleaning are included in the price. You only need to pack your food, drinks, and bring sun protection. The cost of your trip helps to cover the cost of free trips for veterans.
Enjoy a safe and comfortable adventure on the Cricket II! You don’t need a bigger boat.
Captain
Joseph Dibella
Highlights
Plan your trip
Customer reviews
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (65)
+62Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
86%
Appropriate for children
93%
Friendly captain
93%
Satisfied with the boat
93%
Recommend this charter
90%
Caught fish
89%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great experience!
4 Hour Trip (Mid Day) on May 31, 2025
Our group had a wonderful time. Captain Joe and Chaz were great hosts. We took a 4 hour fishing trip on a windy Saturday staying in the bay. We had fun trolling for fish and caught three different types. We each caught fish and came home with about 12. We caught a few more, but threw them back. Chaz filleted them up for us right on the side of the boat. We enjoyed hearing stories of Veterans trips offered by the crew and all of the interesting "Jaws stories". Being on the classic boat was a treat. Chaz did a great job keeping our lines in the water and getting our fish off the hooks. We would all highly recommend taking a trip with this charter. There were 5 of us and we had plenty of room to move around and felt safe doing so. Thank you and keep up the good work!!
Our group had a wonderful time. Captain Joe and Chaz were great hosts. We took a 4 hour fishing trip on a windy Saturday staying in the bay. We had fun trolling for fish and caught three different types. We each caught fish and came home with about 12. We caught a few more, but threw them back. Chaz filleted them up for us right on the side of the boat. We enjoyed hearing stories of Veterans trips offered by the crew and all of the interesting "Jaws stories". Being on the classic boat was...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great family trip
2 Hour Trip (INSHORE ONLY) on November 3, 2024
We arrived a little early… Captain Joe and co-Captain Chaz were there waiting. Received us well, gave us a nice welcome/safety/overview pitch and we were on our way… Nice big boat roomy and clean. Rigged us up and had us trolling in no time. Not much luck there so CPT Joe took us to a couple of spots to do some bottom fishing. Caught some Black Sea bass, puffers, quite a few pig fish.. but we had a great time - learning about the boat, the history, the captains… their journeys. The weather was good… little chilly, but got much better. Cpt Joe not only let us adjust our fishing time window… but he also let us extend our time when we got in the fish. They cleaned our fish, packed them on ice… Can’t wait to do it again… and Cpt Joe will get my call. We all had a great time. Most of us hadn’t fished in 20 years… some hadn’t been on a boat… but they really took care of us.
We arrived a little early… Captain Joe and co-Captain Chaz were there waiting. Received us well, gave us a nice welcome/safety/overview pitch and we were on our way… Nice big boat roomy and clean. Rigged us up and had us trolling in no time. Not much luck there so CPT Joe took us to a couple of spots to do some bottom fishing. Caught some Black Sea bass, puffers, quite a few pig fish.. but we had a great time - learning about the boat, the history, the captains… their journeys. The weather...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Excellent Adventure
4 Hour Trip (Mid Day) on June 13, 2025
My husband and I took a half-day trip and caught fish and had an excellent time. Captain Joe and Chaz were amazing! Smooth boat ride with a rich history. Highly recommend. Will book again to catch some sharks!!
My husband and I took a half-day trip and caught fish and had an excellent time. Captain Joe and Chaz were amazing! Smooth boat ride with a rich history. Highly recommend. Will book again to catch some sharks!!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Fun fishin’
2 Hour Trip (INSHORE ONLY) on April 19, 2025
My 12 year old and I had a great time with Captain Joe and Chaz. Caught a lot of fish in a day other boats were reporting they weren’t. Learned a lot about the history of the Cricket II and the surrounding islands. 2 hours was a perfect time for us. Will definitely book again when we come back and want to fish.
My 12 year old and I had a great time with Captain Joe and Chaz. Caught a lot of fish in a day other boats were reporting they weren’t. Learned a lot about the history of the Cricket II and the surrounding islands. 2 hours was a perfect time for us. Will definitely book again when we come back and want to fish.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Historic fishing boat and great friendly crew.
6 Hour Trip on May 26, 2025
The captain and mate did an excellent job of saving a bad weather day. Rain and windy conditions would have made it a miserable trip, but the captain knew just where to fish early and as conditions improved, we were able to move outside the inlet and catch a few Bonita. We ended up with a nice bunch of Spanish mackerel and several nice Bonita. I would book this trip again and would go shark fishing next time.
The captain and mate did an excellent job of saving a bad weather day. Rain and windy conditions would have made it a miserable trip, but the captain knew just where to fish early and as conditions improved, we were able to move outside the inlet and catch a few Bonita. We ended up with a nice bunch of Spanish mackerel and several nice Bonita. I would book this trip again and would go shark fishing next time.
FAQs about Cricket II – The JAWS Boat
What are the trip rates for Cricket II – The JAWS Boat?
Cricket II – The JAWS Boat offers the following trips to customers:
- US $300 per group - 2 Hour Trip (INSHORE ONLY) (2 hours)
- US $550 per group - 4 Hour Trip (AM) (4 hours)
- US $550 per group - 4 Hour Trip (Mid Day) (4 hours)
- US $550 per group - 4 Hour Trip (PM) (4 hours)
- US $750 per group - 6 Hour Trip (6 hours)
- US $900 per group - 6 Hour Shark Trip (6 hours)
- US $950 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Cricket II – The JAWS Boat?
When you book a trip with Cricket II – The JAWS Boat, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
- Toilet Handi-cap access
- Fighting Chair 2 chairs
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Bed
- Flybridge
- Live Bait Well
- Kitchen
- Outriggers
- Tuna Tubes
- Ice Box
What's included in the trip price with Cricket II – The JAWS Boat?
Trips booked with Cricket II – The JAWS Boat include:
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live Bait
- Lures
- Catch cleaning & filleting (We’ll clean the fish for you! It’s included with the trip!)
- First Mate (2 )
- Fishing License (You do not need a fishing license! We cover all guests!)
What types of fishing does Cricket II – The JAWS Boat offer?
Cricket II – The JAWS Boat offers the following types of fishing:
- Inshore Fishing
- Nearshore Fishing
- Offshore Fishing (You’ll be able to see land from the boat!)
- Wreck Fishing
What fishing techniques does Cricket II – The JAWS Boat offer?
Cricket II – The JAWS Boat offers the following fishing techniques:
- Light Tackle
- Heavy Tackle
- Bottom Fishing
- Trolling
- Spinning
- Jigging
- Popping
- Drift Fishing
- Kite Fishing
- Deep Sea Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with Cricket II – The JAWS Boat?
Top targeted fish species with Cricket II – The JAWS Boat include:
- Bluefish
- Bonito
- Cobia
- Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
- Flounder
- King Mackerel (Kingfish)
- Shark (Blacktip)
- Spanish Mackerel
- Tuna (Albacore)
- Tuna (Bluefin)
Meet your captain
Morehead City, North Carolina, United States
Captain Joe Dibella worked on this boat as a mate in its glory days. Although he didn't have trips as dramatic as the ones in the movie, he did catch a record Great White Shark, weighing 3,427-lb, the largest of any species ever landed with a rod.
Fish you can target
Your boat
Where you can fish
Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
You’ll be able to see land from the boat!
Wreck Fishing
How you can fish
Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing
Kite Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing
What's on board
Toilet
Handi-cap access
Fighting Chair
2 chairs
GPS
Fishfinder
Bed
Flybridge
Live Bait Well
Kitchen
Outriggers
Tuna Tubes
Ice Box
Included in the price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
We’ll clean the fish for you! It’s included with the trip!
First Mate
2
Fishing License
You do not need a fishing license! We cover all guests!
How cancellations work
Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 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.
Listing policies
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
12 or older
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
We supply Shark Tags
Disabled Accessible
How to pay
Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% 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
Checks
What’s biting in Morehead City right now
Bluefish
Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Flounder
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Spanish Mackerel
Tuna (Bluefin)