Riptide Charters
+127If you are looking for a trip of a lifetime, RipTide Charters is for you! They are a top-notch family-friendly charter service that puts you in the action located in Wanchese, NC. Captain Randy has over 12 years of professional experience offshore, nearshore, and inshore and is extremely knowledgeable about the area. He grew up on the outer banks and has countless tricks up his sleeve to make sure you will have a catch to take home with you.
You will be in good hands whether you are a beginner or a pro. They are not your ordinary charter boat. They go the extra mile to include you in every aspect of the trip.
Wanchese is a fisherman’s paradise. It is surrounded by flats, marshes, and all kinds of fish habitats. The Pamlico sound is nearby and the Atlantic Ocean is right around the corner. So that provides you with more fishing time and less riding time.
The Mako 25’ center console with a 300 HP Evinrude engine will have no problem taking up to 5 guests, wherever your trip might lead. From the ocean to the flats, this boat is well equipped and fully maintained. It has 2 depth finders, a flybridge, live well, standard safety equipment, and ice boxes. There’s all the gear you will need to land that fish of a lifetime.
Depending on the season and fish biting, you’ll encounter the likes of Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder, Sheepshead, Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, and Striped Bass.
When you step aboard, you will be greeted by Captain Randy and his first mate. You will be provided rods, bait, tackle, and drinks.. No need to worry about your fishing license, it’s been taking care of. The boat will be sanitized before every trip.
Join Riptide Charters and let the adventure begin!
Captain
Randy Thornton
Highlights
Plan your trip
Customer reviews
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (332)
+329Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
98%
Appropriate for children
99%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
98%
Caught fish
93%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great Family Trip with Capt Randy
6 Hour Trip – Nearshore (AM) on June 26, 2025
We met up with Capt Randy at 6am on a (really) hot day in late June 2025 for a 6 hour fishing trip. Based on the days conditions, Capt Randy recommended a run out to a reef for bottom fishing. We road about 45-50 mins out to the reef on a very calm ocean day. On our out to the reef, we spotted a sea turtle and got a cobia on a lucky cast. Capt Randy trained us on the reef fishing techniques and we caught many fish! Black Seabass, Triggerfish, and Sea Robin Fish. Many fish we had to toss back, but we did keep a handful. Wonderful day for a family of 4 (14yo, 16yo) on a six hour trip.
We met up with Capt Randy at 6am on a (really) hot day in late June 2025 for a 6 hour fishing trip. Based on the days conditions, Capt Randy recommended a run out to a reef for bottom fishing. We road about 45-50 mins out to the reef on a very calm ocean day. On our out to the reef, we spotted a sea turtle and got a cobia on a lucky cast. Capt Randy trained us on the reef fishing techniques and we caught many fish! Black Seabass, Triggerfish, and Sea Robin Fish. Many fish we had to toss...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
We caught fish. Great experience!
4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) on June 16, 2025
We explained to Capt. Randy we wanted to catch fish to eat for dinner. He delivered! We had a great time tolling and taking turns catching and yes even missing a few. Capt. Randy was easy to work with and everyone caught fish. He showed us how to bring them in and remove them and to the ice chest they went. Really super fun. Not our first trip out fishing in the Ocean but the best ever. Capt. Randy is patient and laidback so kids would have a good time. Everything was in great working order, boat clean and ready to go when we arrived. We were very pleased. Thank you Captain Randy.
We explained to Capt. Randy we wanted to catch fish to eat for dinner. He delivered! We had a great time tolling and taking turns catching and yes even missing a few. Capt. Randy was easy to work with and everyone caught fish. He showed us how to bring them in and remove them and to the ice chest they went. Really super fun. Not our first trip out fishing in the Ocean but the best ever. Capt. Randy is patient and laidback so kids would have a good time. Everything was in great working order,...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Captain Randy
2 Hour Trip (Evening) on June 17, 2025
We had a wonderful trip. I booked the 2 hour trip with Captain Randy since it was the first time my daughter and wife had been fishing in the bay/ocean. We each caught fish, the captain was knowledgeable, friendly, down to earth, helped bait all fishing poles, and given the wait time to have our fish cleaned he did it for us. We of course gave him a nice tip. Highly recommend this trip if you have children who have never been fishing in the bay/ocean. We will be booking a longer trip with captain Randy the next time.
We had a wonderful trip. I booked the 2 hour trip with Captain Randy since it was the first time my daughter and wife had been fishing in the bay/ocean. We each caught fish, the captain was knowledgeable, friendly, down to earth, helped bait all fishing poles, and given the wait time to have our fish cleaned he did it for us. We of course gave him a nice tip. Highly recommend this trip if you have children who have never been fishing in the bay/ocean. We will be booking a longer trip with captain...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Wanted to get on my first red drum!
4 Hour Trip – Inshore (PM) on August 19, 2024
Texted him before booking asking if we could specifically target and go for red drum and it was no problem!! Got to the dock talked out the plan…. Wasn’t sure how the bite would be so went for the trout to put dinner on the table and did that in about a hour and half! 1 short of our limit only book for 4 hours so remaining 2 and a half hours went in hunt for the red drum bite and got right on it!!!!!! Got to the spot so a boat 20 ft away hooked up and new it was gonna be a blast…. Threw out the lines 20 minutes boom hooked up and dad got on his first red drum!!! 5 minutes later hook onto a beast as we’re dealing with that the other rod gets slammed and we’re doubled up!!!!!! Capt is very knowledgeable with the water and how to fish and is very cool thx for getting me on my first red drum!!!!!! Recommend him for anyone down on vacation!
Texted him before booking asking if we could specifically target and go for red drum and it was no problem!! Got to the dock talked out the plan…. Wasn’t sure how the bite would be so went for the trout to put dinner on the table and did that in about a hour and half! 1 short of our limit only book for 4 hours so remaining 2 and a half hours went in hunt for the red drum bite and got right on it!!!!!! Got to the spot so a boat 20 ft away hooked up and new it was gonna be a blast…. Threw out...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Great day on the water🍻🍻
4 Hour Trip – Inshore (PM) on June 20, 2025
Captain Randy and Teresa were awesome! Very laid back and put us on some fish. My 9 year old daughter caught a nice red drum that we had fried up and ate for dinner when we got back to the marina. Thank you both for a wonderful family adventure!
Captain Randy and Teresa were awesome! Very laid back and put us on some fish. My 9 year old daughter caught a nice red drum that we had fried up and ate for dinner when we got back to the marina. Thank you both for a wonderful family adventure!
FAQs about Riptide Charters
What are the trip rates for Riptide Charters?
Riptide Charters offers the following trips to customers:
- US $325 per group - 2 Hour Trip (Evening) (2 hours)
- US $450 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) (4 hours)
- US $450 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Inshore (PM) (4 hours)
- US $525 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Nearshore (AM) (4 hours)
- US $525 per group - 4 Hour Trip – Nearshore (PM) (4 hours)
- US $550 per group - 4 hr Shark trip am (4 hours)
- US $550 per group - 4 hr Shark trip pm (4 hours)
- US $600 per group - 6 Hour Trip – Inshore (AM) (6 hours)
- US $600 per group - 6 Hour Trip – Inshore (PM) (6 hours)
- US $700 per group - 6 Hour Trip – Nearshore (AM) (6 hours)
- US $700 per group - 6 Hour Trip – Nearshore (PM) (6 hours)
- US $800 per group - 7 hr cobia trip (7 hours)
- US $900 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Riptide Charters?
When you book a trip with Riptide Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Flybridge
- Live Bait Well
- Outriggers
- Ice Box
What's included in the trip price with Riptide Charters?
Trips booked with Riptide Charters include:
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live Bait (Live bait is included in price )
- Lures
- Drinks (I have water for you free of charge )
- First Mate (I do not have a mate I take care of all of your needs)
- Fishing License (Fishing license is covered for everyone on the boat.)
What types of fishing does Riptide Charters offer?
Riptide Charters offers the following types of fishing:
- Inshore Fishing
- Nearshore Fishing
- Reef Fishing
- Wreck Fishing
- Flats Fishing
What fishing techniques does Riptide Charters offer?
Riptide Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
- Light Tackle
- Heavy Tackle
- Bottom Fishing
- Trolling
- Spinning
- Jigging
- Popping
- Drift Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with Riptide Charters?
Top targeted fish species with Riptide Charters include:
- Amberjack
- Black Drum
- Bluefish
- Cobia
- Flounder
- King Mackerel (Kingfish)
- Redfish
- Seabass (Black)
- Sheepshead
- Spanish Mackerel
- Spotted Seatrout
- Triggerfish (Gray)
Meet your captain
Wanchese, North Carolina, United States
After growing up on the Outer Banks, my passion for fishing started young. I spent my young years chasing fish up and down the beaches, sounds, and backwaters with my dad creating memories that have lasted a lifetime. I knew I wanted to give others the same opportunity so I got my Captain license. I captained Offshore, charters for over 10 years however that didn’t stop me from fishing Nearshore and Inshore as often as I could. Now I enjoy taking my 2 kids and my clients and their families to create memories of their own to last a lifetime.
Fish you can target
Your boat
Where you can fish
Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Reef Fishing
Wreck Fishing
Flats Fishing
How you can fish
Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing
What's on board
GPS
Fishfinder
Flybridge
Live Bait Well
Outriggers
Ice Box
Included in the price
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Live bait is included in price
Lures
Drinks
I have water for you free of charge
First Mate
I do not have a mate I take care of all of your needs
Fishing License
Fishing license is covered for everyone on the boat.
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
We love taking kids fishing our minimum age limit is 5.
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
How to pay
Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% 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
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 4% charge will apply.
What’s biting in Wanchese right now
Amberjack
Black Drum
Bluefish
Cobia
Flounder
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Redfish
Seabass (Black)
Spanish Mackerel
Spotted Seatrout