Blue Heron Guide Service 

4.9/5 (92 reviews)
 579 Lewis Road, Hampstead, NC 28443, United States

Blue Heron Guide Service 

4.9/5 (92 reviews)
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579 Lewis Road
Hampstead, NC, United States
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Blue Heron Guide Service and Captain Jim Hardy welcome you to Hampstead, North Carolina. Captain Jim is a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain who grew up in Virginia with a fishing pole in his hand. He got the fishing bug when he was five and hasn't been the same ever since. Captain Jim invites you to join him on the water and hopes to share that obsession with you the moment you step on his boat! As your guide, his goal is to provide you with the best opportunity to catch fish on your trip.

Your adventure takes place on a 23' KenCraft Bay Rider 239 boat that can take up to 6 guests. It's powered by a 200 HP Yamaha engine and uses Garmin GPS and fishfinder for efficient navigation, along with a VHF radio. The boat is equipped with a wireless trolling motor, a livewell, and downriggers.

The species you'll be chasing include Mackerel, Flounder, Bonito, False Albacore, Speckled Trout, and more. To catch them, you can bottom fish, jig, troll, spin, pop, and drift fish. You can use everything from live and cut bait to artificial lures based on your comfort level, experience, and the weather. Captain Jim is a conservation-minded angler, but has no objection to keeping some catch for dinner.

The only things you'll need for the trip are your favorite snacks and drinks, the captain takes care of everything else.

This is about you and your family. You and Captain Jim are a team! Before every trip, you'll discuss what you hope to get out of the trip and he'll do everything possible to cater to those wants, based on your experience and the time of the fishing season. The weather and time of year always play a factor in the game plan, but the captain wants you to have as much input into your trip as possible.

This is your unique experience the captain will do everything he can to make great memories!

Blue Heron Guide Service and Captain Jim Hardy welcome you to Hampstead, North Carolina. Captain Jim is a U.S. Coast Guard certified captain who grew up in Virginia with a fishing pole in his hand. He got the fishing bug when he was five and hasn't been the same ever since. Captain Jim invites you to join him on the water and hopes to share that obsession with you the moment you step on his boat! As your guide, his goal is to provide you with the best opportunity to catch fish on your trip.

Your adventure takes place on a 23' KenCraft Bay Rider 239 boat that can take up to 6 guests. It's powered by a 200 HP Yamaha engine and uses Garmin GPS and fishfinder for efficient navigation, along with a VHF radio. The boat is equipped with a wireless trolling motor, a livewell, and downriggers.

The species you'll be chasing include Mackerel, Flounder, Bonito, False Albacore, Speckled Trout, and more. To catch them, you can bottom fish, jig, troll, spin, pop, and drift fish. You can use everything from live and cut bait to artificial lures based on your comfort level, experience, and the weather. Captain Jim is a conservation-minded angler, but has no objection to keeping some catch for dinner.

The only things you'll need for the trip are your favorite snacks and drinks, the captain takes care of everything else.

This is about you and your family. You and Captain Jim are a team! Before every trip, you'll discuss what you hope to get out of the trip and he'll do everything possible to cater to those wants, based on your experience and the time of the fishing season. The weather and time of year always play a factor in the game plan, but the captain wants you to have as much input into your trip as possible.

This is your unique experience the captain will do everything he can to make great memories!

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Rating

4.9
92 reviews
4.9
Boat & equipment
4.9
Captain & crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (75)

What anglers say

96%
Great experience
96%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
98%
Good boat
95%
Recommended
80%
Caught fish

All reviews (92)

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Showing 15 of 92 reviews
Michael Wallace
Michael Wallace
Repeat angler
us
South Carolina, US
Member since 2022
2 trips
0
5.0
Verified
Top Notch Guide
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on July 22, 20253 adults
Captain Jim tired his hardest to get us on fish to day with bad weather and wind sneaking in on us. He never gave up and kept us entertained with his amazing personality. He came through for my son’s birthday and on the very last line of bait in the rain got him his first red drum! He is a very patient and knowledgeable individual. 10/10 would book him again!
Reported catch:
Redfish
Response from Captain
July 23, 2025
Thanks for the kind words Michael! Man, we had to work to get a good one today but I’m glad we got one on the last cast of the day 😂. I’m happy Owen got one on his birthday. You all are great and are welcome back anytime. Thanks again!
Don Gilbert
Don Gilbert
us
Connecticut, US
Member since 2018
0
5.0
Verified
October fishing trip
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on October 14, 20254 adults
Capt Jim was friendly, fun, and very knowledgeable, we had a great time. We caught some Redfish, a very nice flounder (release) and enjoyed the morning, even if it was a bit cool. Thanks Capt, we will do this again.
Reported catch:
Redfish
Flounder
Bart Salvaggio
Bart Salvaggio
Repeat angler
us
Hickory, NC, US
Member since 2024
2 trips
0
5.0
Verified
Great Day!
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on July 29, 20252 adults
Warm water but Capt. Jim made it work. We found those reds and had fun reeling them in. Highly recommend!!
Reported catch:
Redfish
Response from Captain
July 31, 2025
Thanks Bart! I had a great time out there with you and Alex. Good fishing and great conversation made it alot of fun for me too. You all are welcome back anytime ! 👍
Matthew Gibbs
Matthew Gibbs
us
West Virginia, US
Member since 2025
0
5.0
Verified
Captain Jim was great
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on June 25, 20254 adults
My family and I had a great time. We would definitely fish with Captain Jim again.
Response from Captain
June 25, 2025
Thanks Matt!!! You all were great and are always welcome back! Thanks for fishing with me today 👍
Robert Roll
Robert Roll
Repeat angler
us
Virginia, US
Member since 2022
2 trips
0
5.0
Verified
Fishing with Jim
Half Day Trip – Inshore (PM) on August 15, 20236 adults

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Group Size:
Select date to see availability
June 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
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Number of days
1
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
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Almost there...
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 hour trip starts at 8:00 AM
Seasonal trip
(Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri)
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US $450
Entire boat: up to 4 people
There are 4 people looking at this charter.

Rating

4.9
92 reviews
4.9
Boat & equipment
4.9
Captain & crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (75)

What anglers say

96%
Great experience
96%
Family friendly
100%
Friendly captain
98%
Good boat
95%
Recommended
80%
Caught fish

All reviews (92)

Filter
Frequently mentioned
Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...Loading...
Showing 15 of 92 reviews
Michael Wallace
Michael Wallace
Repeat angler
us
South Carolina, US
Member since 2022
2 trips
0
5.0
Verified
Top Notch Guide
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on July 22, 20253 adults
Captain Jim tired his hardest to get us on fish to day with bad weather and wind sneaking in on us. He never gave up and kept us entertained with his amazing personality. He came through for my son’s birthday and on the very last line of bait in the rain got him his first red drum! He is a very patient and knowledgeable individual. 10/10 would book him again!
Reported catch:
Redfish
Response from Captain
July 23, 2025
Thanks for the kind words Michael! Man, we had to work to get a good one today but I’m glad we got one on the last cast of the day 😂. I’m happy Owen got one on his birthday. You all are great and are welcome back anytime. Thanks again!
Don Gilbert
Don Gilbert
us
Connecticut, US
Member since 2018
0
5.0
Verified
October fishing trip
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on October 14, 20254 adults
Capt Jim was friendly, fun, and very knowledgeable, we had a great time. We caught some Redfish, a very nice flounder (release) and enjoyed the morning, even if it was a bit cool. Thanks Capt, we will do this again.
Reported catch:
Redfish
Flounder
Bart Salvaggio
Bart Salvaggio
Repeat angler
us
Hickory, NC, US
Member since 2024
2 trips
0
5.0
Verified
Great Day!
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on July 29, 20252 adults
Warm water but Capt. Jim made it work. We found those reds and had fun reeling them in. Highly recommend!!
Reported catch:
Redfish
Response from Captain
July 31, 2025
Thanks Bart! I had a great time out there with you and Alex. Good fishing and great conversation made it alot of fun for me too. You all are welcome back anytime ! 👍
Matthew Gibbs
Matthew Gibbs
us
West Virginia, US
Member since 2025
0
5.0
Verified
Captain Jim was great
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on June 25, 20254 adults
My family and I had a great time. We would definitely fish with Captain Jim again.
Response from Captain
June 25, 2025
Thanks Matt!!! You all were great and are always welcome back! Thanks for fishing with me today 👍
Robert Roll
Robert Roll
Repeat angler
us
Virginia, US
Member since 2022
2 trips
0
5.0
Verified
Fishing with Jim
Half Day Trip – Inshore (PM) on August 15, 20236 adults

FAQs about Blue Heron Guide Service

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The fish you can target

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What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
5 persons
Boat length
23 ft
Year built
2021
Boat manufacturer
KenCraft
Boat type
Bay boat
Engine model
Yamaha
Powered by
1 x 200HP
Max cruising speed
45 knots
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