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!
Captain
Jim Hardy
Highlights
In demand! Last booked: 4 days ago
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (70)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Appropriate for children
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Satisfied with the boat
98%
Recommend this charter
95%
Caught fish
79%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on June 25, 2025
My family and I had a great time. We would definitely fish with Captain Jim again.
My family and I had a great time. We would definitely fish with Captain Jim again.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on August 31, 2024
Jim is going to pull out every trick in the book to put you on fish. Knows the ICW well. He was incredibly patient with a brand new angler and still kept the more experienced folks engaged. Makes everyone fell comfortable on the boat and the conversation onboard enhances the trip. Would recommend to anyone looking for some inshore fun.
Jim is going to pull out every trick in the book to put you on fish. Knows the ICW well. He was incredibly patient with a brand new angler and still kept the more experienced folks engaged. Makes everyone fell comfortable on the boat and the conversation onboard enhances the trip. Would recommend to anyone looking for some inshore fun.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip – Inshore (PM) on May 29, 2025
Took grandsons out inshore fishing. Captain was great and trip was fruitful!
Took grandsons out inshore fishing. Captain was great and trip was fruitful!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on May 8, 2025
captain is friendly and informative. great trip highly recommend
captain is friendly and informative. great trip highly recommend
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip – Inshore (AM) on May 7, 2025
I highly recommend Jim Hardy and blue heron
I highly recommend Jim Hardy and blue heron
Blue Heron Guide Service offers the following trips to customers:
When you book a trip with Blue Heron Guide Service, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
Trips booked with Blue Heron Guide Service include:
Blue Heron Guide Service offers the following types of fishing:
Blue Heron Guide Service offers the following fishing techniques:
Top targeted fish species with Blue Heron Guide Service include:
Hampstead, North Carolina, United States
Captain Jim caught twelve-pound Bluefish on the Chesapeake Bay when he was six years old and has been obsessed ever since. Growing up, his time on the water was split between fishing and fly fishing for Bass and Trout in freshwater and saltwater, fishing for anything whenever he had the chance. Throughout his life, going through school, careers, and raising a family, Captain Jim has always come back to fishing and life on the water as his sanctuary. He now feels lucky enough to call this paradise his home and fishing and boating life his occupation. He has always enjoyed the teaching and coaching aspect of helping an angler catch their first or biggest fish and living vicariously through the eyes of a child when that bobber goes under and they hold their first prized catch. Captain Jim especially wants the younger anglers to experience this same thrill so they can carry on this great tradition of responsible angling and conservation.
Inshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing
GPS
Garmin
Fishfinder
Garmin Side Scan
Live Bait Well
Wireless Trolling Motor
Minn Kota Terrova with Spot Lock technology
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Fishing License
Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 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.
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Pay online in full
Pay online in full through FishingBooker and save on credit card fees at the dock.
No additional fees.
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
Bank Transfer
Blue Heron Guide Service - Updated 2025 Prices