Hayden Express Charters
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Hayden Express Charters

Excellent
5.0 / 5
(102 reviews)
• Angler's Choice
Map of Wanchese, NC, United States
4457 Mill Landing Road
Wanchese, NC, United States
Trips & prices
Targeted species
What's included
Boat info
Reviews
Contact captain

Hayden Express Charters runs angling trips out of Wanchese and offers to show you what the local fishery is all about.

Capt. Ralph will do his best to make sure you have a fun day full of fishing. He specializes in light tackle, heavy tackle, bottom fishing, trolling, jigging, and kite fishing, all to get you on that bite. This involves 4 to 11-hour trips, mainly fishing for Cobia, Mahi Mahi, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, Tuna, and Redfish, depending on the season and conditions of the day.

Your adventure begins on board a 48’ Craddock Boatworks boat that can fit a maximum of 6 anglers. The boat has a toilet, ice box, and fighting chair. All rods, reels, and terminal tackle are included in the price so you can focus on what really matters, fishing. Your trip will include all the necessary fishing licenses for the day.

Capt. Ralph runs trips together with his first mate, who’s there to help you with whatever you may need. Tips are always appreciated for a job well done. Children are welcome aboard, so you’re good to get the young ones started early. You’ll be able to keep any legal species caught during the trip.

Book your trip now and hit the water with Hayden Express Charters.

  • Fishing License
  • Live Bait
  • You Keep Catch
  • Toilet
  • Child Friendly
  • Ice Box
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Fighting Chair

Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip (10:30 AM)
    In demand! Last booked: 2 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 10:30 AM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $700
    This trip is primarily fishing within 5 miles of the beach. You'll be fishing for Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, and Ribbonfish and keeping a close eye out for a school of Red Drum and Cobia. This is the perfect trip for families, beginners, or anyone looking for a fun trip. Seasonal.
    Targeted fish
    Cobia
    Cobia
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Bluefish
    Bluefish
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spanish Mackerel
    Spanish Mackerel
  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip (6 AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $700
    This trip is primarily fishing within 5 miles of the beach. You'll be fishing for Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, and Ribbonfish and keeping a close eye out for a school of Red Drum and Cobia. This is the perfect trip for families, beginners, or anyone looking for a fun trip. This trip is seasonal.
    Targeted fish
    Cobia
    Cobia
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Bluefish
    Bluefish
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spanish Mackerel
    Spanish Mackerel
  • Private trip
    3/4 Day Trip (12:30 PM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 12:30 PM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $950
    This trip is similar to the 4-hour half-day trip but gives you the opportunity to fish a little longer without spending all day on the water. This trip is primarily fishing within 5 miles of the beach. You'll be fishing for Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, and Ribbonfish and keeping a close eye out for a school of Red Drum and Cobia. This is the perfect trip for families, beginners, or anyone looking for a fun trip. If you're targeting Cobia, this trip is recommended. Seasonal.
    Targeted fish
    Cobia
    Cobia
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Bluefish
    Bluefish
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spanish Mackerel
    Spanish Mackerel
  • Private trip
    3/4 Day Trip (6 AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $950
    This trip is similar to the 4-hour half-day trip but gives you the opportunity to fish a little longer without spending all day on the water. This trip is primarily fishing within 5 miles of the beach. You'll be fishing for Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, False Albacore, and Ribbonfish, and keeping a close eye out for a school of Red Drum and Cobia. This is the perfect trip for families, beginners, or anyone looking for a fun trip. If you're targeting Cobia, this trip is recommended. Seasonal.
    Targeted fish
    Cobia
    Cobia
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Bluefish
    Bluefish
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spanish Mackerel
    Spanish Mackerel
  • Private trip
    Full Day Trip – Nearshore
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $1,450
    This nearshore trip allows us to fish for a variety of fish farther from the inlet. You will be looking for Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Amberjack, False Albacore, and Cobia. This trip is a great way to relax and fish all day without having to leave the dock early in the morning. If you are targeting Cobia, this is a recommended trip. Seasonal.
    Types of fishing
    Nearshore Fishing
    Targeted fish
    Amberjack
    Amberjack
    Cobia
    Cobia
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Little Tunny (False Albacore)
    Bluefish
    Bluefish
    Spanish Mackerel
    Spanish Mackerel
  • Private trip
    Extended Full Day Trip (6 AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    10 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $2,000
    This trip typically is 15–35 miles from the inlet. This trip gives you the flexibility to target different species depending on the season and weather. You'll be fishing for Tilefish when in season, Amberjack, King Mackerel, Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), Wahoo, and the occasional White Marlin or Sailfish. This is a great trip to target larger species without the pressure of a full-day offshore trip. Seasonal.
    Targeted fish
    Amberjack
    Amberjack
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    King Mackerel (Kingfish)
    Marlin (White)
    White Marlin
    Sailfish
    Sailfish
    Wahoo
    Wahoo
    Tilefish
    Tilefish
  • Private trip
    Extended Full Day – Offshore (5 AM)
    FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
    11 Hour Trip, starts at 5:00 AM
    Seasonal trip May 15 - Oct 31
    US $2,400
    Looking for a trophy fish? This is the trip for you! Head out to the Gulf Stream looking for big game fish such as Tuna, Mahi Mahi, Marlin, and Sailfish. Seasonal trip.
    Targeted fish
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Marlin (Blue)
    Blue Marlin
    Marlin (White)
    White Marlin
    Sailfish
    Sailfish
    Tuna (Yellowfin)
    Yellowfin Tuna
There are 6 people looking at this charter.

FAQs about Hayden Express Charters

Hayden Express Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $700 per group - Half Day Trip (10:30 AM) (4 hours)
  • US $700 per group - Half Day Trip (6 AM) (4 hours)
  • US $950 per group - 3/4 Day Trip (12:30 PM) (6 hours)
  • US $950 per group - 3/4 Day Trip (6 AM) (6 hours)
  • US $1,450 per group - Full Day Trip – Nearshore (8 hours)
  • US $2,000 per group - Extended Full Day Trip (6 AM) (10 hours)
  • US $2,400 per group - Extended Full Day – Offshore (5 AM) (11 hours)
When you book a trip with Hayden Express Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet
  • Fighting Chair
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Flybridge
  • Live Bait Well
  • Outriggers
  • Ice Box For your catch
  • Radar
Trips booked with Hayden Express Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • First Mate
  • Fishing License
Hayden Express Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
Hayden Express Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Jigging
  • Kite Fishing
Top targeted fish species with Hayden Express Charters include:
  • Amberjack
  • Bluefish
  • Cobia
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Marlin (Blue)
  • Marlin (White)
  • Redfish
  • Sailfish
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Tilefish
  • Tuna (Yellowfin)

Meet the Captain

Ralph Craddock
Wanchese, North Carolina, United States
15 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
102 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since July 2022
Angler's Choice
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
Capt. Ralph and his crew are native to the Outer Banks. Along with his mate, Igg, he's been fishing the waters in and around Wanchese his entire life and they have been charter fishing together for 15 years. They promise to do their best to put you on the fish all the while making sure you enjoy your trip.

About this listing

Targeted species

Amberjack Amberjack
Bluefish Bluefish
Cobia Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)

Boat specs

Craddock Boatworks (Sportfishing) originally built in 2006. Powered by 2 580HP Caterpillar engines, with a maximum cruising speed of 23 knots.

Length
48 ft
Capacity
6 persons

Types of fishing

Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing

Fishing techniques

Light Tackle
Heavy Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Jigging
Kite Fishing

Amenities

Toilet
Fighting Chair
GPS
Fishfinder
Flybridge
Live Bait Well

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
First Mate
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

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.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed
Disabled Accessible
Report listing

Payment

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

Wanchese Fishing Calendar

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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
5.0 / 5
out of 5 stars from 102 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (126)
Amazing trip!!
Amazing trip!!
Amazing trip!!
+123
Angler rating
101
1
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
99%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
97%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
90%
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Featured  
Showing:
5 of 102 reviews
Stephen C.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Ralph

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (6 AM) on September 18, 2023
Stephen C. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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Stephen C. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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Adam G.
Bethesda, MD
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Half Day Sunrise Charter - AWESOME!

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (6 AM) on September 3, 2023
Captain Ralph and Mate Mason took my husband and I out on a 4-hr soundside charter and we had a great time! LOVED seeing the...
Adam G. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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  Ralph Craddock Captain replied
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Richard W.
Milton, NY
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Sunrise Fishing!☀️

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (6 AM) on August 23, 2023
Hayden Express was great, clean, and plenty of room for our party of six to not only fish, but relax and enjoy the views. Loved...
Richard W. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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  Ralph Craddock Captain replied
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John W.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing with Ralph

VERIFIED   3/4 Day Trip (12:30 PM) on August 17, 2023
John W. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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John W. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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Scott J.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing trip in August

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip (10:30 AM) on August 8, 2023
Scott J. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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Scott J. recommends Hayden Express Charters
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