Instigator Sportfishing
Instigator Sportfishing
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Instigator Sportfishing is the premier charter boat for families and children, based out of Wanchese, NC at the Wanchese Marina. Looking for a perfect way to introduce your kids to fishing, look no further, Capt George and Will will provide the best experiene possible. Capt George loves to share his knowledge and techniques - you will learn from start to finish.
Capt. George aims to tailor every trip to your specific needs, so let him know what you're after! Depending on the trip and species, you'll be using techniques like bottom fishing and trolling. You're looking at 4 to 6-hour trips, where you'll usually go after the likes of Cobia, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Little Tunny, and Dogfish, depending on the weather and time of year.
Your fishing adventure starts on a 33' Bertram boat that can safely take up to 6 anglers. This boat features 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.
You're welcome to keep all legal species caught during the trip.
Here to help you with anything you need, the first mate will be on hand during the trip. Leaving a tip for a job well done is much appreciated.
This is a children-friendly charter, so you're welcome to bring your kids on for a fun fishing adventure.
Book your trip now and hit the water with Instigator Sportfishing.
Instigator Sportfishing is the premier charter boat for families and children, based out of Wanchese, NC at the Wanchese Marina. Looking for a perfect way to introduce your kids to fishing, look no further, Capt George and Will will provide the best experiene possible. Capt George loves to share his knowledge and techniques - you will learn from start to finish.
Capt. George aims to tailor every trip to your specific needs, so let him know what you're after! Depending on the trip and species, you'll be using techniques like bottom fishing and trolling. You're looking at 4 to 6-hour trips, where you'll usually go after the likes of Cobia, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Little Tunny, and Dogfish, depending on the weather and time of year.
Your fishing adventure starts on a 33' Bertram boat that can safely take up to 6 anglers. This boat features 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.
You're welcome to keep all legal species caught during the trip.
Here to help you with anything you need, the first mate will be on hand during the trip. Leaving a tip for a job well done is much appreciated.
This is a children-friendly charter, so you're welcome to bring your kids on for a fun fishing adventure.
Book your trip now and hit the water with Instigator Sportfishing.
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Trip availability and prices
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Customer reviews
Rating
Anglers' gallery (46)
What anglers say
Reviews (44)
Willa Dvorchak•
North Carolina, USMember since 20265.0VerifiedIf you want fish go with Captain George!
3/4 Day Intermediate Trip (6 hr) on July 21, 2026 • 3 adultsRidiculous!!! We caught too many fish!! Hahaaa best time ever! 40+ Spanish Mackerel 6 bluefish! Spot on the moment we got on board. Captain George knows exactly where to go and first mate Will was on top of the lines all day. I had booked a more expensive intermediate charter and when I got there Captain George knew there weren’t any fish out there and offered a less expensive inshore charter. He’s a true gem, saves you money AND gets you on fish! Couldn’t ask for anything better!!! 50lbs of fish at weigh in for a 6hr charter :)
Erica OliverRepeat angler•Maryland, US•Member since 20222 trips5.0VerifiedNewgreat trip!
Half Day Trip (AM) on September 6, 2026 • 6 adults • 1 childthis was an amazing trip! the moment the lines went in it started off strong with Albacore being caught then the mackeral wouldnt stop and then ended with catching several more albacore. our 4hr trip ended up only being 3hrs but thats only bc I had two kiddos who couldnt hang any longer but by that time we caught our limit anyways! I’d def recommend this trip!!
Rebecca Griffee•North Carolina, USMember since 20265.0VerifiedKids had a blast!
6 Hour Nearshore (AM) on July 27, 2026 • 5 adults • 2 childrenWe had a great 6 hr near shore trip! The mate Will was awesome with our kids (5yr and 7yr) and seemed to have as much fun as they did. Captain George let the kids go sit up top with him while we were trolling and they loved that. We caught a lot of fish and then the guys even switched up the gear to try for a shark after my son asked and we managed to get one right in time before heading in! We also loved getting to see Bodie Lighthouse and some pretty views while out on the boat.
Sean Early•Virginia, USMember since 20265.0VerifiedThese guys are legit
6 Hour Nearshore (AM) on July 31, 2026 • 6 adults • 2 childrenWith the minimal margin in review variances, I looked at the photos from this crews past recent trips and went off the smiles and fish in the photos. These guys know what they are doing and put us on fish right away. They were fantastic with the kids and the trip was excellent. We will be back again to charter our next off-shore trip with them.
Melissa EnglisbyRepeat angler•Virginia, US•Member since 20235 trips5.0VerifiedThe Fish Kept Coming!
Half Day Trip (Mid- Day) on July 1, 2026 • 5 adults • 1 childIt was a great day on the water with Captain George and Will! Caught several Spanish Mackerel and several Bluefish. Everything was taken care of for us… we were able to sit back and relax and just reel the fish in! Thanks
Steven PreskittRepeat angler•Virginia, US•Member since 20252 trips5.0VerifiedIf you want to catch too many fish, this is the charter for you
6 Hour Nearshore (AM) on July 21, 2026 • 2 adultsGeorge and Will were the best captain and first mate you could ask for! We caught a boat full of spanish mackeral and bluefish, and my wifes only complaint was reeling in too many fish! Top notch dogs to go out with.
Jeffrey AlascioRepeat angler•Massachusetts, US•Member since 20233 trips5.0VerifiedAwesome Trip!!!
Half Day Trip (AM) on July 16, 2026 • 6 adultswe were very lucky amd our Captain George and 1st Mate Matt were exceptional, prepared and knowledgeable. we caught many Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel and Shark. i would highly recommend this team again.
Keith YoxRepeat angler•Virginia, US•Member since 20242 trips5.0Verifiedmade the best iut of the situation
Half Day Trip (Mid- Day) on June 29, 2026 • 6 adults • 2 childrenOcean water had really bad chop…. we were getting thrown all around… we called it quickly to turn back and fish the sound. We still caught 20 bluefish and spanish mackerel. The mate was on point the while time.
David Cartie•New York, USMember since 20265.0VerifiedInstigator for the win!
Half Day Trip (AM) on July 8, 2026 • 6 adultsspanish mackeral & rays biting, huge pod of dolphins, and a great captain and crew made this a perfect morning. Can't wait to re-book!
Brett EdwardsRepeat angler•Virginia, US•Member since 20262 trips5.0Verifiedit was a great trip.
Half Day Trip (Mid- Day) on June 5, 2026 • 4 adults • 2 childrenThe captain and crew where great! We caught plenty of fish and got them cleaned at the dock. I would highly recommend booking! my son and niece had a blast!
Rating
Anglers' gallery (46)
What anglers say
All reviews (44)
Ridiculous!!! We caught too many fish!! Hahaaa best time ever! 40+ Spanish Mackerel 6 bluefish! Spot on the moment we got on board. Captain George knows exactly where to go and first mate Will was on top of the lines all day. I had booked a more expensive intermediate charter and when I got there Captain George knew there weren’t any fish out there and offered a less expensive inshore charter. He’s a true gem, saves you money AND gets you on fish! Couldn’t ask for anything better!!! 50lbs of fish at weigh in for a 6hr charter :)
Thank you so much for trusting us with your fishing experience! You all were a great group and a lot of fun! We had some crazy weather this week, and you never know how it will affect fishing, but it turned out terrific. So glad you had fun with us, and we look forward to fishing with you again and again!
this was an amazing trip! the moment the lines went in it started off strong with Albacore being caught then the mackeral wouldnt stop and then ended with catching several more albacore. our 4hr trip ended up only being 3hrs but thats only bc I had two kiddos who couldnt hang any longer but by that time we caught our limit anyways! I’d def recommend this trip!!
So glad your family had a good time this morning! Y’all definitely had a fantastic haul. We hope the kids made some fun memories and will want to try their hand at it again one day. Look us up the next time you are in town!
The four hour trip was a good choice for the group. Everyone caught fish. Our group only had one person that has ever been deep sea fishing. I wasn’t sure if they could reel the bigger fish in. We did catch some small sharks that was big enough. The Captain and 1st mate were excellent. If your looking to book a family fishing trip that everyone can reel in fish the 4 hour trip is perfect. I enjoyed the boat so much Im going to book a longer trip in the spring for tuna.
Hi Jeremy, we’re so glad that you all had a great time on your charter! This is a perfect trip because everyone gets a chance to reel in some fish, but without having to go all day offshore.  We had a good time with your group, and hope to fish with you again in the near future! 
We had a great 6 hr near shore trip! The mate Will was awesome with our kids (5yr and 7yr) and seemed to have as much fun as they did. Captain George let the kids go sit up top with him while we were trolling and they loved that. We caught a lot of fish and then the guys even switched up the gear to try for a shark after my son asked and we managed to get one right in time before heading in! We also loved getting to see Bodie Lighthouse and some pretty views while out on the boat.
This is what it is all about. We are so happy that the kids had such a great time. It is our goal to help create fun memories, and hopefully future fishing enthusiasts! It was our pleasure to charter with your family, and look forward to doing it again the next time you visit the OBX!
With the minimal margin in review variances, I looked at the photos from this crews past recent trips and went off the smiles and fish in the photos. These guys know what they are doing and put us on fish right away. They were fantastic with the kids and the trip was excellent. We will be back again to charter our next off-shore trip with them.
Thanks Sean for sharing your fishing experience with us! We truly try our best to provide our groups with a fun, memorable time. We take the trust our customers are giving us very seriously. When we hear the kids enjoyed it we know we did our job right! We look forward to fishing with you all again!
FAQs about Instigator Sportfishing
- US $750 per group - Half Day Trip (12:30) (4 hours)
- US $750 per group - Half Day Trip (AM) (4 hours)
- US $750 per group - Half Day Trip (Mid- Day) (4 hours)
- US $1,050 per group - 6 Hour Nearshore (AM) (6 hours)
- US $1,050 per group - 6 Hour Nearshore (AM) Late Morning (6 hours)
- US $1,050 per group - 6 Hour Nearshore (PM) (Late Start) (6 hours)
- US $1,700 per group - 3/4 Day Intermediate Trip (6 hr) (6 hours)
- US $1,900 per group - Full Day Intermediate (8 Hours) (8 hours)
- Toilet
- Fighting chair
- GPS
- Fishfinder
- Flybridge
- Outriggers
- Ice box
- Radar
- Rods, reels & tackle
- Live bait
- Lures
- First mate
- Fishing license
- Inshore fishing
- Nearshore fishing
- Light tackle
- Heavy tackle
- Bottom fishing
- Trolling
- Deep sea fishing
- Amberjack
- Bluefish (Tailor)
- Cobia
- Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
- King Mackerel (Kingfish)
- Shark (Atlantic Sharpnose)
- Spanish Mackerel
Your captain
Wanchese, North Carolina, United States
With many years of fishing experience, Capt. George is prepared to show you the best of these waters whether you're bottom fishing, light tackle, trolling, or using a more specialized technique. Among his favorite fish to target are Bluefish and King Mackeral. Customers often walk away with a cooler full of fish and high praise for George's knowledge of the local waters.
Real catches by this captain
What is the boat like?
What kind of fishing will you do?
Which fishing techniques you can try
Which amenities are available onboard
How cancellations work
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.
What the listing policies are
Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
How you can pay
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 5% charge will apply.
What’s biting in Wanchese right now
Amberjack
Bluefish (Tailor)
Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Spanish MackerelCompare similar fishing charters
4.9(118)37 ftGroup size 1 - 61 - 6
+94 hour trip • 6 personsUS $730
