Outer Banks

The Outer Banks (OBX for those in the know) is its own unique world. These are the waters where ‘backing winds’ and ‘sundogs’ are things that must be steered clear of, where Striped Bass is called Rockfish, and you’ll do everything you can to avoid looking like a ‘dingbatter’ on a boat. These miles of ever-shifting beaches are a truly magical place… and just wait till you find out what’s waiting for you once you leave the shore.

Outer Banks fishing charters are your gateway to exploring these fabled waterways like a local. And when local hotspots include some of the biggest names in sport fishing, that’s not an opportunity you’ll want to pass up. Whether you’re sailing out of the Oregon Inlet from Nags Head, Manteo or Wanchese, or heading into the Atlantic from Hatteras or Ocracoke (to name just a few iconic destinations), you will be following in the footsteps of some of the bravest pioneers of sportfishing.

Offshore, you can sample some of the finest Tuna fishing in the United States. Warm water lovers Blackfin and Yellowfin Tuna join forces with their Bigeye and Bluefin cousins to give anglers just about as good a run for their money as they can get. With the Gulf Stream easily accessible in a day trip from most locations in the summer, it’s hardly surprising that trophy-sized Wahoo, enormous schools of Mahi, and even Blue and White Marlin regularly find their way onto the deck of Outer Banks deep sea fishing charters. And with Cape Point jutting out into the paths of both the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current, you can see why Hatteras Island has earned the nickname of the ‘Blue Marlin Capital of the World’.

If battling a sea monster in the choppy waters offshore doesn’t take your fancy, then we bet you you’ll be able to find some Outer Banks inshore fishing charters that do. Both the Pamlico Sound and the Albemarle Sound play host to an enormous number of not-very-small fish all year round. Go ‘sound side’, and you’ll be looking at everything from Bull Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, Tarpon, and Cobia to Striped Bass and Bluefish. This is a West Atlantic melting pot in its finest form, with the juiciest specimens from the North and the South all mingling together right here.

If you’re looking for fish tales that will last a lifetime, Outer Banks charter fishing will do everything it can to deliver. And we bet that once you’ve been there a while, there will be nothing that means quite as much to you as the brogue of the ‘hoi toiders’ and the smell of the sea on the sands.

Recreational anglers need a fishing license in North Carolina. Charter operators have the option of purchasing a Blanket License to cover everyone on board - check whether or not you need to purchase your own with your individual charter operator before your trip. Size and bag limits apply for a number of fish species.

Find a big enough boat, head out of Oregon Inlet or Hatteras, and you will be in reach of some of the best deep sea fishing in the Unites States. In the summer, troll the Gulf Stream for Marlin (Blue and White), as well as Mahi Mahi and the speedster of the seas - Wahoo. In the winter, keep your ear to the ground to find out when the Bluefin are arriving. Most Outer Banks Tuna fishing charters will fish for them by chunking with Menhaden, although trolling with heavy tackle is getting more and more popular. Looking for fun? Try jigging for big Blackfin Tuna!

Inshore, there are several events you don’t want to miss. These are the explosive Drum run in the spring and the fall, when record-breaking Red Drum pass by these shores. In the early summer, look for Cobia around the inlets and hone your detective skills as you sight fish for these brown-scaled monsters.

No boat? Surf fishing is very popular in the Outer Banks, and it’s not surprising given the huge stretches of sand that these barrier islands are made up of. Bring a 6-10ft surf fishing rod and stock up on cut Squid and Mullet (bloodworms and artificial lures are also effective). Anything from Bluefish to Flounder could take your bait!

Pro tip: it’s not only serious sport fisherman who enjoy OBX fishing. Get your feet wet with the kids on a shrimping or crabbing trip and you’ll be fed for a week!