Oriental
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $500
Captain
Captain Dave Hegel
Oriental, United States
Angler's choice
25+ reviews
Capt. Dave grew up in his father's boat dealership in Charleston, SC. For the last 40 years, Dave worked at various outboard and boat companies and fished all over the world with famous anglers. Dave has fished Eastern NC since 1983.
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Rating
5.0
33 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
4.9
Fishing Experience
Anglers' gallery (52)
What anglers say
100%
Recommend this charter
94%
Caught fish
All reviews (33)
Showing 1 – 5 of 33 reviews
Neil CornatzerRepeat angler
North Carolina, US•Member since 2021•10 trips5.0VerifiedGreat day!
6 Hour Trip • 2 adultse had a great six hour trip with Captain Dave. We were able to fish back water in creeks, which were beautiful as we had never been to Oriental. Captain Dave is not just a great captain but also a great guy. My 16 yr old son and I spent the day talking sports, fishing and life with him like we had known each another for 30 years. We caught some nice trout and a 24 inch monster that my son landed. Captain Dave is a pro and will be back to fish again. Go Pirates!
Response from CaptainSuch a nice review and very much appreciated. I agree, I felt like I was fishing with my old buddies all day; you have a remarkable young man as your son! Thanks Again fir a great day! 🏴☠️☠️🎣
Demetri DascalakisRepeat anglerNorth Carolina, US•Member since 2020•7 trips5.0VerifiedGreat Captain
6 Hour Trip – Neuse River & Pamlico • 2 adultsCaptain Dave took us around multiple areas. He is an interesting person and we enjoyed our morning. Sadly, the fish weren’t biting but he did all he could to find them. We will use him again.
Response from CaptainToo Kind, I appreciate your kind words considering such a difficult bite. Super people! ☠️🏴☠️🎣. Thank you!!!
Paul KielyRepeat anglerNew Hampshire, US•Member since 2022•4 trips4.7VerifiedFall Voyage
3 Hour Trip • 2 adultsGreat day on the water with a very knowledgeable and friendly captain and awesome boat!
Response from CaptainThanks for a great crew & day! 🏴☠️☠️🎣
Robert FritzMissouri, US•Member since 20245.0VerifiedCaptain Dave knows fishing, especially in this area
6 Hour Trip • 3 adultsYou'd be hard pressed to find a better guide. Captain Dave isn't your average, part-time angler. He's on the water nearly every day. Combined with his multiple decades of experience fishing in this area, Dave understands the intricacies of seasonal changes, water levels, hidden structure, and maintaining tight relationships with a team of other locals(who share tips and private fishing reports) to make sure he puts you on fish every time.
Reported catch:
Response from CaptainSuch kind words! It was a fun day & that trout was HUGE!
Steven AndrewsNorth Carolina, US•Member since 20235.0VerifiedAfternoon trip turns late night fight with a old drum
Trophy Bull Drum Evening Trip • 2 adultsExcellent trip overall. Would recommend. Our trip took place on a day where we had Dave put us on every bait ball we could find. Stayed committed to finding the older red drum with every strategy in the book. Hooked on at 7:34 and we fought one large fish until 9:40. Dave was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and patient to help us land the fish. Fish came in but outsmarted our man. I’ve never seen such thick line break but guess that’s what happens after a 2:06 hr fight and a few runs around structure, the boat, motor. Hope to fish with Dave again soon! Fishing in Oriental was nothing like I’ve ever done and I’m saltwater fishing 30+ weeks per year.
Reported catch:
Real catches shared by our community
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- Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters – OrientalOriental, NC
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- Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters – Trent WoodsTrent Woods, NC
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- Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters – Trent WoodsTrent Woods, NC
- Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters – OrientalOriental, NC
- Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters – Trent WoodsTrent Woods, NC
Our Fishing Locations
What's biting with Pamlico Pirate Fishing Charters – Oriental in Oriental
Top catches for September
Fishing reports
Lower Neuse River Fishing Report
May 18, 2026 • Trent Woods
The lack of rain has made the system different than normal. Salt “wedge” is much farther up river than normal. Bait is heavier near New Bern than the mouth of the Neuse. Rockfishing bite has been great from the Ferry up river. Slot reds are scattered in the river & bluefish are prevenent. The Sound is starting to see migration reds and summer pattern expected soon. Covering water is the key.
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April Fishing Report: Lower Neuse River/
Apr 4, 2025 • Oriental
The sea trout are 3/4 of the way out of the main creeks and headed for the Neuse River. D.O.A. Deadly Combo (popping cork), 3" D.O.A. Swim Baits and top water are all great choices. Vary your approach to cover Top, Mid and bottom. Work windy points from bank to mid channel. They are moving in and out to feed. Some bigger trout are hitting larger profiles and top water along with slot reds now moving into the system. The fishing has been FANTASTIC!
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Neuse River Sea Trout
Mar 22, 2025 • Trent Woods
The spring weather has the trout fired up and moving. The “cold stun” event in the New Bern to Oriental, NC area doesn’t seem to have had devestating damagage to the population. One of the most productive early spring in years for the Neuse system. Fish have moved out of the back of creeks and are heading towards the main river. Target mid main creek areas where bait is visable on surface or sonar. Productive baits have been D.O.A. 3” white/chartreuse swimbait, Paul Brown & MRs Purple/yellow or natural colors if 2’ visibility or more. Pay attention to wind direction and the sun for best bank targets to help production efficiency. Focus on points and work from banks out to mid creek. Fish seem to be moving up to feed then back to the “ditch”. Puppy Drum & Striper catches are also a solid possibilty. Vary your reteieves and presentations if bites are slow. Some days they want it a certain way.
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Old (Bull Drum) Neuse River
Oct 5, 2024 • Oriental
The Neuse River & Pamlico Sound are still producing Trophy Drum. This 48” monster came off a; DOA Cork & Cal Swim Bait white/chartreuse. Leader was 90 lbs braided wire to prevent blue fish from stealing your cork.
Small schools are still roaming the river eating the plentiful shrimp, menhadden & mullet. Most fish are bewteen Bay River and the Ferry. As with past years, the blue fush schools usually have a trophy drum near by.
All traditional methods are working but expectations should be limited based on the fresh water preventing huge numbers of fish to enter the river during the spawn. Look for a couple more weeks of the last class to stay until that NE cold front hits the sound & signals the drum to head back to the Atlantic.
Captain Dave Hegel reports that cork bites are limited and still will use cut bait if he cant find baitfish on the surface. ☠️?☠️?
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May Fishing Report: Lower Neuse River/ P
May 15, 2024 • Oriental
The 1st 2 weeks in May; have been as good a May as I can remember. There are Over Slots, Old Drum, Slots, Big Striper and big Trout from Kennel Beach to South River both sides of the Neuse. Don't be surprised if the Blue fish invade your area, there's 4 & 5 pound blues all over the river. Fun to catch but have wire leaders ready if using artificial bait. For Reds, focus on sandy banks with a flat near deeper water. Watch for menhaden and those reds will be there. Best bait options are a DOA Curl tail "gold Rush" color if sunny and Root beer if cloudy. Also, the DOA Bait Buster same colors if there is surface activity. Reel on pace to get to the surface, and "kill" the bait, they hit the fall. Smaller "slot" Lupton rigs with live or cut bait is also effective. Find structure or steep drops, you'll catch some fish!
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Neuse River/Pamlico Red Fish & Trout mig
Apr 7, 2024 • Oriental
Great fishing has begun! Water tempature has fluctuated as much as 10 degrees the last few weeks as well as some heavy rains. Adapting to the day is important. The migration of trout out of the creeks is well underway. Up river past New Bern, they are moving to the river, while down river, past the ferry, they are mid-creek moving toward the river. Sunny and warm days look for flats and dark mud spots. Cloudy days and early AM, slow down. Productive methods; corks and retrieving baits like DOA Deadly Combo or the DOA CAL Shad 3”. Colors in clear water use natural and dirty water dark baits. Puppy Drum and Slot Reds are showing up in the same areas. Blue fish are already in the river and bait is on essentially the move.
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