Captain
John Abel

Member since May 2020 Manteo, United States
Background
Capt. Abel started fishing at the age of 3, started deck handing at the age of 9 and hasn't stopped yet. Being Active Duty Coast Guard has allowed Capt. Abel to fish some of the most spectacular fisheries in the world, as well as learn those techniques to bring it all into one package. From successfully chasing giant blue marlin and yellowfin tuna in Africa to owning one of the most successful charter operations in Kodiak chasing king salmon and halibut, he hasn't done it all yet, but he's getting there.
Techniques
All of it, if it swims, we love to chase it, but as always the bigger the quarry the more excited we get.

Hey, I'm Captain John Abel

Manteo, United States
Background
Capt. Abel started fishing at the age of 3, started deck handing at the age of 9 and hasn't stopped yet. Being Active Duty Coast Guard has allowed Capt. Abel to fish some of the most spectacular fisheries in the world, as well as learn those techniques to bring it all into one package. From successfully chasing giant blue marlin and yellowfin tuna in Africa to owning one of the most successful charter operations in Kodiak chasing king salmon and halibut, he hasn't done it all yet, but he's getting there.
Techniques
All of it, if it swims, we love to chase it, but as always the bigger the quarry the more excited we get.
19
Reviews
6
Fishing Reports
Verified

My Charter Listing

C-Legs Sportfishing

Excellent
4.9 / 5
(18 reviews)
Manteo
 Instant Confirmation
Trips from US $475

Fishing Reports

Bluefin bonanza!!!!
Bluefin bonanza!!!!
Feb 22, 2023 Manteo
I never put out the report for our trip on Weds Feb 22nd, my bad. So this chik Erin hit me up, "I wana catch a bluefin." Let's do it, so I made a few calls and got a trip together for her and off we went. Reports first thing were slow and we stayed away from the fleet as is my nature. About 20 min into the troll we came across a good school and 5 of the 6 rods went down. 1 pulled off right away, another broke off, we leadered and released 2 and Erin put a whooping on her 100lbr that we killed. Rest of the day was slow, we had a few good marks but they didn't want to play. Was a great day and wished I packed shorts. The next day I hauled to Ohio and am up her a few more days playing on the rivers for some steelhead.
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Lots of Bluefin to be had
Lots of Bluefin to be had
Feb 9, 2023 Manteo
Fished with a good crew on Thurs the 9th and killed a nice 100lb bluefin right away. We got setup again and released another in the 125lb class. We moved off looking for some of those butterball blackfin but the weather started to change. We decided that we had what we came for and went home intime to beat the winds.
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Bluefin Time is NOW!!!
Bluefin Time is NOW!!!
Jan 30, 2023 Manteo
Took a crew out Jan 29th looking to find a giant. Caught a few nice blackfin and we got our first big bite. Morgan hopped in the chair and worked that fish for almost 3hrs before the hooked pulled right at the boat, nice fish in the 400lb class. We ran back up and immediately killed a nice eater sized wahoo. Then we got 2 serious bites, 1 which broke us off. The 2nd one Maddie was working, that fish meant business but spent its energy on some serious runs in the first 2 rounds. Maddie made quick work of it and at 1hr and 20min we stuck the gaff. She started crying with tears of joy which nearly made me cry. Amazing to watch peoples reactions on the adventures. The fish tapes 100in with a 75in girth, by the numbers comes out to 703lbs.
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Beach sharking
Beach sharking
Jan 20, 2023 Manteo
What does a Capt do when he has a day off, hang out on the beach of course. Spent some days lately chasing sharks on the beach here in Hatteras.
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Blackfin Tuna for dinner
Blackfin Tuna for dinner
Jan 12, 2023 Manteo
Slow day looking for a giant bluefin, its still a little early but any day now the bite will be on. We took our couple of consolation blackfin for dinner tho.
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Winter tuna time!!
Winter tuna time!!
Jan 7, 2023 Manteo
We're into our winter tuna mode, yellowfin, blackfin, bigeyes and the bluefin have made a very strong showing the last few days. The trophy season won't last long at this rate, once it closes your opportunity to keep of of these monsters is gone for the year, so book your giant bluefin trip soon.
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Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 19 reviews
See details
Boat
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.8 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (19)
Same trolling spread as the big charter boats, same fishing, same locations, just smaller boat. Recommended!
Four hour trip with Captain John and Owen
Four hour trip with Captain John and Owen
+16
Angler rating
17
1
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
85%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
95%
Appropriate for children
85%
Satisfied with the boat
92%
Caught fish
75%
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Showing:
5 of 19 reviews
Jeff M.
Roanoke, VA
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fun day anyway

VERIFIED   12 Hour Trip โ€“ Offshore - 4 Anglers on August 15, 2020
I took my son on the all day trip. We stopped and fished for tile fish on the way out, and then headed further out forMarlin....
Jeff M. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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2 persons find this review helpful
You and 2 people found this review helpful
Jeff M. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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2 persons find this review helpful
You and 2 people found this review helpful
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Tim V.
Woodbridge Township, NJ
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   6 Hour Sunset/Bull Drum Trip on August 24, 2022
Great trip. John put us on some big drum. He was patient helpful and vey engaging.ย  Great time by all. Will be back for another...
Tim V. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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1 person finds this review helpful
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Christopher S.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

September fishing trip

VERIFIED   6 Hour Sunset/Bull Drum Trip on September 28, 2022
Christopher S. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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Christopher S. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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Kelly T.
CHARLOTT HALL, MD
Very good
4.0 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Very good
4.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

All Day Offshore Trip with Capt John

VERIFIED   8 Hour Trip โ€“ Nearshore - 4 anglers on July 31, 2022
Overall good trip! We didnโ€™t have any luck on the big game we were after but that was EVERY boat on the water that day! So...
Kelly T. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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Scott M.
Decatur, IN
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   6 Hour Sunset/Bull Drum Trip on August 1, 2022
Scott M. recommends C-Legs Sportfishing
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