Will Woodside

Captain

Will Woodside

Emerald Isle, United States

50+ reviews

Embark on an incredible fishing journey with Captain Will Woodside as your guide! Starting your adventure from Emerald Isle aboard his impressive 24' Kencraft Bay Rider, get ready for a thrilling experience. These waters are renowned for their abundant Redfish, Flounder, and other exciting catches, and Captain Will will teach you the tricks of the trade, whether you prefer spinning, trolling, or bottom fishing.

Charter

Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And Adventures

Emerald Isle

Instant Confirmation

Trips from

US $450

Rating

4.8

71 reviews

4.8

Boat & Equipment

4.9

Captain & Crew

4.7

Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (107)

What anglers say

92%

Good experience

100%

Friendly captain

96%

Recommend this charter

97%

Appropriate for children

97%

Satisfied with the boat

89%

Caught fish

All reviews (71)

Showing 1 – 5 of 71 reviews

Kevin Wilson
North Carolina, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great Day on Bogue Sound with Captain Will
Eco -Tour AM on September 19, 2026 • 4 adults
Booked a charter with Captain Will out of Emerald Isle and it exceeded expectations. He knew exactly where to put us and had us on fish quickly. We ended up with grouper, flounder, and drum — a mixed bag that kept things interesting all morning. Captain Will was patient with the whole group, helpful without hovering, and happy to explain what he was doing and why. The boat was clean and well set up, and he handled everything from rigging to cleaning our catch at the end. If you're looking for a sound charter in the Emerald Isle area, book with Captain Will. We'll be back next trip.
Response from Captain
September 28, 2026
Thank you Kevin for your awesome review and booking a trip with Reel Pirates! I had a great time with you and your crew! I look forward to fishing with you guys again in the future! Thanks again! Captain Will
Roy Campbell
Virginia, US
Member since 2026
4.7
Verified
Inshore Fishing - July 2026
Half Day Trip Inshore(AM) on July 31, 2026 • 4 adults
We had an enjoyable inshore fishing trip with Captain Will on Friday, July 31. Despite the very hot weather and a tough bite, Captain Will worked tirelessly to keep us on fish. His knowledge of the local waters, persistence, and positive attitude made all the difference. We spent much of the trip targeting red drum, but they just weren't cooperating that day. Even so, there was plenty of action. We caught a fun variety of fish, including sea bass, puffer fish, spot, and oyster toadfish, which kept everyone engaged. The highlight of the trip was watching our son land two beautiful flounder measuring 24" and 17". Although flounder season is currently closed in North Carolina and both fish had to be released, it was still an exciting and memorable experience. Captain Will was patient with our party of four and worked hard from start to finish to make sure we had a fun day on the water despite the challenging conditions. We truly appreciated his professionalism and dedication. We'll definitely book with Reel Pirates again the next time we're in Emerald Isle. Thanks again, Captain Will!
Reported catch:
Response from Captain
August 2, 2026
Thank you Roy for your review! I really appreciate you booking a trip with me and look forward to seeing you in the future! Thanks again! Captain Will
Jonathan Dunbar
Repeat angler
Virginia, US
Member since 2024
2 trips
5.0
Verified
NEW
Great day!
Half Day Trip Inshore(AM) on November 2, 2026 • 4 adults • 2 children
Captain was great! Porpoises everywhere. We had a lot of success fishing. Four trout we were able to keep and a ton of other fish. It made for a great day and a wonderful memory.
Response from Captain
November 2, 2026
Thank you Jonathan for the awesome review! We had a great day for sure catching some big trout and some other fish as well including the 20” flounder ! Thanks again! Captain Will
Cameron Caudle
North Carolina, US
Member since 2026
5.0
Verified
Great Day on the Water!
Half Day Trip Inshore(AM) on October 8, 2026 • 6 adults
We went out for the 5 hour Inshore charter and had a blast. Captain Will has a great knowledge of where to fish and what timeframes to fish for certain species. We targeted Spanish Marckerel and caught fish the entire time once we got to the location. We had a great trip and will be back next year to do it again!
Response from Captain
October 8, 2026
Thank you Cameron for the awesome review and booking with Reel Pirates! I look forward to seeing you guys again next year! Thanks again! Captain Will
William Carroll
Repeat angler
New Jersey, US
Member since 2023
3 trips
5.0
Verified
Great trip as always
Half Day Trip Inshore(AM) on August 25, 2026 • 2 adults • 1 child
This was our 3rd time fishing with Capt Will and he never disappoints. Communication is easy and setup os quick. It was a slow day of fishing besidessome sharks but Capt Will puts in the work to try and find fish and make the trip a great experience for everyone. Will definitely be fishing with him every year we come down.
Response from Captain
August 26, 2026
Thank you William for you awesome review I look forward to seeing you and Travis every year you guys are awesome and I enjoy fishing with the both of you and I look forward to seeing you guys again next year! Thanks Again!! Captain Will

Real catches shared by our community

Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Speckled Trout
Jonathan D.13 days ago
Captain was great! Porpoises everywhere. We had a lot of success fishing. Four trout we were able to keep and a ton of other fish. It made for a great day and a wonderful memory.
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Cameron C.1 month ago
We went out for the 5 hour Inshore charter and had a blast. Captain Will has a great knowledge of where to fish and what timeframes to fish for certain species. We targeted Spanish Marckerel and caught fish the entire time once we got to the location. We had a great trip and will be back next year to do it again!
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Redfish
Kevin W.2 months ago
Booked a charter with Captain Will out of Emerald Isle and it exceeded expectations. He knew exactly where to put us and had us on fish quickly. We ended up with grouper, flounder, and drum — a mixed bag that kept things interesting all morning. Captain Will was patient with the whole group, helpful without hovering, and happy to explain what he was doing and why. The boat was clean and well set up, and he handled everything from rigging to cleaning our catch at the end. If you're looking for a sound charter in the Emerald Isle area, book with Captain Will. We'll be back next trip.
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Black Seabass
Gary L.3 months ago
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Flounder
Roy C.4 months ago
We had an enjoyable inshore fishing trip with Captain Will on Friday, July 31. Despite the very hot weather and a tough bite, Captain Will worked tirelessly to keep us on fish. His knowledge of the local waters, persistence, and positive attitude made all the difference. We spent much of the trip targeting red drum, but they just weren't cooperating that day. Even so, there was plenty of action. We caught a fun variety of fish, including sea bass, puffer fish, spot, and oyster toadfish, which kept everyone engaged. The highlight of the trip was watching our son land two beautiful flounder measuring 24" and 17". Although flounder season is currently closed in North Carolina and both fish had to be released, it was still an exciting and memorable experience. Captain Will was patient with our party of four and worked hard from start to finish to make sure we had a fun day on the water despite the challenging conditions. We truly appreciated his professionalism and dedication. We'll definitely book with Reel Pirates again the next time we're in Emerald Isle. Thanks again, Captain Will!
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Redfish
Ashley M.5 months ago
Can’t find the perfect gift? This is the one! Capt. Will knows his stuff and was very patient with our crew. We created so many memories, learned more about fishing, and enjoyed the view! It was a beautiful day and our cooler was not empty on our way home! Just book it, you won’t regret it!
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Flounder
Kevin P.5 months ago
Captain Will got my party of 3 on the fish, and we caught a good variety! He took us to some docks where he had previously had success, and they did not disappoint! He provided live bait cut into chunks for bottom fishing, which caught some reds, flounder, and black bass. We caught some really nice flounder that we could not keep, thanks to ridiculous rules by the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries. He provided two rods with jigging/casting lures, and with those, we caught flounder and croaker. We reached our limit on redfish within an hour, and the ones we kept would be cleaned and taken home. The reels used for bottom-fishing looked rusty and felt worn. They did their job, but you could feel the grit/rust. The second fish I caught was caught while bottom-fishing, and as I reeled in, no line was being brought in because the drag was set so low. Having multiple hands trying to adjust the drag while attempting to land a fish is problematic. Most bottom-fish caught were first handled by the Captain and then handed over to us, with a few exceptions. I expected that if we were bottom-fishing, then all of us in my group would have gear. Instead, he would cast out, put the rod in a rod holder, and if a fish hit, he would pull it out, set the drag, and hand the rod to us. I thought we would be using live shrimp, cigar minnows, or maybe crab as bait. Instead, we had live bait fish that were cut up. Not live on the hook. We lost rigs for both bottom-fishing and jigging/casting. Rather than pulling from a prepared rod in his arsenal, the Captain retied the rigs. I had to ask to have one of the jigging/casting redone, as my son was standing idle. The captain did fish with us, which I think is ok if we are also fishing. I think his attention should be on addressing equipment issues first, and on our ability to fish first. At the end of our trip, we wanted our fish to be cleaned. That was included in the charter. We were then told there were no facilities there, and he would have to clean at home. We would have to come back to pick up - a 2.5 round trip. He did have a cutting table on his boat, which he used during the trip to cut the live bait for bottom-fishing, and he could use it again to de-head and gut the fish, but that was not presented as an option. The fish were dead, so we took them home and cleaned them there. It was not ideal as we were not prepared to gut, fillet, and dispose of the fish remains. Don’t get me wrong, we had a good time. Finding fish and landing fish was great, since it is not guaranteed! But my reasonable expectations were not met, and they could have thoughtfully been. You pay for a charter- so it’s $450 for 1,2,3, or 6 people. Fewer people are easier to attend to. All 3 of us, I think, should have had lines in the water at all times. Rods on board should have been ready as backup for all the bottom-fishing and jigging/casting we were doing to keep us fishing. Letting us know when we pulled in after our trip is not the time to tell us you can't clean the fish now. To me, live bait is live bait on the hook. Did it matter? I mean, we still caught plenty of fish, but live bait can lead to a higher success rate. In our case, I don’t think it mattered this trip. What I would have liked to see was more preparedness - you have 3 customers, and you promote all these rods, have them, and use them as backups to keep your customers fishing. Have the reels in good repair and ready. The Captain can fish, it’s his boat. But the priority should be having your customers fishing, not doing nothing because their rod has no rig. If you are fishing with braid, then don't worry so much about the drag and the fish running back under the docks. Personally, I think Captain Will is nice and believe less experienced fishermen or a family with children can really have a good time. Experienced fishermen may find it less enjoyable with the Captain’s hands-on approach and preparedness.
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Spanish Mackerel
Romney L.6 months ago
Captain Will answered initial questions and agreed to take my group of 4 out on a very short notice. Was on time and ready to take us out. We caught plenty of fish and a few sharks. Well worth our time and will schedule another outing very soon.
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
+1
Spanish Mackerel
Steve M.7 months ago
This was our first trip with Capt. Will. The weather was cold and windy, and the fish were less than cooperative, but Capt. Will is a very friendly guy and we made the best of it. I highly recommend using his services and will go with him again if we are back in the area.
Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And AdventuresEmerald Isle, NC
Jennifer D.8 months ago
Captain Will is a the best sea guide and highly personal and considerate to the members!! second year traveling with him! Highly recommend!!

What's biting with Reel Pirates Fishing Charters And Adventures in Emerald Isle

The False Albacore bite is very strong nearshore, with metal jigs being used by most anglers around. The Kings are still around for latecomers.

Top catches for November

Fishing reports

Adult and teenage angler proudly display a large spotted flounder aboard a Reel Pirates fishing charter boat in a marina setting.

Fishing has been great the last few days

Jul 16, 2025 • Emerald Isle

Catching some nice slot and over slot drum, some door mat flounder and nice trout

A young angler proudly displaying a Redfish while standing on the boat dock, with the 'Reel Pirates' charter boat in the background.

Drum

Jul 2, 2025 • Emerald Isle

Little windy today blowing 15-25 gusting to 30 but still was able to catch 2 and we lost 4 additional ones!

Two anglers proudly displaying their catch of Redfish while aboard a fishing charter in a scenic coastal environment.

Drum bite still firing off

Jun 23, 2025 • Emerald Isle

Still getting some good action from the drum ! 2 good quality fish for these guys!

Two young anglers proudly displaying their catches, including a Redfish, while aboard a charter boat in a scenic fishing environment.

Drum bite has been on fire!

Jun 20, 2025 • Emerald Isle

The drum bite has been on fire the past few days !!!! Get in on the action now! Just had a group limit out on nice drum in less than an hour it was non stop action !!!!

A sizable Redfish being measured on a boat's surface, showcasing the fishing gear and environment.

Big slot and over slot Red Drum

Aug 28, 2024 • Emerald Isle

Its the time of year when the bigger fish are chewing. Went out on a solo trip scouting new territory, caught 6 drum ranging from 26.5” to 29.5” Lost 4 other fish.

An angler proudly displaying a large Redfish on a charter boat, enjoying a sunny day on the water.

Drum Bite is Heating up Book now before

Jul 15, 2024 • Emerald Isle

The warmer temps have the fish biting! Had a solid week of good red drum fishing with several trips catching some. We also lost a few good fish to the rocks. Also have had good luck with the Bonnethead Sharks great fighting fish!!!!