Best Outer Banks Fishing Charter | 4-Hour Trip

Half Day Afternoon Fishing in Wanchese

Ready to hit the water for some of the best inshore fishing the Outer Banks has to offer? Join Captains Lance Luke, Andy Ennis, or Mike Midgett for a 4-hour afternoon adventure out of Wanchese, NC. We'll be targeting everything from hard-fighting redfish to tasty flounder, with plenty of action in between. Our custom Parker boat is set up to fish four anglers in comfort, so grab your buddies and let's get after 'em!

What to Expect on the Water

Once we shove off from the Wanchese docks, we'll run to where the fish are biting. Might be in the sound, could be near an inlet, or we might even sneak out into the nearshore ocean if conditions are right. Your captain will pick the prime spot based on tides, wind, and what's been hot lately. We use a mix of techniques to keep lines tight - could be jigging soft plastics for trout one minute, then live-lining menhaden for cobia the next. Don't worry if you're new to fishing, we'll show you the ropes and have you catching in no time. And if you're an old salt, we're always happy to learn a new trick or two ourselves!

Rigs and Tactics

We keep a variety of gear on board to match whatever the fish are in the mood for. Light tackle spinning setups are our bread and butter for most inshore species. We'll rig up with jigs, popping corks, or bottom rigs depending on the target and conditions. For bigger game like cobia or bull reds, we'll break out the heavier conventional gear. Live bait is often the ticket, so we'll usually have a livewell full of mullet, menhaden, or shrimp. But artificial lures have their time and place too - nothing beats the excitement of a topwater blowup on a calm evening. Your captain will dial in the presentation to put you on fish.

Top Catches This Season

The beauty of fishing the OBX is the variety - you never know what might end up on the end of your line. But there are definitely some local favorites we'll be on the hunt for. Redfish (we call 'em puppy drum when they're smaller) are probably the most popular inshore target. They pull like freight trains and school up in good numbers. Black drum are their cousins, and while they might not run as hard, they're great eating. Speckled trout are another staple - we get some real gators in these waters. Flounder fishing can be red hot in the summer months. And of course, there's always the chance of hooking into a bruiser cobia if conditions are right. Whatever's biting, we'll put you on 'em!

Species You'll Want to Hook

Red Drum: The crown jewel of Outer Banks inshore fishing. These copper-colored beauties can range from just a few pounds up to 50+ for the big bulls. They often travel in schools, so when you find 'em, it can be non-stop action. Redfish love to cruise the flats and hang around structure. In the fall, big schools of bull reds migrate along the beaches - it's a sight to behold. They'll hit everything from live bait to artificial lures, and put up an awesome fight on light tackle.

Black Drum: Cousins to the redfish, black drum are another local favorite. They tend to hang in the same areas as reds, often mixed right in with them. Black drum get their name from the deep, drumming sound they make. While they don't typically run as hard as redfish, they can still put a nice bend in the rod. They're also excellent eating, especially the smaller "puppy" drum. We target them with natural baits like crab and shrimp, often fished on the bottom.

Speckled Trout: Also called spotted seatrout, these guys are a blast on light tackle. They have soft mouths, so a gentle hook set is key. Specks will hit just about any bait or lure, but they're suckers for a well-presented soft plastic under a popping cork. The average size is 1-3 pounds, but gator trout pushing 5+ pounds are not uncommon in these waters. Fall is prime time for big specks, but we catch them year-round.

Cobia: These bruisers start showing up in late spring and stick around through summer. They can grow over 100 pounds, though most we encounter are in the 20-50 pound range. Cobia are known for their powerful runs and tendency to dive for structure once hooked. They're often found near buoys, channel markers, or just cruising the surface. Sight-casting to cobia is a huge rush - they'll readily take a well-placed bucktail jig or live eel.

Flounder: Flatties are a summertime staple in these parts. They love to hang on sandy bottoms near structure, ambushing baitfish that swim by. We catch them on both live bait and artificial lures. A slow-rolled soft plastic or live finger mullet bounced along the bottom is hard to beat. Flounder have to be one of the tastiest fish that swims, so they're always a welcome addition to the cooler.

Time to Book Your Spot

Whether you're a seasoned angler or it's your first time wetting a line, our half day afternoon trip is the perfect way to experience the legendary fishing of the Outer Banks. We provide all the gear, bait, and know-how - you just bring your sense of adventure. With a max of four guests, everyone gets plenty of attention and fishing time. And hey, there's no better way to cap off a day at the beach than with some bent rods and full coolers. So what are you waiting for? The fish are biting, and we've got a spot on the boat with your name on it. Let's make some memories on the water!