5.0(4 Reviews)Wanchese NC Charter | 12 Hour Private Trip
5.0(4 reviews)
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
12hour offshore charter targets Bluefish, Mahi Mahi, and SailfishProfessional captains provide expert guidance with toptier fishing equipmentPrivate charter accommodates up to 6 guests in Outer Banks waters
Picture this: you're standing on the deck of a world-class charter boat as the sun rises over the Outer Banks, knowing you've got 12 full hours to chase some of the Atlantic's most prized gamefish. That's exactly what you get with Citation SportFishing's premier offshore charter out of Wanchese, NC. This isn't your typical half-day trip – we're talking about a serious fishing adventure that gives you the time and range to hunt down trophy billfish, yellowfin tuna, and mahi that call these waters home. With Captain Otto at the helm and his experienced crew by your side, you'll have access to some of the best fishing grounds off the North Carolina coast, where the Gulf Stream runs close and the action stays hot from spring through fall.
Your 12-hour charter starts early – we're talking pre-dawn departure to maximize your time where the fish are biting. The boat holds up to 6 anglers comfortably, so whether you're bringing the whole family or a crew of serious fishing buddies, everyone gets plenty of room to work. We'll cruise out to the prime offshore grounds where the continental shelf drops off and the blue water begins – that's where you'll find the pelagic species that make North Carolina fishing legendary. The extended timeframe means we can cover serious ground, hitting multiple spots and adapting to where the fish are showing up on any given day. Your captain knows these waters like the back of his hand and will read the conditions, bait activity, and water temperature to put you on fish consistently throughout the day.
We run a serious spread when we're targeting billfish and pelagics – typically 6-8 lines with a mix of ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and artificial lures that trigger strikes from sailfish, marlin, and tuna. The boat's rigged with top-notch Penn and Shimano reels spooled with heavy braid, plus circle hooks that increase your chances of a successful release if you hook into a trophy billfish. When we're working for mahi, we'll switch tactics and look for floating debris, weed lines, or birds working – that's where these aggressive feeders congregate. For yellowfin tuna, we might deploy spreader bars and daisy chains that mimic schools of baitfish. The crew handles all the rigging and will coach you through the fight, whether you're battling a screaming sailfish or a bulldogging yellowfin that wants to sound deep.
"Captain Otto and Ian are an excellent crew to fish with! They had us catching fish as soon as we had reached our destination. I highly recommend Deep Blue! Thanks for the memories!!" - Stephanie Earle
"fished the Alice Kelly women's tournament with captain Otto and is awesome mate Ian had the best time and really put use on the fish great boat!" - Angela
"First time going deep sea fishing and had a awesome time, we were blessed enough to bring home coolers full of wahoo. From the captain to the maté overall did an amazing job. Thank you so much" - Brooks
Atlantic Sailfish are the acrobats of the offshore world, and the waters off Wanchese offer some of the East Coast's most consistent sailfish action from late spring through early fall. These magnificent billfish typically range from 40-80 pounds and are famous for their spectacular jumps and blistering runs. What makes catching sailfish so special is their aggressive nature – they'll often come up hot behind the boat, bill slashing at baits in a display that gets every angler's heart pumping. The best action usually happens when water temperatures hit the mid-70s and baitfish are thick along the shelf break.
Blue Marlin represent the ultimate trophy for serious offshore anglers, and North Carolina's waters produce some genuine giants. These apex predators can exceed 500 pounds and are built for power – when you hook a blue marlin, you know it immediately from the way your drag starts screaming and the fish begins tail-walking across the surface. Peak season runs from June through September when the Gulf Stream runs closest to shore. Blues are notorious for their unpredictability – they might eat a bait aggressively or follow for miles before deciding to strike, making every encounter a test of patience and skill.
Mahi Mahi, or dolphinfish, are every angler's favorite because they're beautiful, fight hard, and taste amazing on the dinner table. These brilliant gold and green gamefish typically range from 10-40 pounds in our waters, with bull dolphins occasionally pushing 50-60 pounds. Mahi are schooling fish, so where you find one, you'll often find more – leading to those legendary "mahi madness" sessions where multiple anglers stay hooked up simultaneously. They're most active from May through October and love floating debris, weed lines, and anywhere small baitfish congregate.
Yellowfin Tuna are the bulldogs of the deep, combining incredible speed with raw power that tests both angler and tackle to the limit. These silver missiles typically range from 40-100 pounds in our area, though larger specimens occasionally show up to humble even experienced captains. What makes yellowfin so challenging is their tendency to sound deep during the fight, using their broad tail and powerful body to try to break you off on the bottom. The best yellowfin action usually coincides with warm, blue water conditions and heavy bait concentrations, particularly during summer and early fall months.
White Marlin might be smaller than their blue cousins, but they make up for size with sheer athleticism and aggressive behavior. These 50-80 pound billfish are famous for their aerial displays and willingness to eat trolled baits, making them a customer favorite for charter fishing. White marlin season peaks from June through September, and they often travel in small
Cast off aboard our beautifully restored 57ft Island Boat Works sportfisher, your ticket to the prime offshore waters around Wanchese. This serious fishing machine packs twin 580HP Caterpillar engines that'll cruise you out to the fishing grounds at a smooth 29 knots, getting you to where the big fish bite without burning your whole day in transit. Built for up to 6 anglers, she's loaded with everything you need for a productive day on the water - GPS to navigate the best spots, fish finder to locate the schools, plus air conditioning to keep you cool between hookups. When you need a break from fighting fish, there's a comfortable bed and head onboard. Whether you're chasing trophy blues, colorful mahi, or high-jumping sailfish, this boat puts you in prime position for success. The captain knows these Outer Banks waters like the back of his hand, and with 12 full hours, you'll have plenty of time to work multiple fishing grounds and dial in on whatever's biting best.
Istiophorus AlbicansThese spectacular billfish average around 50 pounds and stretch about 7.5 feet, though the biggest can hit 140+ pounds. What makes them special is that lightning speed - they're among the fastest fish in the ocean, hitting 20-35 mph when they take off. You'll find them cruising the surface waters around 30-65 feet deep in our warmer months, usually from late spring through early fall when water temps hit that sweet spot of 70-80°F. Guests love targeting sailfish because they put on an absolute show - jumping, diving, and fighting with that massive dorsal fin fully spread. The meat's decent eating too, but most folks are here for the fight. Here's a local tip: when you see one "lit up" with those electric blues and stripes, that's your cue - they're actively hunting and more likely to strike. Keep your ballyhoo skipping on the surface and be ready for fireworks.
Makaira NigricansThe giants of the billfish world, blue marlin are what serious anglers dream about. Males typically run 200-350 pounds, but females can push over 1,000 pounds - we call anything over 1,000 a "grander." These deep cobalt-blue beauties roam the warm offshore waters, usually found along temperature breaks and current edges in 100+ feet of water. Peak season here runs May through September when the Gulf Stream brings that warm water closer. What draws people to blue marlin fishing isn't just the size - it's the raw power and those spectacular aerial displays when they're hooked. The meat's good eating, though many folks release these trophy fish. Here's something I've learned over the years: when you're trolling for blues, don't be too quick to set the hook. Let them take that bait and run with it for a few seconds - these fish are smart and will drop a bait if they feel pressure too early.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi mahi are some of the most beautiful fish you'll encounter - brilliant gold and green colors that put on a light show when they come out of the water. They average 15-30 pounds and about 3 feet long, though bigger bulls can hit 50+ pounds. Look for them around floating debris, weed lines, and current breaks in 30-200 feet of water. Best fishing runs from late spring through fall when they follow the warm water north. What guests really love is the combination - they fight hard with lots of jumps, they're gorgeous to look at, and they make some of the best table fare you'll find. These fish travel in schools, so when you hook one, keep your lines in because there's usually more underneath. Pro tip: once you boat a mahi, keep it on ice right away. The meat firms up better and makes cleaning much easier. Also, don't be surprised if the colors fade fast once they're out of water - that's just what they do.
Kajikia AlbidaWhite marlin are the smaller, scrappier cousins of the blue marlin, typically running 80-120 pounds and up to 9 feet long. They're apex predators that hunt by diving and using their bills to stun prey like flying fish, small tuna, and squid. You'll find them in deep water around canyons, temperature breaks, and structure where baitfish gather. Summer months from June through September are peak season when they move north following warm water. What makes white marlin fishing exciting is their intelligence and unpredictable nature - they're like hunting another hunter. The aerial displays are spectacular, and they fight with more heart per pound than most billfish. Here's something I always tell clients: don't watch your bait when trolling for whites. Watch the water around and behind it. These fish are sneaky and will strike fast, often appearing out of nowhere. When one hits, resist the urge to immediately reel - let them take the bait for a few seconds first.
Thunnus AlbacaresYellowfin tuna are built like torpedoes and fight like freight trains. These warm-blooded speedsters average 60 pounds but can push over 200 pounds, with that distinctive bright yellow on their fins and tail. You'll find them in the top 100 feet of water, usually around temperature breaks and structure. Summer months are prime time when they move up from the deep blue water. What makes yellowfin special is the combination of speed, strength, and incredible table fare - this is premium sushi-grade fish. They'll test your tackle and your endurance with long, powerful runs. The fight can last 45 minutes or more on a good fish. Here's a tip that's saved me many times: when nothing's hitting your trolling spread but you're marking fish deep, pull in the spread and drop jigs straight down. Sometimes they're feeding deep and won't come up, but they'll crush a butterfly jig worked through the water column.
5.0 out of 5.0Captain Otto and Ian are an excellent crew to fish with! They had us catching fish as soon as we had reached our destination. I h...
fished the Alice Kelly women's tournament with captain Otto and is awesome mate Ian had the best time and really put use on the fi...
We just went out in a trip and it was awesome cant wait to go again
First time going deep sea fishing and had a awesome time, we were blessed enough to bring home coolers full of wahoo. From the cap...
Raleigh