5.0(1 Reviews)Beginner Angler Striped Bass Charter North Carolina
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
River Fishing
Fullday guided striped bass fishing on North Carolina riversAll equipment and bait provided for beginners and familiesExpert crew teaches techniques from morning until sunset
Looking for a fishing charter that won't leave you scratching your head over complicated techniques or intimidating gear? Grizzly Creek Charters has you covered with their beginner-friendly striped bass fishing adventure on North Carolina's productive river systems. This full-day charter runs from early morning until sunset, giving you plenty of time to work the prime spots where stripers and other game fish love to feed. Whether you've never held a rod or you're getting back into fishing after years away, this trip is designed to put fish in the boat while teaching you the skills that'll make you a better angler.
Your day starts early when the fish are most active, and you'll spend the entire day learning from experienced guides who know these North Carolina waters like the back of their hand. With a maximum of four anglers per trip, you'll get personalized attention that makes all the difference between going home empty-handed or with cooler full of fish. The crew provides everything you need - quality rods, reels, tackle, and fresh bait - so you can focus on what matters most: learning to read the water and perfecting your technique. These aren't just any guides throwing you a rod and pointing you toward the water. They'll show you how to properly set your hook, fight a fish without losing it, and spot the subtle signs that indicate where the big ones are hiding. The intimate group size means nobody gets left behind, and everyone gets hands-on coaching throughout the day. You'll fish multiple productive locations as conditions change, giving you experience in different types of water and varying fish behavior patterns.
This charter focuses on proven methods that work consistently for striped bass and other species in North Carolina's river systems. You'll learn live bait fishing techniques using everything from shad to nightcrawlers, depending on what the fish are feeding on that day. The guides will show you how to properly rig your line for bottom fishing when targeting channel catfish, and how to adjust your presentation when working the structure where bass like to ambush their prey. Casting accuracy becomes second nature when you're working under experienced instruction, and you'll pick up tips on reading water temperature, current breaks, and underwater structure that holds fish. The crew uses fish finders and GPS to locate productive spots, but they'll also teach you visual cues that help you identify fishy water on your own future trips. You'll get comfortable with different rod actions and reel types, learning when to use each setup for maximum effectiveness.
"They'll get you on the fish" - Kevin
Largemouth bass are the bread and butter of North Carolina fishing, and these waters produce some real hawgs. These aggressive predators love to ambush prey around submerged logs, rocky points, and grass lines. Spring through fall offers the best action, with early morning and evening bites producing the most explosive strikes. What makes largemouth so exciting is their fighting spirit - they'll jump, run, and do everything possible to throw your hook. Most fish range from two to five pounds, but don't be surprised if you hook into a true trophy pushing seven or eight pounds.
Spotted bass might be smaller than their largemouth cousins, but pound for pound, they're some of the scrappiest fish you'll encounter. These spotted beauties prefer deeper, clearer water and put up a fight that'll test your drag system. They're most active during cooler months and love to school up around rock piles and creek channels. The average spot runs one to three pounds, but their aggressive nature means fast action once you locate a school.
Crappie fishing offers non-stop action when you find them, and North Carolina's rivers hold healthy populations of both black and white crappie. These panfish school heavily during spring spawning season, making for some of the most productive fishing of the year. They're excellent table fare and perfect for teaching proper fish handling techniques to new anglers. Most crappie run eight to twelve inches, with occasional slabs pushing fourteen inches or more.
Striped bass are the main attraction on this charter, and for good reason. These silver-sided fighters can reach impressive sizes in North Carolina waters, with fish ranging from schoolie size around two pounds up to true monsters exceeding twenty pounds. Stripers are known for their powerful runs and head-shaking fights that'll get your heart pumping. They're most active during cooler water periods and love to chase baitfish in open water and around current breaks.
Channel catfish provide steady action and excellent eating, making them a favorite target for many anglers. These whiskered bottom-dwellers are most active during warmer months and feed heavily at dawn and dusk. They're found throughout the river system, preferring deeper holes and areas with moderate current. Channel cats are notorious for their powerful fights and ability to strip drag from unsuspecting anglers. Fish typically range from two to eight pounds, with occasional bruisers pushing double digits.
This beginner-friendly charter offers everything you need for a successful day on North Carolina's productive fishing waters. With expert guides, top-notch equipment, and a proven track record of putting clients on fish, Grizzly Creek Charters delivers the kind of fishing experience that turns novices into lifelong anglers. The small group size ensures personalized instruction, while the full-day format gives you plenty of time to master new techniques and enjoy multiple fishing opportunities. Whether you're planning a family outing, a trip with friends, or a solo fishing adventure, this charter provides the perfect introduction to North Carolina's world-class fishing scene. Don't wait - prime dates fill up quickly, especially during peak fishing seasons. Book your spot today and get ready to experience why North Carolina's rivers are considered some of the top-rated fishing destinations in the Southeast.
Step aboard our brand-new 2023 25ft skiff and get ready to chase striped bass through North Carolina's productive river systems. This modern fishing machine packs a reliable 115HP Yamaha that'll cruise at 32 knots, getting you to the hottest fishing spots quickly so you can spend more time with lines in the water. The boat comfortably handles up to 4 anglers with plenty of deck space for casting and fighting fish. You'll appreciate the fish finder that helps locate schools of stripers, while the wireless trolling motor lets us drift quietly through prime feeding areas without spooking the fish. GPS keeps us on productive structure, and radar ensures safe navigation even when morning fog rolls in. The onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long summer fishing days. Whether you're learning to read water or perfecting your technique, this well-equipped vessel puts you in position for success on North Carolina's famous striper waters.
Ictalurus PunctatusChannel catfish are the workhorses of our rivers - tough fighters that'll bend your rod and fill the cooler. These whiskered bottom-dwellers typically run 2-10 pounds, though 20+ pounders show up often enough to keep things interesting. They're found in deeper holes, around structure, and love muddy or sandy bottoms where they can root around for food. Summer nights are prime time when they're most active, but they bite year-round if you know where to look. What guests enjoy is the steady action and excellent eating - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect fried or grilled. They're surprisingly strong fighters for bottom fish. Here's my go-to trick: use stinkbait or cut shad on the bottom near current breaks. Their whole body is covered in taste buds, so the smellier the better for attracting them from a distance.
Pomoxis NigromaculatusCrappie are perfect for folks wanting steady action and a fish fry at the end of the day. These silvery panfish run 7-12 inches and about a pound, traveling in schools so when you find one, there's usually more. We've got both black and white crappie here - whites have vertical bars, blacks are more speckled. They hang out in brush piles, fallen trees, and deeper water during hot summer days, moving shallow during spring spawning. Early spring and late fall are money times when water's around 65 degrees. What guests love is the sweet, flaky meat - some of the best eating you'll find. They're not big fighters but make up for it in numbers and taste. Pro tip: use small jigs or minnows under a bobber around cover, and be patient - let them take the bait fully before setting the hook.
Micropterus SalmoidesThese green giants with dark horizontal stripes are what most folks think of when they hear "bass fishing." Around here, they run 12-24 inches and 1-4 pounds, though we see some real hogs that'll surprise you. You'll find them lurking around submerged logs, weed beds, and drop-offs in our lakes and slower river sections. They love warm shallow water in spring and summer, making those months prime time. What guests love most is the fight - largemouth hit hard and jump like crazy when hooked. The meat's pretty decent too if you keep a few. My tip? Cast red lures near cover early morning or late evening. That big mouth of theirs extends past their eyes, so they can inhale some serious-sized baits.
Micropterus PunctulatusSpotted bass are the scrappy cousins of largemouth - smaller but meaner fighters. They max out around 7 pounds but most run 1-3 pounds with those telltale dark spots along their belly. Unlike largemouth, these guys school up and prefer rocky bottoms in clearer, moving water. Spring through fall fishing is best when water temps hit that 60-75 degree sweet spot. What makes them fun is they fight more like smallmouth - diving deep instead of jumping, really testing your drag. They're aggressive too, so almost anything in your tackle box works. Here's what I've learned: look for them around structure rather than cover. While largemouth hide in weeds, spotted bass hang around rocks, drop-offs, and bridge pilings.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the main event around North Carolina waters - powerful fish with those classic dark horizontal stripes running down silver sides. Most of what we catch runs 20-40 pounds, but they can push 50+ pounds and 4 feet long. These are structure fish, hanging around drop-offs, points, and current breaks in our rivers and sounds. Spring and fall are prime when they're moving and feeding heavy, especially during their spawning runs. What makes them special is the combination of size, fight, and fantastic eating - firm white meat that's hard to beat. They're strong swimmers that'll test your drag and arms. My local secret? Fish the current seams early morning with live bait like herring or shad. When the water's moving and bait's around, stripers aren't far behind.
5.0 out of 5.0They’ll get you on the fish
North Carolina