Half Day Afternoon Fishing in Wanchese
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour afternoon inshore fishing trip targeting multiple speciesExpert captains select optimal locations based on conditionsCustom Parker boat accommodates up to four guests
Looking for a solid afternoon on the water? This 4-hour guided fishing trip out of Wanchese puts you right in the heart of North Carolina's best inshore action. Captain Lance Luke, Andy Ennis, or Mike Midgett will get you on the fish, targeting everything from red drum to cobia depending on what's biting. You'll fish from a custom Parker boat that's built for these waters, with room for up to 4 anglers. Whether you're after your first redfish or looking to add another species to your list, this trip delivers the goods without the all-day commitment.
Your captain knows these waters like the back of their hand and will pick the best spot based on tides, wind, and seasonal patterns. Some days that means working the shallow grass flats for reds, other times you'll be drifting deeper channels for black drum or positioning near structure for sheepshead. The beauty of this trip is the variety - you're not locked into one technique or one target species. The afternoon timing works great because you'll often hit prime feeding windows as baitfish start moving and predators get active. The custom Parker boat gives you a stable platform with plenty of room to move around, and these captains keep things relaxed while putting you on fish. Don't worry if you're new to this - they'll get you sorted with everything you need to know.
You'll use whatever's working best that day, and that could mean anything from jigging soft plastics over oyster bars to trolling spoons through cuts and channels. Live bait fishing is huge here - nothing beats a live mud minnow or shrimp when the trout are finicky or you're sight-casting to tailing reds. Cut bait comes into play for black drum and cobia, especially when you're fishing around structure or deeper holes. The captains switch up techniques based on conditions and what species they're targeting, so you'll learn different approaches throughout the trip. Jigging is particularly effective for sheepshead around pilings and rock piles, while trolling covers water quickly when you're hunting cobia or bigger sea trout. The key is staying flexible and letting the fish tell you what they want.
Red drum are the bread and butter of Wanchese inshore fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored fighters range from slot-sized fish around 18-27 inches up to massive bull reds that'll test your drag system. Spring and fall are prime time when they're schooled up and feeding heavy, but you can find them year-round in the right spots. They love shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and drop-offs where baitfish concentrate. What makes reds so special is their fight - they'll make powerful runs and use their broad sides to fight you all the way to the boat. Black drum often get overlooked, but they're fantastic eating in smaller sizes and absolute tanks when they get big. Look for them around structure, bridges, and deeper holes, especially during cooler months. They're bottom feeders that respond well to fresh cut bait, and once you hook one, you'll know it - they fight like submarines. Cobia are the wild card that can make your whole trip. These brown sharks, as some folks call them, show up in warmer months and can reach 30-50 pounds. They're curious fish that often follow rays and other cobia, making for some exciting sight fishing opportunities. Sea trout are incredibly fun on light tackle, with their aggressive strikes and acrobatic jumps. They school up in grass beds and along channel edges, feeding heavily on shrimp and small baitfish. Spring and fall produce the biggest numbers, but summer evenings can be magic for speckled trout. Sheepshead might be the trickiest fish you'll target, but they're worth the effort. These black-and-white striped convicts hang around structure with their human-like teeth, picking off barnacles and crabs. They require finesse and quick hook-sets, but once you get the hang of it, they're addictive to catch plus they make outstanding table fare.
This half-day trip gives you a real taste of what Wanchese fishing is all about without eating up your whole day. The captains know how to make those 4 hours count, and the afternoon timing often puts you right in the sweet spot for feeding fish. Whether you're a local looking for a quick fishing fix or visiting from out of town, this trip offers solid value with experienced guides who know how to find fish. The custom Parker boat, quality tackle, and local knowledge combine to give you the best shot at success on the water. Book your spot and see why so many anglers keep coming back to these productive North Carolina waters.
This custom Parker boat is a fishing machine that'll get you on the fish fast around Wanchese waters. Built for serious angling, she's equipped with top-notch fish finder tech to locate red drum, cobia, and whatever else is biting in the inshore shallows and inlet channels. The GPS and radar keep you dialed in on productive spots, while the VHF radio ensures safe communication on the water. With a spacious flybridge offering elevated sight fishing opportunities and comfortable seating for up to 4 anglers, you'll have plenty of room to work your lines whether you're jigging structure, trolling for cobia, or soaking cut bait for drum. The onboard head means more time fishing and less time heading back to the dock. Captain Lance, Andy, or Mike will put this responsive boat exactly where the action is hottest based on tides and conditions. She handles beautifully in the sounds and nearshore waters off the Outer Banks, cutting through chop while providing a stable platform for battling quality fish.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 90. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs, so you'll find them around oyster beds, muddy flats, and creek mouths in 2-20 feet of water. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when we get the best action. These fish fight hard and make that distinctive drumming sound you can actually feel through the boat hull. The smaller ones under 15 pounds eat great with flaky white meat, but the big bulls get tough and stringy. My tip: use fresh crab on a Carolina rig and let it sit right on the bottom. They'll mouth the bait before committing, so wait for that solid weight before setting the hook.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are brown sharks that aren't sharks, reaching 3-6 feet and 30-100 pounds with that distinctive single dorsal fin. They're loners cruising around buoys, wrecks, and channel markers in 20-60 feet of water, though we spot them on the surface regularly. Late spring through summer is prime time when they migrate through our area and hang around structure. These fish are bucket list material - they fight like trucks, make long powerful runs, and the meat rivals any fish in the ocean with firm, white fillets that taste like crab. Sight fishing is the name of the game. When you see one cruising, cast a bucktail jig or live eel ahead of them and work it back steady. They're curious fish but spook easy, so one shot is usually all you get. Don't rush the cast - take your time and make it count.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the copper-colored bruisers with that distinctive black spot near their tail, running 18-35 inches inshore with some real bulls in deeper water. They cruise shallow flats, oyster bars, and grass beds in 1-4 feet - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water. Year-round fishing here on the Outer Banks, but fall and spring give us the most consistent action when they're feeding heavy. These fish are what gets people hooked - they make blistering runs, fight dirty in shallow water, and the smaller ones are excellent eating with firm, sweet meat. The big bulls over 27 inches are better released for breeding. Look for nervous water, tailing fish, or that wake pushing across the flats. My go-to setup is a gold spoon or soft plastic on a light jighead. Cast past them and work it back slow - redfish will crush a bait when they're fired up.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are beautiful fish with spots covering their silvery sides, typically running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds. They love grass flats and shallow bays, especially around creek mouths and drop-offs where they ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Night fishing in 2-6 feet of water over grass beds is money, but they also hit well on moving water during tide changes. These fish are popular because they fight well on light tackle and make excellent eating with tender, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. The bite can be subtle - they'll often just swim off with your bait. Best months here are late spring through fall when water temps are right. Pro tip: use a popping cork with live shrimp or soft plastic under grass beds. When you see that cork disappear, don't horse them - their mouths are soft and they'll pull right off if you're too aggressive.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the convict fish with those black and white stripes, running 1-8 pounds most of the time but we see 15-20 pounders around the right structure. They live around any hard bottom - bridge pilings, jetties, dock posts, anywhere barnacles grow thick. These fish have human-like teeth perfect for picking barnacles off, which makes them notorious bait thieves. Spring months give us the best action when they spawn around inlet structures. People love targeting them because they're fantastic table fare - sweet, white meat that's hard to beat. The fight's nothing crazy, but outsmarting them is the challenge. Here's the trick: use a small hook with fresh shrimp or fiddler crab, get tight to structure, and set that hook hard the second you feel them nibbling. They'll steal your bait all day if you're not quick.
Wanchese, NC, United States