Multi-Species Fishing on North Carolina's Neuse River
When you're looking for consistent action and variety, the Neuse River delivers year-round. Captain Dave Hegel knows these waters like the back of his hand, and his approach is simple: go where the fish are biting. Whether it's bull redfish cruising the shallows or stripers chasing bait, this charter adapts to whatever's hot. You'll fish from a brand new 2025 Parker SE that's built to slip into skinny water where the big fish hide. With space for up to three anglers, you get personalized attention and plenty of room to work.
What to Expect on the Water
Captain Dave runs a no-nonsense operation focused on one thing: putting fish in the boat. The Neuse River system offers incredible diversity, from grass flats holding speckled trout to deeper channels where stripers patrol. You'll start early, hitting the spots that are producing based on tides, weather, and seasonal patterns. The Parker SE is rigged with everything needed for inshore work – from live wells to keep bait frisky to electronics that mark structure and fish. Expect to move around as conditions change. If the bite slows in one area, you'll relocate until you find active fish. This isn't a sit-and-wait trip; it's an active hunt for whatever species are feeding.
Techniques & Tackle Setup
The beauty of multi-species fishing is adapting your approach throughout the day. You'll use live bait when fish are finicky – nothing beats a frisky shrimp or finger mullet for fooling educated redfish. Artificial lures come into play when fish are aggressive, letting you cover water quickly and trigger reaction strikes. Captain Dave handles all the rigging and bait, switching between bottom rigs for flounder, popping corks for trout, and topwater plugs when fish are busting the surface. The tackle is matched to the target – medium spinning gear for most work, with heavier setups ready when big bull reds show up. You'll learn to read the water, watch for bait activity, and understand how tides influence fish movement.
Customer Stories
"We had an epic day, Capt Dave fought thru a windy and rough morning, tried 3 spots that were too choppy and said 'plan D' and we killed it, limit on Reds, released 3 over the limit back, lots of bluefish, an incredible trout we released after lots of pics and an amazing day...all because he cared to help me make a memory withy 2 sons!" - Denis
"Captain Dave was knowledgeable, energetic and determined to find us some fish, and he came through with flying colors.We caught our share of redfish, trout, and blue fish, and ended the day with a nice sized striper. Dave worked diligently to keep the rods ready, and he and his boat were in great shape and highly organized. I would recommend him highly and look forward to going on another adventure with him down the road." - Stan Honeycutt
"We had an awesome experience with Captain David Hegel. Caught a bunch of large red drum, black drum, trout and blues so you can't ask for more than that for a day on the water. He kept us focused but was super cool at the same time so we could relax and enjoy the day. Great guy but knows his stuff. You can't go wrong with Captain David for a great day of fishing!" - Daryl
Species You'll Want to Hook
Redfish: The Neuse River holds both slot-size reds and massive bull drums that'll test your tackle. Slot reds (18-27 inches) are perfect eating size and fight like crazy in shallow water. They cruise grass flats and oyster bars, often with their backs out of the water. Bull reds are the real prize – these bronze bruisers can stretch over 40 inches and weigh 30+ pounds. Peak action happens in fall when big schools move through, but you'll find reds year-round. They're sight-fishing targets in clear, shallow water and absolute bulldogs when hooked.
Speckled Trout: These beautiful fish are the bread and butter of North Carolina inshore fishing. Specks love structure – grass beds, shell bottom, and creek mouths where bait gets funneled by current. They're most active during cooler months, with some real doormat trout (over 5 pounds) caught in winter. Specks have soft mouths, so you need to keep steady pressure without horsing them. They're excellent table fare and provide steady action when you locate a school.
Striped Bass: Stripers in the Neuse can range from schoolie size up to hefty 20+ pound fish. They're structure-oriented, relating to channel edges, bridge pilings, and rocky areas. Spring and fall offer the best striper action as they follow bait movements. These fish fight in the water column, making strong runs and jumping occasionally. Larger stripers are catch-and-release to preserve the fishery, but smaller ones make excellent eating.
Bluefish: Don't underestimate the blues in the Neuse – these aggressive predators provide non-stop action when they're feeding. They travel in schools and absolutely demolish baitfish, creating surface disturbances you can see from a distance. Blues hit hard and fast, often cutting through lighter leaders with their razor-sharp teeth. They're fantastic on light tackle and excellent smoked or grilled fresh. Peak seasons are spring and fall, but you'll encounter them throughout the warmer months.
Flounder: The flatfish of the Neuse are ambush predators that lie buried in sand near structure and drop-offs. Summer flounder (fluke) can reach impressive sizes, with fish over 5
4.9(17 Reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Top Rated
North Carolina
Target red drum, bluefish, striped bass, and speckled trout year
