Half Day Advanced Fishing - Emerald Isle, NC
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour advanced charter targeting Bluefish, Cobia, and MackerelCaptain Travis provides premium gear and local expertiseNear shore fishing accommodates up to six experienced anglers
When you're ready to step up your game and fish like the locals do, Captain Travis has got the charter for you. This 4-hour near shore adventure puts seasoned anglers right where the action happens off Emerald Isle's productive waters. We're talking about targeting fast-running Bluefish, bruiser Cobia, and trophy King and Spanish Mackerel in spots that consistently produce fish. This isn't a leisurely day on the water – it's a focused, high-energy fishing session designed for anglers who know their way around a rod and want to test their skills against some of North Carolina's top gamefish.
Captain Travis runs a tight ship and knows exactly where to find fish when conditions line up. You'll be fishing the near shore waters where the Gulf Stream influence creates the perfect environment for pelagic species to thrive. The pace is steady and purposeful – when fish are biting, everyone needs to be ready to capitalize on the action. With up to 6 anglers onboard, there's plenty of room to work without getting tangled up, but you'll want to communicate and coordinate your efforts when multiple hookups happen. Premium tackle is included, so you can focus on reading the water, watching your spread, and perfecting your technique rather than worrying about gear failures. Pack your own snacks and drinks since meals aren't provided, and remember that this is a no-smoking, no-alcohol charter that keeps safety and fishing performance as top priorities.
Near shore fishing around Emerald Isle means covering water efficiently while reading conditions like current breaks, temperature changes, and bait concentrations. Captain Travis will have you trolling with a variety of lures and live baits depending on what's working best for the target species. King Mackerel respond well to slow-trolled live baits and spoons, while Spanish Mackerel often prefer smaller offerings pulled at higher speeds. Cobia fishing might involve sight casting to cruising fish or working structure with live eels and crabs. The boat comes equipped with quality rods, reels, and terminal tackle designed to handle everything from 2-pound Spanish Mackerel to 40-pound King Mackerel. You'll be working with circle hooks for live bait presentations and sharp trebles on artificial lures, all rigged with wire leaders to prevent bite-offs from toothy predators.
King Mackerel are the crown jewel of near shore fishing around Emerald Isle, with fish ranging from school-sized 8-pounders up to genuine trophies pushing 30 pounds or more. These fish are incredibly fast and make blistering runs that can strip line off your reel in seconds. Spring through fall offers the best action, with larger fish typically showing up when water temperatures climb into the mid-70s. What makes Kings so addictive is their unpredictability – they might crash a trolled ballyhoo right at the boat or pick up a live bait 200 feet back in the spread. Spanish Mackerel provide non-stop action when they're schooled up, usually running 1-3 pounds but making up for size with sheer numbers and aggressive strikes. These smaller cousins to the King Mackerel are perfect for light tackle enthusiasts and often save the day when larger fish are finicky. Cobia are the wild cards that can show up anytime during the warmer months, cruising near the surface where they're visible to sharp-eyed anglers. These brown sharks look-alikes fight incredibly hard for their size and are considered some of the best eating fish in North Carolina waters. Bluefish round out the target species list and provide reliable action when other fish are scarce. These voracious predators travel in large schools and will attack almost anything that moves, making them perfect for keeping rods bent when the bite is on.
This advanced charter delivers exactly what experienced anglers are looking for – access to productive fishing grounds, quality equipment, and a captain who knows how to put clients on fish consistently. Captain Travis has built his reputation by understanding seasonal patterns, reading water conditions, and adapting techniques to match what fish are doing on any given day. The 4-hour timeframe gives you enough time to cover significant water and target multiple species without the commitment of a full day trip. Whether you're looking to add a trophy King Mackerel to your personal best list or just want to enjoy steady action with hard-fighting gamefish, this charter puts all the pieces together for a top-rated fishing experience. Book your spot with Reel Knotty Fishing Charters and get ready to fish Emerald Isle's near shore waters like a seasoned pro.
You'll be fishing aboard a solid 31-foot Contender that's built for serious angling action off Emerald Isle. This boat comes equipped with GPS navigation and fish finder technology to help locate those productive spots where the fish are biting. The outriggers are perfect for trolling runs when you're chasing fast-moving Spanish Mackerel or setting up for bottom fishing when targeting Cobia. Captain Travis keeps the vessel well-maintained and ready for the demanding conditions you'll face in these coastal waters. The spacious deck gives all 6 anglers room to work without getting tangled up, whether you're fighting a King Mackerel or working the bottom for grouper. VHF radio keeps you connected for safety while you're focused on the fishing. This boat handles the near shore waters with confidence, getting you to the fish quickly so you can make the most of your 4-hour window on the water.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are pure aggression with fins - they hit like freight trains and fight harder than fish twice their size. Most run 3-10 pounds with razor-sharp teeth that'll cut through mono in a heartbeat. They roam our nearshore waters in schools, especially around baitfish from late spring through fall. When they're feeding, the water looks like a washing machine with bait flying everywhere. Guests get hooked on the violent strikes and bulldog fights these fish deliver. The smaller "cocktail blues" are fantastic eating when bled immediately, though bigger fish can be strong-flavored. Always use wire leaders and watch your fingers - those teeth mean business. Pro tip: when you see birds diving and bait scattering, get there fast and throw anything shiny.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the brown sharks that aren't sharks - that flat head and dark coloring fools everyone at first glance. These bruisers average 30-50 pounds and love hanging around structure like buoys, wrecks, and channel markers in 30-70 feet of water. Spring migration and summer months are your best bet when they're cruising near the surface. Guests love cobia because they fight dirty - long, powerful runs combined with head-shaking bulldogging that'll test your drag. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: when you spot one, don't cast right at it. Lead them by 10 feet with a bucktail jig and work it past their nose - they can't resist.
Scomberomorus CavallaKing Mackerel are the speed demons of our waters, typically running 20-40 pounds with some hitting 60+. They cruise the nearshore waters from 40-150 feet, especially around structure and temperature breaks. Spring through fall is prime time when they're actively feeding on baitfish schools. What makes kings special is that blazing first run - they'll scream line off your reel like few other fish can. The meat is excellent when bled and iced properly, though watch the mercury in larger fish. My go-to tip: always use a wire leader and fish two hooks on live bait - one in the nose, one trailing behind. Kings love to hit the tail section of your bait, so that second hook saves a lot of missed fish.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are the perfect action fish - fast, aggressive, and always willing to bite. They typically run 2-4 pounds with those distinctive yellow spots along their silver sides. You'll find schools working the surface from spring through fall, usually in 20-60 feet around baitfish concentrations. They're lightning quick swimmers that hit hard and fight above their weight class. Guests love the consistent action when we find a school, plus they make excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or smoked. The key is using light tackle and small lures - a 1/4 oz silver spoon or small jig works wonders. Once you hook one, keep working the area because where there's one Spanish, there's usually a whole school ready to feed.
Emerald Isle, NC