Full Day Offshore Fishing Charter In Carolina Beach
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Fullday offshore charter targets Mahi Mahi and King MackerelBottom fishing opportunities for Snapper, Grouper, and Amberjack speciesSixperson capacity with experienced Captain Daniel Harris guidance
When you're ready to get serious about offshore fishing, Captain Daniel Harris and Second Sport Charters deliver the real deal. This full-day charter takes you up to 30 miles out from Carolina Beach, where the Gulf Stream's warm waters hold some of the best fishing on the entire East Coast. You'll be targeting trophy species like Mahi Mahi and King Mackerel, plus working the bottom structure for Snapper, Black Sea Bass, Amberjack, and Grouper. With room for up to 6 anglers, this is your chance to experience world-class offshore fishing in North Carolina's most productive waters. Just remember to bring your own food and drinks - Captain Daniel keeps the focus on finding fish, not serving lunch.
This isn't your typical half-day tourist trip. When Captain Daniel fires up the engines before dawn, you're committing to a full day of serious fishing. The ride out to the fishing grounds takes about an hour, giving you time to rig up and get your game face on. Once you hit the productive water 20-30 miles offshore, you'll be working both trolling patterns for pelagics and dropping baits to the bottom for reef fish. The Gulf Stream influence here creates an amazing fishery where tropical species mix with temperate favorites. Captain Daniel knows these waters like his backyard - he'll put you on structure that holds fish and adjust tactics based on what's biting. The boat stays out until the bite dies or the cooler gets heavy, whichever comes first. This is a cash-only operation, so bring bills for your end-of-trip payment.
Captain Daniel runs a mixed bag approach that maximizes your chances at multiple species. For the pelagic bite, you'll be pulling spreads of ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and artificial lures at varying depths. The trolling speed and lure selection changes based on water temperature, current, and what's showing on the fish finder. When it's time to work the bottom, you'll drop heavy jigs and live or cut bait down to structure 60-120 feet deep. The captain provides all rods, reels, tackle, and bait - you just need to bring your fishing license and be ready to work. Circle hooks are the standard for most bottom fishing to ensure good fish survival. If you've got your own lucky rods, bring them along, but the boat gear is top-rated and perfectly matched to these waters and target species.
King Mackerel are the bread and butter of Carolina Beach offshore fishing, and for good reason. These silver bullets can stretch the tape from 15 to 40+ pounds, with the bigger fish showing up in late summer and fall. Kings love to slam trolled baits, especially when you're working temperature breaks and current edges. The fight is pure adrenaline - long screaming runs that'll test your drag settings. Most anglers target Kings with wire leaders and medium-heavy tackle, though the big ones will humble even experienced fishermen.
Mahi Mahi bring the tropical flavor to these waters, especially during summer months when the Gulf Stream pushes closer to shore. These fish are absolute acrobats, jumping and tail-walking when hooked. Mahi school up around floating debris, weedlines, and temperature breaks. They hit trolled baits hard and fast, and once you find a school, multiple hookups are common. The meat is outstanding, making them a customer favorite for both the fight and the table. Peak season runs from May through October, with the biggest bulls showing up in late summer.
Black Sea Bass might not be the flashiest fish in the ocean, but they're reliable producers and excellent eating. These bottom dwellers love structure - rocks, reefs, and wrecks where they can ambush prey. They hit jigs and cut bait with authority, and while the individual fish might run 1-3 pounds, they school up in numbers that can fill your cooler. Sea bass are open year-round with generous bag limits, making them perfect for feeding the family. They're also great confidence builders for newer anglers.
Greater Amberjack are the bulldogs of the reef, using their broad tails and powerful bodies to test your endurance. These fish can push 20-50+ pounds and fight all the way to the surface. AJs love vertical structure and will inhale large jigs or live baits dropped to the bottom. The bigger fish require heavy tackle and strong backs - they'll drag you around the boat if you let them. Peak season is spring and fall when they're most aggressive, though you can find them year-round in deeper water.
Captain Daniel Harris has built his reputation on putting anglers on fish in Carolina Beach's premier offshore waters. This full-day charter gives you the time and range to target multiple species in some of the most productive fishing grounds on the East Coast. Whether you're after a cooler full of dinner or that trophy photo, this trip delivers the goods. The 6-person capacity keeps groups small and fishing quality high. Call or text Captain Daniel directly at 910-512-1841 to customize your trip and secure your dates. Remember to bring cash for payment, pack plenty of food and drinks, and get ready for a day of fishing that'll remind you why Carolina Beach is renowned among serious offshore anglers.
Meet the "Battle Wagon" - a tough-as-nails 37' Topaz Sportfishing vessel built to handle whatever the Atlantic throws at you. Twin turbo-charged 375HP Caterpillar engines power this fishing machine up to 30 miles offshore where the real action happens. With room for 6 anglers, she's loaded with everything serious fishermen need: advanced fish finder to locate those schools of mahi, GPS and radar for safe navigation, plus an icebox and refrigerator to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold. The flybridge gives you perfect sight lines for spotting birds and bait, while the onboard kitchen, bed, and head mean comfort during those long battles with king mackerel and grouper. Air conditioning keeps you cool between bites. Captain Daniel runs a cash-only operation and knows exactly where to find snapper, black seabass, and amberjack on the bottom, or chase pelagics in the blue water. Pack your lunch and get ready to fill the fish box.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky fighters that usually run 1-4 pounds, though we occasionally hook ones pushing 8 pounds. They hang around wrecks, rocky bottoms, and structure in 40-120 feet of water during summer months. These guys are bottom dwellers that'll hit squid strips, cut bait, and jigs with equal enthusiasm. Late spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore from their winter migration south. What makes them fun is that steady, determined fight - they'll pull hard until they break the surface. The meat is excellent, firm and white. Here's a tip: use a two-hook rig with squid on both hooks. They often grab bait aggressively, and that second hook catches the fish that might otherwise steal your bait and run.
Seriola dumeriliGreater amberjack are the bulldozers of the reef - powerful fish that average 20-40 pounds but can hit 60+ pounds and really test your tackle. They hang around wrecks, reefs, and hard bottom in 60-200 feet, using structure to ambush baitfish. Spring spawning season (April-May) brings the biggest fish, but they're catchable year-round in our warmer waters. What people love is that initial dive - pure power heading straight for the bottom that'll make your arms burn. The meat is excellent when properly handled, though larger fish should be avoided due to ciguatera risk. Heavy tackle is a must - 50+ pound gear minimum. Here's the key: when you hook one, turn up the drag and keep them away from structure. Let them run to open water, then settle in for a fight.
Scomberomorus CavallaKing mackerel are speed demons that'll test your drag and your nerves. Most run 10-30 pounds, but we regularly see 40+ pounders that can peel line like nobody's business. They patrol depths from 40-150 feet, cruising blue water and temperature breaks. Spring through fall is when they're most active in our waters, following baitfish migrations. What gets people hooked is that initial run - pure power and speed that'll make your reel scream. The meat is rich and flavorful, perfect for grilling. These fish have razor-sharp teeth, so wire leaders are essential. My go-to setup is a two-hook rig with the first hook through the nose of a live bait and a trailing treble hook - kings love to hit bait from behind and this setup ensures solid hookups.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi mahi are the rainbow warriors of offshore fishing - brilliant golds, blues, and greens that shift colors as they fight. Most range 15-30 pounds, though we see some pushing 50+ pounds. They love floating debris, weedlines, and current breaks in blue water, usually 20+ miles offshore. Spring through early fall brings the best action when water temps hit the upper 70s. What makes them special is that aerial show - they'll jump, tail-walk, and put on a display that gets everyone on deck excited. The meat is firm, white, and absolutely delicious. Here's the trick: once you hook one, keep the boat moving and look for the school. Mahi travel in groups, so that first fish often leads you to several more. Don't stop fishing until the action dies completely.
Carolina Beach