Experiencing the Magic of Fishing in North Carolina With Captain Philip Loughlin

A Little Something About Me

I’m Captain Philip Loughlin of Katfish Kayak and Fishing Adventures out here in stunning Hampstead, North Carolina. I’ve been fishing for more than 40 years — I don’t remember when I wasn’t fishing, to be honest. It’s a key part of who I am. As a kid, all my memories involved casting a line in any water I had access to as long as I had a hook and a string with me. I can still vividly remember joining my grandfather on his boat, trolling for Spanish mackerel and king mackerel with handlines along the coastlines of North Carolina. I would say those trips were definitely formative for me. I was too small to handle the big rods and reels, but knowing that there was nothing between the fish and me but some cord and my bare hands — you could say it was pretty mind-blowing for a child like me. I was hooked, so to speak, pun intended. Growing up in a place with access to the Atlantic Ocean is a gift for which I will forever be thankful. 

My love for fishing, though, could not be contained in one coast. As I grew older, I began to explore more waters outside my home turf. I can confidently say that I have literally fished everywhere. I’ve gone fishing in the most humble drainage ditches on the astounding Pacific Coast and everything in between. And while the North Carolina waters will forever hold a special place in my heart — it is home, after all — having had the opportunity to fish in the Sea of Cortez off the Baja Coast of Mexico still amazes me to this day. I will forever look fondly back on the days we spent at a little laidback resort called Rancho Leonero. It’s two hours north of Cabo, very remote, and filled with many amazing people. The fishing was extraordinarily diverse — never have I seen so many common dolphinfish, tuna, and marlin only a couple of miles offshore. All in all, it was a magical experience that solidified my love for fishing.

This is the same kind of magical experience I hope to impart to every guest angler I host on my charter boat. Because as much as I love fishing, I’ve discovered over the years that sharing that passion and the knowledge I’ve acquired as an angler is equally satisfying as catching the fish myself. 

Spots I Like to Frequent

I spent a lot of years in Northern California, where I discovered the joys of kayak fishing in the Pacific while still working in the tech world. When I moved back to North Carolina, I longed to start a business where I could share the knowledge and techniques I’ve learned and apply it to the rich offshore waters here on the East Coast. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for several years now. 

With my fishing charter business, I like to go where the fish is — and luckily for me, that’s virtually everywhere here in North Carolina. I take my guests to all the rich fishing hotspots of the region — the Atlantic Ocean, Hampstead, Wilmington, Myrtle Grove, Surf City, and North Topsail Beach. Depending on the season, we can catch some of the top Topsail Beach targets inshore and offshore.

My Charter’s Main Targets and Techniques We Use

As a recreational angler, I love trolling big fish like mahi-mahi and king mackerel. What can I say — I love a technique that keeps me moving and fishing at the same time. I also have a deep love for landing trophy ocean fish on a kayak — that feeling of being right down there on the water adds a certain type of thrill that you can’t get anywhere. Plus — experience your first Nantucket sleigh ride! Even the most laidback angler can’t help but get his blood pumping when your target catch takes you for a ride.

I like to take my personal preferences out with me on my charter because it’s the easiest way to transfer my passion and enthusiasm to my guests. However, we’re not limited to that on my boat! We’ll use the techniques you’re most comfortable with, and if you’re keen to try a new technique, I would be more than happy to teach you everything I know. Depending on the target, we can go trolling, bottom fishing, jigging, light tackle, and heavy tackle fishing.

We target fish available per season, so our trips can greatly vary depending on the time of year. It’s totally up to you to pick a trip that suits your fishing style and technique. If you’re not confident with your sea legs, we offer nearshore fishing, targeting species like red drum and black drum, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, king mackerel, speckled trout, summer flounder, and cobia without ever leaving sight of land. But if you’re up for some deep blue action (and ready to go beyond 50 miles to the edges of the Gulf Stream), then we can take you fishing for some big ocean fish like Atlantic sailfish, blackfin tuna, common dolphinfish, amberjack, and wahoo.

Why Book Your Trip with Me

If you want to experience a magical North Carolina fishing experience fully, I invite you to book a trip with us at Katfish Kayak and Fishing Charter. Together, we’ll explore the richness of this part of the East Coast, inshore, nearshore, or offshore — wherever the fish may be, depending on the season. And I guarantee you, there’s fish here almost all year round. We’ll get our fill of the top NC fish species while taking in all the natural scenery while out on my 2018 23’ Parker boat. My boat boasts a 300 HP-Powered Yamaha engine, so I can take you to the fishing grounds as fast as possible, with a cruising speed of 35 knots. And not just that — I’ve made sure to equip my ride with top-quality GPS, radar, and fishfinder systems so that I can get you to the right spot with complete safety and convenience.

One of the unique experiences we offer includes customizable and flexible mothership kayak fishing trips. You can bring your own kayak and fishing gear, board the mothership, and we’ll take you to those spots you’ve always wanted to fish that are a little too far to paddle to. If you’re an experienced kayak angler who can confidently hold your own on your boat with your gear in the open water, this experience is perfect for you.

If you’d like to learn more about our charter and our adventure offerings, you can find more information on our website. You’ll also find more about our days out in the water on our Facebook page, where we share some of our trips.