Roanoke Island Fishing
Roanoke Island’s fishing history is notable in the overall legend of Outer Banks fishing. Manteo and Wanchese, the two towns on Roanoke Island, have been home to generations of families who made their living off the water through crabbing, oystering, clamming, shrimping and commercial fishing.
And Wanchese has, until recently when Oregon Inlet’s treacherous shoaling nature made it difficult to navigate with predictability, been the fish-processing capital of the Outer Banks. That commercial fishing business still occurs there but not at all at the same level as before.
What kind of Roanoke Island fishing can you do? Certainly the notorious Outer Banks surf fishing isn’t the draw, and there isn’t exactly a lot of pier fishing happening on the island (unless you count the gazebo that juts out from the waterfront boardwalk, which, if you’re a serious pier fishing angler, we wouldn’t recommend). What you do find here is an easily accessible point of debarkation for a variety of Outer Banks fishing charters, both inshore and offshore. The surrounding sounds and the island’s location very near Oregon Inlet make it the perfect location for fishing harbors, and there are several marinas on the island. Prices for a private, full-day, off-shore charter, usually accommodating six people, run $1,100 to $1,500 a day, not including a tip for the mate. Half-day inshore and inlet charters start around $375 and go up depending on the length of the trip and the type of fishing.
Roanoke Island fishing also includes the Zen-like experience of crabbing — an activity that every visitor should try, if only to make them relax and be very, very still for a little while. We don’t refer here to the business of crabbing where you set the crab pots that dangle from the colorful buoys you see dotting the sounds. No, indeed. That form of crabbing is very hard work. What we mean is the version of crabbing that requires only string, a few good chicken necks, a scoop net and quiet patience to be rewarded with the beautiful blue-shelled, sweet-eating crustaceans. Manteo’s waterfront is rimmed with a boardwalk that provides you with an endless number of locations to try your hand at this form of Outer Banks fishing. Check out our OBX Guides fishing section for more information on Outer Banks fishing.
Country Girl Head Boat
- Docks at Pirate's Cove Marina
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5577
The Country Girl can be chartered for full-day Gulf Stream trips for parties of six or more people. Gulf Stream trips usually yield tuna and mahi-mahi, wahoo, king mackerel, marlin or sailfish depending on the season and conditions. The Country Girl also offers head boat–style wreck fishing. The 57-foot sportfisher can accommodate up to 30 passengers and provides plenty of room for everyone. This is a great way to get a big group of friends together for a day on the water. You’ll catch a variety of species, including black sea bass, triggerfish, gray tile fish, grouper, amberjack and more. The cost is $110 per person. Bait, tackle and license are furnished. See Recreation for more information. The boat is also available for bird watching, marine mammal excursions and scattering ashes at sea.
Crystal Dawn Head Boat
- Docked at Pirate’s Cove Marina
- Manteo
- (252) 473-5577
For a fun-filled and fabulous time on the water, check out the Crystal Dawn. This 65-foot head boat makes two half-day inshore fishing trips daily (every day except Sunday). Whether you take the morning or the afternoon trip, you’re guaranteed a great time. The boat fishes in the sound and inlet for a variety of inshore species. All bait and tackle are provided, and a mate is on hand to assist you if you need it. Head boat fishing is a great way for children to learn to fish, but adults love it too. There’s plenty of elbow room on a boat this large, so you won’t feel cramped. Tickets are sold in advance, but walk-ups are usually accepted. The Crystal Dawn also makes one-and-a-half-hour evening cruises in the sound, including commentary on this history and ecology of the Outer Banks. See Recreation for more about the evening cruise. The Crystal Dawn can be rented for private cruises and parties and can hold to up 100 people. See Recreation for more information.
Broad Creek Fishing Center and Marina
- 708 Harbor Drive, Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park
- Wanchese
- (252) 473-9991
Broad Creek Fishing Center offers centralized booking for offshore and inshore charter fishing. They have 12 boats in their fleet, and their booking service offers hassle-free, book-where-you-board convenience. If you book your charter where you board, you’ll have the convenience of being able to call the Fishing Center agent if you’re late or lost or having some kind of problem with your charter.
Broad Creek offers many varieties of fishing charters, from full-day excursions to the Gulf Stream to light-tackle trips in the sound. They also offer several specialty fishing trips, like a charter they call the “2 for 1,” which is an adventure divided into two portions: Gulf Stream fishing for tuna and dolphin and also deepwater wreck fishing for sea bass and tile fish. Broad Creek runs half-day and full-day charters. They also have a head boat, Miss Broad Creek, that can accommodate up to 46 people. Feeling adventurous? How about a shark trip? Broad Creek even runs an overnight shark trip. At the marina they offer fish cleaning services for a fee. You’ll find everything you need for a day of fishing at their ship’s store, from beverages, ice and snacks to bait, tackle, rods and reels. They also stock boating accessories and maintenance supplies, plus sunglasses, T-shirts, sweat shirts and hats (see Shopping).
Causeway Dock and Pier
- U.S. Highway 64
- Manteo
Beneath the Washington Baum bridge on the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway is a small public dock that makes a great spot for fishing or crabbing. Just bring your own tackle and supplies and drop your line. A two-slip boat ramp and ample parking for vehichles and trailers are available.
Manteo Waterfront Boat Ramp
- At the end of Ananias Dare Street, Waterfront
- Manteo
A free public boat launch is located at the waterfront, right beside the bridge that leads to Roanoke Island Festival Park. Parking is located here too for easy access, but note that there is not much room for trailers.
Miss Broad Creek
- 708 Harbor Drive, Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park
- Manteo
- (252) 473-9991 or (252) 473-5344
The Miss Broad Creek, a 61-foot head boat, offers a Sunset Cruise starting at 6 p.m., and you may bring your own beverages on that cruise. It’s best to call ahead for a reservation. The boat also takes two bottom-fishing trips a day, both half-day, from 8 a.m. to noon or 1 to 5 p.m. The Sunset Cruise is $20 per person. See Recreation for more information. Fishing costs $40 per person or $30 for children 12 and younger, and they offer discounts if you pay in cash.
Nags Head Guide Service
- 183 Dogwood Trail
- Manteo
- (252) 475-1555
Nags Head Guide Service invites you to come explore the sounds and backwaters of the Outer Banks. Family owned and operated, they have been offering fishing charters for half-day, near full-day and full-day for one to four people for more than 25 years. They provide all the necessary supplies. The Outer Banks also offers one of the best environments for fly fishing and light tackle rods. Nothing beats the feel of reeling in fish while enjoying all the natural beauty the Outer Banks has to offer. All of their captains are U.S. Coast Guard certified, and they guarantee that you’ll catch a fish!
Pirate’s Cove Yacht Club
- Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, U.S. Highway 64
- Roanoke Island
- (252) 473-3906, (800) 367-4728
Just about every afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. a dozen or more sport fishing boats return from the Gulf Stream to the Pirate’s Cove Marina to unload their catches of tuna, dolphin, wahoo and other deep-sea fish. If you’re interested in seeing the fish before they’re cleaned, head down to the docks and watch the mates hurl the whopping creatures onto the docks. Kids love this, and the anglers are usually friendly about sharing their experiences of the day.
If you’re more of a hands-on type, you might want to take a fishing trip yourself. Pirate’s Cove offers several options for getting to the fishing grounds. Approximately 16 private charter boats are available to take you off-shore fishing, and six other boats are available for inshore fishing charters. Makeup charters are available. Call for details. The resident head boat, Crystal Dawn, takes inshore fishing trips twice daily in season.
Thicket Lump Marina
- 219 Thicket Lump Road, Wanchese
- Wanchese
- (252) 473-4500
Way down on the south end of Wanchese in a beautiful location that’s only 5 miles from Oregon Inlet via water, Thicket Lump Marina sells gas and diesel fuel and has one of the best lunch spots on the island — Great Gut Deli (see Restaurants). The deli is open Tuesday through Saturday. If you’re out in your own boat, definitely stop here to fill your gas tank and your belly. Several charter boats use these marina docks (Corolla Bait and Tackle in Corolla and Bob’s Tackle Shop in Duck are the booking agents for these charters) and the Kokomo, (252) 573-0547, which offers the Paradise Dolphin Cruises, docks here as well.
