Cape Hatteras Fishing
Of all Outer Banks fishing locations, many would argue that Cape Hatteras is the mecca, the big kahuna, the place where serious anglers call home.
Some would even say it’s the North Carolina sport-fishing capital. And, believe us, Hatteras Island fishing is serious business. Cape Hatteras charter fishing boats go after the big game of the Gulf Stream that’s easily accessible from Hatteras Village marinas year round. The notoriety of the Outer Banks fishing experience has spread so far and wide that many visitors come here for that alone. Nevermind the beach, sound, shopping or whatever else those other visitors come for. For anglers with the penchant for Hatteras Island fishing, nothing else hooks their attention.
So, why is Cape Hatteras fishing such a big deal? It’s the chance to head offshore on a fishing charter to fight blue and white marlin, sailfish and giant bluefin tuna or to bring in a healthy catch of yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi. If you ever experience the thrill of strapping into a chair, feeling that initial tug and then hanging in through the long, sometimes exhausting and always exhilarating reeling in of that huge fish, you know that it’s an experience you want to repeat. There’s fishing, then there’s Cape Hatteras charter fishing.
We know—it almost sounds like an exclusive club of Hatteras Island anglers in the know, right? But, actually, anyone can charter a boat to take them offshore fishing. The boats take up to six passengers and supply all the bait and tackle you’ll need plus a mate who’ll do everything but reel in your fish. And, with six Hatteras Village marinas, you can get on a boat somewhere!
Of course, offshore fishing charters aren’t the only draw for the fish-afflicted. Fishing the Hatteras Island sound, on near-shore wrecks, in the surf and from piers is equally popular. During certain times of the year, especially fall and spring, surf fishing is phenomenal on the Outer Banks. Red drum, striped bass and blue fish are some of the favorite fall surf catches, along with flounder, trout, sea mullet and pompano in the summer. If you need a little surf fishing advice, ask at the local Hatteras Island tackle shops. Numerous guides are available to take you out on inshore fishing trips in the sound or on near-shore ocean wrecks. There are currently three fishing piers in this area.
A NOTE FOR ANGLERS: Saltwater anglers in North Carolina are required to buy a Coastal Recreational Fishing License. The license can be purchased on a 10-day, annual or lifetime basis or combined with other licenses issued by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Children younger than 16 do not need a license. For-hire vessels and ocean fishing piers have the option to purchase a blanket license that covers all their fishing patrons, so you may not need the license to fish on a certain pier or charter boat; be sure to ask. Fishing licenses can be purchased online at www.ncwildlife.org or by calling (888) 248-6834 or at many of the local tackle shops.
Hatteras Jack
- 23902 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
Hatteras Jack is well-known for its expertise in building custom rods and reels. They also offer expert repairs of fishing equipment, stock all the bait and tackle you could need for a Hatteras Island fishing trip and book soundside fishing charters and guide services for boating and kayaking in the ocean or sound. Now they sell Century fishing rods, the finest in fishing and tournament casting. Ice and drinks are available, and this is a weigh station. Hatteras Jack sells the N.C. Recreational Fishing License.
Oden’s Dock
- 57878 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2555
Oden’s Dock books inshore and offshore fishing charters year round in addition to duck hunting charters in the winter months. Two head boats operate from here, the Miss Hatteras and the Capt’n Clam. Slip rentals with electric and water hookups are available. Oden’s sells gas and diesel fuel, and the Ship’s Store sells tackle, oil, food and drinks and gift items. Risky Business Seafood Market, Breakwater Inn, Breakwater Restaurant and Parasailing and kayak tours are also on site.
Avon Fishing Pier
- 41001 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-5480
Stretching about 650 feet into the Atlantic Ocean, Avon Pier offers excellent fishing plus a pier house store selling fishing gear, bait and tackle, drinks, sandwiches, gifts and T-shirts. You can also rent fishing gear if you need it. Call to ask about fishing prices. Sightseers are charged $1. The pier is open from 6 a.m. until midnight in season; call for off-season hours. The Avon Pier closes in the winter months.
Cap’n Clam
- 57878 N.C. Highway 12, Oden's Dock
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2365
Cap’n Clam is a 68-foot head boat offering daily half-day fishing trips in the Pamlico Sound and Hatteras Inlet area for fish like flounder, trout and sea bass and many others. The boat makes two trips a day (8 a.m. to 12 noon or 1 to 5 p.m.) every day except Sunday. All bait and tackle is provided and there’s a mate on board to assist. Half-day fishing trips are great options for families with young children because they are just the right length for a child’s attention span. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, all the rowdy mateys will want to come back on board for the Pirate Adventure Cruise, which promises lots of pirate-style shenanigans. Reservations are recommended for all trips. For celebrations or special events, consider a custom charter of the Cap’n Clam.
Dillon’s Corner
- 46792 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5083
This is really two stores in one. Downstairs it’s a tackle shop with bait, tackle, rods and reels, gas, gear, waders, boots, snacks, rod and reel repair, custom-rod building, tide charts and everything else for fishermen, including the N.C. Recreational Fishing License. Upstairs it’s a gift shop and gallery with artwork, local interest books, novelties and many other gifts and souvenirs. Dillon’s Corner also has a digital photo machine where you can print your own photos off your digital camera.
Frank and Fran’s Fisherman’s Friend
- 40210 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-4171
This tackle shop calls itself the “Fisherman’s Friend” because it offers everything an angler could need, including a humidor with fine cigars for those times when the bite is slow. Frank and Fran’s sells fresh bait and tackle, fishing supplies and gear, ice, beverages and much more. Stop by for fishing advice, the N.C. Recreational Fishing License, information on Cape Hatteras Anglers Club tournaments and a complimentary cup of coffee. This is an official weigh station.
Frisco Rod and Gun
- 53610 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-5366
Frisco Rod & Gun offers all the goods for the avid outdoor sportsman. Guns, hunting gear, clothing, fishing rods, fly fishing gear, conventional tackle for offshore, inshore and surf fishin, bait, waders, sunglasses, binoculars – you name it, it’s here. You can buy the N.C. Recreational Fishing License here too. It’s also a convenience store selling gas, snacks, drinks and a good selection of groceries and beach gear.
Frisco Tackle
- 52570 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-3229
Under new ownership this year, Frisco Tackle offers everything you need for fishing — bait and tackle, gear, ice, beer and wine, drinks, convenience items, rod and reel rentals, clam rake rentals and more. You’ll also find a good selection of gifts, T-shirts, beach goods, children’s toys and more.
Hatteras Harbor Marina
- 58058 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2166
This full-service marina books offshore and inshore fishing trips year round with a 24-boat charter fleet. They offer deepwater slip rentals with water and electric hookups and sell diesel fuel. Shower and laundry facilities, apartment rentals, a gift shop and the Harbor Delicatessen are on site.
Hatteras Island Resort Fishing Pier
- 24251 Atlantic Avenue
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2323
At 796 feet, this fishing pier, locally called the Rodanthe Pier, is the longest pier on the Outer Banks as of now (until the new Jeanette’s Pier open up again), and it offers some of the best fishing on Hatteras Island. The pier house has everything you need—bait, tackle sales and rentals, snacks, drinks, beer, beach supplies, souvenirs, restrooms and a fully air-conditioned game room. Daily, weekly and seasonal passes are available; call for fishing prices. The pier is open from April 1 through December 15, but these dates vary depending on the fishing, so call ahead. During peak season hours are 6 a.m. to midnight; off-season hours vary. By the way, several scenes in the movie Nights in Rodanthe were filmed on this pier.
Hatteras Landing Marina
- 58848 Marina Way
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2077
The southernmost marina on the island, next to the ferry docks and closest to the inlet, Hatteras Landing books both inshore and offshore fishing charters year round, including make-up charters for only $210 per person. Slip rentals for boats up to 90 feet are available, with power and water hookups at every slip. Showers, laundry facilities and a well-stocked convenience store with snack and drink items are on site.
Island Cruisers
- 26248 N.C. Highway 12
- Salvo
- (252) 987-2097, (252) 202-8388
You could easily outfit a day of surf-fishing at Island Cruisers with their rental packages. They also offer car rentals on Hatteras Island, including four-wheel-drive vehicles to take on the beach. You can also rent a classic VW-powered fiberglass convertible Buggy that’s a blast to drive. Island Cruisers offers guided tours in a VW-powered Sand Rail, which has a tube-framed chassis, making it completely open air. All of the vehicles are street legal and get excellent gas mileage. Island Cruisers also has regular car rentals, from economy size to multi-passenger minivans. Reservations are required.
JoBob’s Trading Post
- 23202 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2201
JoBob’s is a convenience store offering groceries, snacks, convenience items, beer and wine, plus fresh seafood. Fresh clams, fish, scallops and shrimp are ready for you to buy. In true island fashion, JoBob’s doubles as a souvenir store and also offers bait and tackle and beach accessories.
Mac’s Tackle-Island Convenience
- 23532 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-2239
Island Convenience is a one-stop shop. They sell gas, groceries, beer and wine, beach supplies, film, sundries, ice, souvenirs, film, T-shirts and other clothing, plus they have a bait and tackle shop and a deli for hot, quick meals (see Marilyn’s Deli in Restaurants).
Miss Hatteras
- Oden’s Dock, N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2365
This 75-foot head boat makes daily trips in season to the fishing grounds, with individuals paying “by the head” or a per-person fee to go along. All the gear and tackle you’ll need, along with instruction from the helpful crew, is provided. Miss Hatteras takes full-day (10 hours) trips to the Gulf Stream to bottom fish for triggerfish, snapper, grouper, sea bass and more. Half-day (4 hours) trips stay closer to shore and target sea bass, flounder, triggerfish and others. If you don’t want to fish, join them in on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings for the Dolphin and Wildlife Sunset Cruise. You just relax and enjoy the breezes and spectacular Hatteras sunset while the crew points out dolphin, native birds and other local wildlife. Miss Hatteras is available for private charter for weddings, parties and other events.
Red Drum Tackle Shop
- N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-5414
The legendary Red Drum, serving Hatteras Island since 1954, offers all the bait, tackle, supplies, gear and advice you’ll need plus rod building and repair. You can buy the N.C. Recreational Fishing License here, and they’ll give you a free tide table on any visit. It’s in a strip center that also houses a grocery store, a gas station, an auto parts store and an auto repair shop.
Scotch Bonnet Boat Ramp and Dock
- 51684 N.C. Highway 12
- Frisco
- (252) 995-4242
The marina next to the Scotch Bonnet gift shop offers a boat ramp, which can be used for a $10 fee; trailer parking is available. The marina has slips that can be rented for dockage. Electric and water hookup is available.
Teach’s Lair Marina
- 58646 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2460
Teach’s Lair is a full-service marina offering both inshore and offshore fishing charters year round as well as fish-cleaning services. Slip rentals with hookups are available by the day, week, month or year. A ramp for launching boats can be used for a $10 fee. A convenience store, ship’s store and tackle shop are onsite, and the N.C. Recreational Fishing License is sold here, along with gas and diesel fuel, clothing, gifts and N.C. Education Lottery tickets. There’s an ATM here too. The onsite Teach’s Island Bar and Grill is a great place to get a meal.
The Fishin’ Hole
- 27202 Sand Street
- Salvo
- (252) 987-2351
In business since the 1970s, The Fishin’ Hole is a full-service tackle shop with live bait and tackle plus brand-name rods and reels. It is an official weigh station, and the staff repairs rods and reels. They also sell groceries, snacks and drinks, beach supplies (including ($9.99 beach chairs), T-shirts, waders, hip boots and clothing. They sell the N.C. Recreational Fishing License.
Village Marina
- 57980 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-2522
The folks at Village Marina call this the “best dinky marina anywhere.” Small it is, yet Village offers slip rentals with water and electric hookups, a boat ramp with parking ($10 fee), gas and a ship’s store with tackle and supplies. The Village Marina Motel and Dinky’s Restaurant are also on site. (See Accommodations and Restaurants.)
