How Much Outer Banks Fishing Charters Cost (Complete Guide)
The Outer Banks is home to some of the best fishing available on the east coast but the thought of paying for this experience can seem daunting. Knowing the average costs for Outer Banks fishing charters can help you decide if this trip is right for you.
The average cost of the Outer Banks fishing charter trips 4 hours in duration is $587, 6 hours in duration is $831, 8 hours in duration is $1068, 10 hours in duration is $1487, and 12 hours in duration is $1905.
What makes the Outer Banks such a popular fishing destination is its great mix of inshore and offshore fishing opportunities. In this article, we are going to look at the best times to book a charter and what you should expect to pay for a trip of a lifetime.
Outer Banks Fishing Charter Cost Estimates
4 hours
Out of 15 charters, $587 was the average cost, the lowest priced charter was $400, and the most expensive was $890. On average, it costs $146/hour for a 4 hour trip in the Outer Banks.
A 4-hour trip is a great way to get a relaxing few hours of fishing in. This option works best if you are casually fishing, or fishing with a group who doesn’t take it too seriously. You can still catch plenty of fish on a 4-hour trip, but you will have less opportunity to do so compared to a longer charter.
Travel time on a 4-hour trip is usually around 30 minutes to an hour, leaving you with at least 3 hours dedicated to fishing. 4-hour trips generally stay inshore and target inshore species such as redfish and seatrout.
Another perk of a 4-hour trip is that you can plan around tides and choose whether or not your trip is in the morning, afternoon, or evening. This can help you plan your trip around times that fish are most active.
6 hours
For a 6-hour trip, you can expect to spend around $138 an hour. The average cost for a 6-hour trip in the Outer Banks was $831 based on the prices of 11 charters. The cheapest 6-hour charter was priced at $520 and the most expensive was at $1300.
6-hour trips are also a great option for a relaxing trip, but give you more opportunities to catch fish than a 4-hour trip. 6-hour trips are also a good option for casual fishing or fishing with a group or family. You should bring a light meal and drinks for this trip.
These trips will generally stay in or near shore and will normally have around an hour of travel time, leaving you with plenty of time to fish. Popular species that are targeted with a 6-hour trip in the Outer Banks are redfish, flounder, and cobia.
8 hours
An 8-hour charter’s average cost was $1068 based on 17 charters, the cheapest was $850, and the most expensive was $1500. The average hourly cost is $133.
Fishing for 8 hours can be much more intense than 4 or 6-hour trips. These trips aren’t recommended to those who are fishing casually. 8-hour trips will give you more chances to catch more fish, and allows you the time to track down bigger fish.
Travel time for these trips are usually around an hour and a half, leaving you with at least 6.5 hours of fishing time. Travel time varies depending on what type of fish you’re targeting and its habitat.
You should bring plenty of water and food as you will be in the sun a lot and dehydration is something to worry about while you are out on the water. 8-hour trips allow you to go offshore and target species like mahi-mahi, tuna, and wahoo, but you can also stick to inshore species as well.
10 hours
Based on 10 charters, a 10-hour charter in Outer Banks normally costs around $1487. The most expensive was $2200 and the cheapest was $900, the average hourly cost was $148.
10-hour charters are not for everyone as it is a long time to spend on the water. You will need to deal with the elements all day, but you get to fish for most of that time. Travel times for these trips usually range from 1-2 hours, but that varies depending on where you go and how many spots you go to.
Most 10-hour trips will be offshore trips with the shoreline out of view. In offshore waters, you can find species like mahi-mahi, tuna, grouper, and wahoo. These trips are sometimes canceled due to weather. If there are high winds, heavy rain, or worse, the boat can be damaged. This is also because of how far offshore you will be, if something happened to the boat, help would be far away.
12 hours
$1905 was the average cost of a 12-hour charter based on the prices of 8 charters. The cheapest was $1400, and the most expensive was $3100. You can expect to spend around $158 an hour for a 12-hour trip.
A 12-hour trip is usually the longest trip a charter will offer for a single day. Like a ten-hour trip, these are not for everyone and you will need to be dealing with the elements all day. Also, like 10-hour trips, you can expect to spend an hour or two on travel time. You will be able to get to spots that aren’t accessible by shorter-length charters.
You can expect similar fish as a 10-hour trip, just more time to target them. Captains cancel these trips more often than shorter trips as a safety precaution. If the weather is bad, it will be worse out in deep water which can be damaging to the boat and put everyone on board at risk.
Recommended Fishing Charters in the Outer Banks
These Outer Banks-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Captain Duke Charters | Nags Head, NC |
| X-Spearmint Sportfishing | Manteo, NC |
| Carrisma Sportfishing | Wanchese, NC |
| Riptide Charters | Wanchese, NC |
| Captain Froggy’s Charter Fishing | Manteo, NC |
| Poacher Sportfishing | Nags Head, NC |
| Godspeed Charters | Hatteras, NC |
| Croatan Charters – Crab & Shrimp | Manns Harbor, NC |
| Finn Fishing Charters | Hatteras, NC |
| Phideaux Fishing Charters | Wanchese, NC |
| Wet Kitty Charters – High Water Adventure | Wanchese, NC |
| OBX Fishing Outfitters | Kill Devils Hill, HC |
Seasonal Trip Cost Breakdowns & Impacts
Spring
Spring fishing in Outer Banks is usually much better towards the end of May when the water warms up. Early spring has some decent fishing, but the most popular species are generally more active in the late spring.
This means that prices will be the same as normal or lower than normal. There should be no issue finding a charter during the spring but booking in advance is always smart. Some of the fish that are targeted in the spring are sea bass, redfish, and striped bass.
Summer
Fishing starts to heat up in the summer, most species will be active in the area during the summer. This can lead to increased prices due to the increased demand for charters.
Charters will be extremely busy during the summer, so booking in advance is a must. If you plan on going on a charter in the summer, it is a smart idea to bring plenty of sunscreen and water, some guides will provide both of those and some won’t.
The fishing is usually great all throughout summer and some of the most popular species to target in the summer include redfish, amberjack, sea bass, and wahoo. Fishing in the late summer brings up the possibility of tropical storms, which will negatively impact fishing, but you can’t plan around the weather.
Fall
Fall is also a great time to fish, there are plenty of fish in their peak season during the fall and fishing usually won’t taper off until the winter. You shouldn’t see any price increases in the fall, and if there are, they should be minor.
Charters will be busy, but not as busy as in the summer. It is still a good idea to book in advance, but you should be able to find charters on short notice as well. Some of the most popular species to fish for in the fall include mahi-mahi, striped bass, and marlin.
Weather is also a factor to think of in the fall, the fall is tropical storm season for Florida and other states south of North Carolina. These storms can send strong winds and storms up the shoreline to Outer Banks. This can cause cancellations of trips, but can’t necessarily be planned around.
Winter
Fishing tends to fall off during the winter in the Outer Banks, but there are still fish to be caught. Charters shouldn’t be very busy, so you can find charters on short notice if you have to.
Charters may lower their prices during this time due to the decrease in demand. Tuna, striped bass, and sea bass are among the few fish that are in season during the winter.
Cost Values & Impacts: Outer Banks Charters
Cost of Shared Fishing Charter
Sharing a charter with a group also helps with the cost of the charter. Charters will normally have a flat fee for a certain number of people and an additional cost for each additional person after that. You can split the cost evenly between the group and help reduce the cost for everyone.
This is a way charters make their services accessible to more people. This won’t work with a smaller inshore boat as well but is a nice option to have for bigger boats.
Some charters will have groups of random people who signed up for the same day and the cost will be split between everyone on the boat. There is also the option of sharing a charter with friends, which doesn’t change anything about the price but adds value.
Better Value if Fish with Group
Fishing with a group adds value to a fishing trip in multiple ways. The first is that you will have more lines in the water, so more chances to catch fish. Another being that you can have more fun with a group and create memories with that group.
Fishing with a good group of people can make for a great day. If you are looking to catch bigger fish, or target inshore fish in a smaller boat, a group may not be for you, but are still an option.
Factors that May Impact Charter Costs
There are some things that you may not immediately think of that might impact the cost of your charter. One of the things that will impact the price the most is what season it is. If there is a popular fish that is in season, demand for charters will go up, which also could increase prices.
Some charters have set prices depending on the season, and some change them based on market conditions. Another way prices can be affected is by the price of gas and bait. During busy seasons, local bait shops get a big spike in demand and some may not be able to fulfill that demand, which will increase the price of bait.
The same goes for any major event that may bring in a lot of tourists like spring break. Lastly, prices may differ depending on whether you are fishing on the weekend or during the week. Weekend trips are generally more expensive if there is a difference in pricing between the two.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
There are also a few other costs associated with charter fishing. You will most likely need to bring your own food and drink with you. You will also need to provide your own sunscreen and cooler for the fish. After you get your fish in your cooler, you may need to get your fish cleaned.
Some captains will do this on the boat or dock, but sometimes you will need to pay someone to clean your fish. Another cost is the tip. Captains and their crew work hard all day, even if you don’t catch much fish. Tips are customary in this industry, and 15-25% is a standard tip.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in the Outer Banks, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the average cost to fish in Virginia Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the average cost to fish in Charleston, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best fishing charters in the Outer Banks, check out this guide.
