Are you dreaming of catching your personal best fish on your Ocean Isle Beach vacation, or looking for a family-friendly fishing charter that’s fun, safe, and stress-free? You’re in the right place.
I’m Captain Harvey Wall, a full-time (year-round) professional Ocean Isle Beach fishing charter captain with 25 years of experience as a local NC fishing guide. As a U.S. Army Veteran, U.S. Maritime Academy graduate, and licensed USCG Captain, I focus on delivering safe, enjoyable, and memorable fishing trips for anglers of all ages and experience levels.
Salty Dawg Fishing Charters specializes in inshore and nearshore fishing charters in Ocean Isle Beach, with seasonal shark fishing, bull redfish trips, and kids fishing adventures. I run trips from 67 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC, and serve Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, and Little River SC.
Depending on the season, we target Redfish, Flounder, Speckled Trout, Black Drum, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Cobia, Grouper, Snapper, and Sharks. Scroll down to compare charter options and find the perfect fishing trip for your group.
You’ll meet Captain Harvey for your Ocean Isle Beach Fishing Charter at 67 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469, at the boat ramp directly under the Ocean Isle Beach Bridge. This central launch location is easy to find and makes getting on the water quick and stress-free.
We’re just a short walk from popular Ocean Isle Beach landmarks, including Ocean Isle Fish Company (OIFC), Sharky’s Waterfront Bar & Grill, and Sheffield’s Seafood & Grocery, and only 0.6 miles (about a 3-minute drive) from the Ocean Isle Beach Pier. This puts us within 5 minutes of all Ocean Isle Beach public beach accesses, making us one of the most accessible fishing charter services in town.
Once on the water, your fishing experience depends on the charter you choose:
Ocean Isle Beach offers excellent fishing year-round. Plan your trip around the species you want to target.
| SEASON | TARGET SPECIES | FISHING QUALITY |
|---|---|---|
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Spring (Mar-May) |
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Very Good Spring brings diverse fishing as waters warm, with excellent opportunities for Sheepshead and early King Mackerel. |
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Summer (Jun-Aug) |
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Excellent Peak fishing season with abundant action inshore and nearshore. Great weather, steady bites, and the widest range of target species. |
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Fall (Sep-Nov) |
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Trophy Season Prime time for trophy hunters. Bull Redfish stack up at local inlets and nearshore reefs, Smoker Kingfish show up nearshore, and big flounder feed hard inshore. October is the month to catch a fish of a lifetime in Ocean Isle Beach. |
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Winter (Dec-Feb) |
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Good Winter fishing can be surprisingly strong. Protected waters produce consistent Trout and schooled-up Redfish, and Sea Bass provide great action on nearshore reefs. |
Seasonal patterns can shift with weather, water temperature, and bait. When you book, I’ll confirm the best target species and game plan for your trip.
My Ocean Isle Beach fishing charter rates are all-inclusive with no hidden fees. All trips are private (never shared) and include the captain, charter boat, fishing gear, bait, licenses, and expert guidance.
Whether you’re booking a 2-hour kids trip or a full-day adventure, I offer flexible options to fit your schedule and budget. For full details, visit my Fishing Charter FAQ or contact me directly.
| CHARTER TRIP | LENGTH (HOURS) |
RATES | MAX ANGLERS |
START TIMES | SEASON |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Fishing Charter | 2 | $275 | 4 | 3:00 PM | Year-Round |
| Inshore Fishing Charter | 4 | $450 | 4 | 6:30 AM or 10:45 AM | Year-Round |
| Nearshore Fishing Charter | 4 or 6 | $550 - $825 | 4 | 6:30 AM or 10:45 AM |
Trolling: April thru November
Bottom: Year-Round |
| Shark Fishing Charter | 4, 6, or 8 | $550, $825, $1,150 | 4 | 6:30 AM or 10:45 AM | May thru November |
| Bull Redfish Fishing Charter | 4 or 6 | $550 - $825 | 4 | 6:30 AM or 10:45 AM | October 1st - 31st |
Booking your Trip Salty Dawg Fishing Charters is easy! Here’s how:
Have questions? Feel free to Contact Captain Harvey or call anytime. Capt Harvey is happy to help you plan the perfect fishing trip for you!
When you book with Salty Dawg Fishing Charters, you’re fishing with a local captain who knows these waters inside and out. With 25 years of on-the-water experience, I build every trip around real conditions — tides, wind, season, and what’s actively biting. Whether we’re in the Shallotte River, Little River Inlet, the ICW, or nearby nearshore reefs, the goal is simple: fish smart and maximize your time on the water.
Meet the "Salty Dawg" — my custom-rigged 23-foot Sea Hunt bay boat, built for comfortable inshore and nearshore fishing in Ocean Isle Beach. With a 200HP Yamaha, we get to the fishing grounds quickly while keeping the ride smooth and safe. For full details, see my Ocean Isle Beach Charter Boat page.
My Inshore Fishing Charters cover the calm backwaters of the Shallotte River, Calabash River, Little River Jetties, the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), and our local area backwaters and saltwater marshes. With our productive inshore waters and nearshore reefs just off the beach, Ocean Isle Beach offers some of the most diverse fishing opportunities on the Carolina coast. My nearshore trips depart out of Shallotte Inlet and Little River Inlet, and I always adjust our plan with the tide and season to give you the best possible experience on the water.
Brunswick County’s coastal waters — especially around Ocean Isle Beach — offer great year-round opportunities for exciting fishing action.
Depending on the time of year, we target Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Flounder inshore, or head nearshore for Black Sea Bass, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Red Snapper, and Gag Grouper.
I proudly offer guided fishing charters in Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, Shallotte, Calabash, and Little River, SC — all within a short drive of Ocean Isle Beach. No matter where you’re staying, you’re only minutes away from great fishing.
No matter what kind of fishing you’re after, there’s always an adventure waiting just minutes from the dock here in Ocean Isle Beach.
Below are the latest blogs and fishing reports, as well as links to my blogs page and my fishing reports page
No, all fishing equipment is provided on my charters, including rods, reels, tackle, and bait. Just bring weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen (cream type, not spray on), snacks, and any personal items you might need.
No, I provide NC & SC fishing licenses and all necessary permits.
Ocean Isle Beach offers excellent fishing year-round. Redfish and Speckled Trout are available in all year long, providing consistent action regardless of when you visit. During January and February, we target Black Sea Bass and Black Drum in our Nearshore Reefs. Sheepshead are abundant in March. As temperatures rise in the spring, our fishing opportunities expand with King Mackerel and Flounder join the mix in April, followed by Cobia appearing nearshore in May. By June, Spanish Mackerel become abundant, marking the beginning of our prime fishing season that remains exceptional through Thanksgiving. For anglers seeking trophy catches, October stands out as the highlight of our calendar when massive Bull Redfish (exceeding 40 inches) migrate to our nearshore reefs and congregate around Shallotte Inlet and Little River Inlet. And Smoker Kings are consistently caught in November. By December, I focus my fishing charters on Puppy Drum (Redfish under 18 inches) and Slot Redfish (18 to 27 inches) that school up Inshore and just off the beach. That's what I love about guiding in this area, the waters around Ocean Isle Beach, Holden Beach, Sunset Beach, and Little River hold fish year-round! No matter when you book your trip with me, I'll find something biting and put you on the action!
Absolutely! I offer specialized 2-hour Kids Fishing Charters designed specifically for families with children 12 and under. These trips focus on easy-to-catch fish in protected waters with minimal waves, making it a perfect introduction to fishing.
Yes, you can keep fish that meet legal size and bag limits. I also encourage catch-and-release for certain species to help maintain healthy fish populations. Make sure to bring a cooler with ice, but leave it in your vehicle. I'll keep your catch fresh until we get back to the dock.
Safety is 100% my top priority. I monitor Ocean Isle Beach weather and tide conditions closely (before and during your trip) and I will make the final determination of whether or not it is safe to fish. I'll never ask you to fish when it's unsafe or if it will be miserable. Refunds are electronic and are credited to the original means of payment.
Inshore Fishing Charters that are cancelled due to weather conditions will be able to re-schedule (if you're able to do so) or you'll receive a full refund.
Nearshore Fishing Charters & Shark Fishing Charters, when the weather or sea conditions aren't safe on the ocean, will fish Inshore if it is safe to do so. If it's not possible to fish Inshore then Captain Harvey will re-schedule your charter (if you're able to do so) or you'll receive a full refund.
I understand that things come up, so I have one of the most customer-friendly cancellation policies for fishing charters. If you need to cancel greater than 3 days before your fishing charter, you can -at your discretion- either re-schedule or receive a full refund. Bookings that cancel less than 3 days before their charter can reschedule, but do not receive a refund unless I am able to re-book that spot on my calendar. No-shows cannot reschedule or receive a refund.
Ocean Isle Beach offers exceptional fishing charter opportunities due to its strategic location between Shallotte Inlet and Tubbs Inlet. This prime positioning provides immediate access to both protected inshore waters and productive nearshore fishing grounds. The diverse ecosystems around Ocean Isle Beach support year-round fishing, with the Intracoastal Waterway, local marshes, and nearby reefs all within minutes of our dock at 67 Causeway Drive. Ocean Isle Beach fishing charters benefit from the area's unique geography that concentrates baitfish and gamefish in predictable patterns, allowing experienced local captains to consistently put clients on fish regardless of season.
While Ocean Isle Beach offers excellent fishing year-round, each season presents unique opportunities for charter fishing. Spring (March-May) brings Redfish, Speckled Trout, Flounder, and the arrival of King Mackerel and Cobia to Ocean Isle Beach waters. Summer (June-August) is peak season for family fishing charters with abundant Flounder, Redfish, and nearshore action for Spanish and King Mackerel. Fall (September-November) offers the most spectacular fishing with Bull Redfish migrations around Shallotte Inlet and Little River Inlet and the best chances of the year for a smoker Kingfish. Winter (December-February) provides surprisingly good fishing for Speckled Trout and schooled-up Puppy Drum in the protected backwaters around Ocean Isle Beach, as well as Sea Bass on our local nearshore artificial reefs. Local knowledge of these seasonal patterns is what makes Captain Harvey successful for your Ocean Isle Beach fishing charters year-round.
Still have questions? Check out my full FAQ list using the below button. You're also welcome to call or text Captain Harvey at (910) 250-8459
