Hate to leave a bad review, but I feel like any other family that's potentially going to drop $1,000 on a fishing trip in the OBX should know my experience:
Two months ago the reservations were made. I spoke to the owner over the phone. About 10 people, fishing in the ocean for four hours. All bait and poles included. July 21 at 6AM.
There seemed to be some confusion that day I was making the final payment over us going into the ocean, as we had planned. The total payment ended up being $1075 for 11 people.
Getting out into the ocean, the mate, "J", and Captain "D", told us we would be doing "troll fishing". Being tourists and unfamiliar with ocean fishing and trolling, we quickly realized the mate would set up only FIVE poles, for 11 passengers.
"J" hooked up the lines with some sort of lure and cast the lines out. 11 of us watching. We continued to watch the five lines. When one line had a hit, one of us would grab the pole, reel for a little bit, THEN when the fish got to within 20 feet of the boat, "J" would reel it in, unhook the fish and throw it in the bin. WE LITERALLY did almost nothing. After this went one about a half dozen times, the kids lost all interest. We never would have agreed to this trip, had we known that 11 of us would be sharing 5 poles. I asked upon booking the trip, if bait and poles were included. I was told yes. Never was I told about troll fishing and not a pole for each person.
We weren't "fishing". We were watching "J" fish. The kids took turns, but the fishing was slow. I suggested that the kids hold the poles while we trolled so they could at least feel like they were doing something. "J" wouldn't allow it.
I also tried to get some pictures of the fish that "J" caught. Have our kids pick the fish out of the bin and hold them up. Again, "J" wanted no part of assisting or promoting this.
Myself and the other two adults on that boat essentially went on a $110 per person site seeing tour. The three adults NEVER touched a pole. The fishing was slow, so when there was a rare hit, we let the kids grab a pole.
At the end, we caught four mackerel. Again, I tried to get pictures, but "J" made a bee line from the boat to the guy who filets the fish. Seemed to be no effort to appease or play into the tourists excitement to handle or enjoy the experience.
On the way back, the kids continuous expressed the disbelief that NONE of us, baited a pole, threw it out, reeled it in, unhooked a fish and held it up. NONE of us. We literally watched "J" troll fish
"J" claimed to be a third generation OBXer. Clearly he hasn't figured out that 90% of the OBX economy is run on tourism. It would be to his best interest, along with his employers, to stride to make this the best possible experience. read more