How do you define a great fishing trip? I think you'd get a lot of different answers depending on…read morewho you ask. Some people would focus on success, as in what you caught, how many you caught, etc. and others would just be happy to have a day out on the ocean with friends and/or family. Others probably a mix of both, and some other smaller factors. I'm happy to say our 4-hour off-shore fishing trip with captain Cane and his first mate Bella (his daughter) was a success by all measures. We caught a lot, had some great fish fights, enjoyed each other's company, and learned a lot about ocean fishing as well as the captain. If there was a downside, we didn't catch any edible fish, but to me... this is minor when all five people in the boat get to fight some sharks, including hammerheads, black tips, and spinners! I was the only person in our group that had ever fought a shark before, and it was nowhere near the five foot hammerhead I tussled with on this trip. We can now all say we've angled a good size shark, not something many people can say. All sharks, for the record, were reeled into the side of the boat, admired for a moment, and released as quickly as possible. The captain had a special tool for removing the hooks in their mouths, and he said if unable to remove, he would cut the line and the hook would rust away in 3 days time. Captain Cane was very knowledgeable and also really good about keeping the conversations going while we waited on our fish to bite. It was also cool to learn he's a 6th generation fisherman in these waters, and to watch him pass his knowledge on to his daughter. Some things to know before going out: 1) No bathroom on board, at least for the shorter trips. Make sure you clear things out beforehand! 2) Ensure your party is up to the physical challenge of open ocean fishing. Even on calm days, the boat will bob and weave, and the fish are likely to put up a good fight. 3) Bring non-spray sunscreen, cold beverages in a cooler (preferably large enough to sit on) and snacks if you think you might get hungry. 4) Make sure you get a secure grip for your cell phone or camera, if the ocean claims it, you're S.O.L!

We booked a 4 hour ocean excursion, but due to high winds we had to change it to the Intercostal…read moreWater Way side. Our guide was great helping myself and my three kids (17, 15, and 13) bait and cast their rods. Unfortunately we only caught a few fish which we weren't able to keep due to their size, but the scenery was beautiful and we had a great time! Would recommend!

This is a typical North Carolina coastal fishing pier. Nice place to waste an afternoon or two. The…read morefolks who run it came down from the western piedmont area several years ago - they run the pier and a small convience store just down the road - nice, friendly folks. Tried the chili dog here, and was more than a little surprised. It was very, very good - maybe even better than its better known competitor on the causeway, and the FF here are decent. as well. Neat place, neat folks.

We park at the pier. Most days you can guarantee a parking spot and the pier provides some shade…read more There are sections under the pier that families "claim" for the day and the pier structure is great for hanging hammocks! The pier and cafe owners are seasonally turned over (at least it seems), which is disappointing. The spot could be cute and convenient for visitors.

Inman is a great captain! Tentative to everyone's needs, handles the boat well, knowledgeable, and…read morefun! Highly recommend for all ages!

Loved the experience. It was very laid back and relaxing. Went to an island and enjoyed the warm…read morewater.

Bottom line: A great selection of fishing equipment needs can be found here in The Rod & Reel Shop…read moreat Holden Beach. The inventory is pretty good but the friendly and helpful service put them in the 5 star tier in my book, definitely swing by if you are shopping for fishing tackle and gear. The Deets: My friends I vacation with had forgotten to bring their fishing rods/tackle on the trip to Holden Beach this year, and even though it's not the optimal time of year to go fishing they wanted to do so during the stay. In looking around for places that might have a good supply of fishing needs, we found The Rod & Reel Shop along the main causeway strip before the bridge going over the bridge to the beach (that big street sign helped). Inside, they have just about every piece of fishing equipment, rods/reels, tackle, and accessories one may need, definitely a good selection. We found all the necessities needed for fishing that would do the trick without breaking the bank. Above all, the staff there were delightfully pleasant, helpful, and wanted to make sure we found what we needed...they were so friendly! On this point alone I'd say they get a great review. Only ding I can find that would be a 4.5 stars technically is that the bloodworms for bait were pretty expensive here but they had some shrimp that was just what was needed bait wise. If you want to look around for fishing gear needs, I'd say put The Rod & Reel Shop in your places to check out as we are happy we did!

Amazing staff, amazing service, and after leaving my rod and reel and tackle box at home, i was…read moremiffed at myself. I went here in hopes of grabbing a rod and reel and some basics to enjoy the afternoon/evening. Walked in, immediately assisted, wonderful young lady behind the register and a knowledgeable young guy assisting knew what I needed. I got what I needed and with ease! Went back later for bait and another guy there met me at the door with the same great service. Stellar place and affordable!

Rented an awesome pontoon boat for a few hours of cruising the waterway. Friendly service and great…read moreexperience all around! Will be back this summer!

I wish I could give no stars. Took my boat in over 2 years ago and they ruined the motor. They…read morerefuse to make it right even though they had insurance for such things. They simply made a choice NOT to do the right thing. I have texts and messages where the owners acknowledge " we just couldn't fix it". I would NOT take my boat there and have told this story many times, I hope no one has to endure what I've endured.

Captain Mark and his First Mate were super awesome! Very knowledgeable, friendly and provided a fun…read moreand safe atmosphere for a great day of family fun on the ocean. Highly recommend if you love the ocean, love fishing, and love having a great time!

We had a blast on this charter w Captain Mark Greene! He took us to catch a school of black sea…read morebass and whitings. He's great at helping bait the hooks and taking fish off once you catch them. Very involved. Gives us great tips on how to use the fishibg rods and how to fish. Very respectful if we get sea sick and need to move towards calmer water. Alot of fun to talk to. Very passionate about what he does and knowledgeable. We want to come back and fish woth him again!!! Very pleasant enjoyable experience with him! Totally recommend going on this charter.

Captain Jim made our tour very interesting and enjoyable! We did a sunset tour for Mom's 92…read morebirthday and throughly enjoyed Jim's history lesson about the HB area. Jim was a very courteous captain, taking everyone's needs and concerns into consideration!

Highlight of our trip! Captain John was a great guide and we had a blast. Highly recommendread more

What a great experience dealing with Lauren on scheduling our wave-runners. I planned our rental…read morefrom California. She was great getting back to me and they were ready from a plan 2 months prior. She was super friendly and chilling with Rebel and Sky was and added treat. Thanks Lauren for taking care of us! I highly recommend this business!

Searched the web for Holden Beach Jet Ski and up came Holden Beach Water Sports. The web site was…read moreinformative and even had a way to request by email a discount off the regular rate. The phone service was pleasant and quick. I called at 215pm during 4th of July week and asked if they had a jet ski available at 3pm and they had all but one of their jets out on the water. I only needed one for my wife and I. I showed up at 3pm under the bridge next to the Holden Beach Marina at the picnic tables area and went up to their window. An attractive young lady greeted my wife and I. She had us fill out the 1 page info sheet and 2 page instructional sheet. A few minutes later we were handed life jackets and were receiving clear operating and safety instructions on the dock. The jet ski was brand new and very nice. There was a dry glove compartment for my phone and wallet etc. but they gave me a free ziploc bag for good measure. My wife and I had a blast. We jetted over to our dock after a nice ride and I gave my daughter a quick little spin to see if she would like it the next time we rent one. She loved it. It IS really exciting. My wife and I actually got up to 54 mph when we got a clear stretch with no other boats around. The seats were very large and could have seated all three of us. The dead stop acceleration is unbelievably quick, lean forward and hang on! The steering responsiveness is very tight. It's easy to operate. You just have to remember there are no brakes! An attendant assisted us when returning to the dock and they even kept safe our shoes, keys, etc. for us while we were having fun on the water. The 1 hour went by like it was only 15 minutes but it was definitely worth the cost. Time flies when you're having that much fun. We will definitely rent from Holden Beach Water Sports again. Great fun and friendly service!

Captain John and first mate Denise offered an extraordinary memorable experience to scatter my…read morefather's ashes at sea. They had a nice size boat and were excellent hosts. Thank you for your hospitality and for being so thoughtful.

Captain John is Awesome! Such a pleasure from the beginning to the end. Booked the sail early…read moreAugust for September 7th. John's communication through out the process was excellent. Unfortunately, due to whether we couldn't sail on our original date, but there was John!! He called me right away to re-schedule us and it end up being the perfect day. My husband and I are so excited we did this. Very relaxing and such a joy. Enjoyed the history, stories, and laughter. It is evident that Captain loves what he does and he made it very special for us. We are truly thankful. Thank you to Shauna as well. I really hope that I remembered her name correctly. Please forgive if not. Thank you again Captain John. Such a good time!