BlackBird Guide Services

We are fortunate that Inshore fishing on the coast of North Carolina has something to offer all year long. We do get certain species that are more migratory like Speckled Trout, Flounder and Sheepshead but Red Drum and Black Drum are around all year long and make for a great target anytime of year. We target these fish on fly, light tackle and live bait. All skill levels welcome and family friendly!

Nearshore fishing refers to the water from the beach to a handful of miles off the coast. The nearshore fishing in North Carolina is something to behold for many reasons. Enjoy catching a vast number of species without the long ride offshore. This is a great trip option for novice and experienced anglers alike. Seasons dictate what fish we target on fishing charters, but there is no shortage of options. Some client favorites include Bull Redfish, False Albacore aka little tunnies, Atlantic Bonito, Spanish Mackerel, Sheepshead, Gray Trout, Tarpon, Flounder, Cobia and Tautog. Spring provides some of the best opportunity to catch Atlantic Bonito, one of the best eating fish nearshore that you can catch, especially if like sushi. These torpedo-like fish put up a great fight. Summer is a great time for Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, big sharks and the elusive North Carolina Tarpon. Early Summer will provide the best chances for Cobia and big Bull Red Fish. Late summer through the fall is one of my absolute favorite times of year as this is when we get big pushes of False Albacore right off the beach. These fish are so fun to catch on light tackle or a fly rod and are some of the best nearshore sight fishing North Carolina has to offer.

Coastal North Carolina has a lot to offer when it comes to fly fishing. There are both opportunities inshore and nearshore for a large array of species. Generally, when talking about saltwater fly fishing we are also talking about “Sight Fishing.” Sight fishing means you are casting to fish you can easily see. We do this often in fishing and it is especially important when fly fishing. With a spinning rod you can make hundreds of blind casts to cover ground and catch lots of different species. When fly fishing we try to hunt the fish and provide a well-placed fly in front of them. Red drum is a client favorite to catch while fly fishing. Red Drum are around all year long and make a fantastic target for the angler looking to sight fish. In the summer months you will find these fish belly crawling down the bank eating shrimp or moving up into the marsh grass on a flood tide with their tails out of the water. In the fall, spring and winter these fish will school up and make for incredible fishing. It is not uncommon especially in the winter and spring to find groups of red drum in a school of 200+ fish. For nearshore fly fishing the most popular species is False Albacore also know as “Albies,” or “Little Tunnies.” These fish will absolutely rip drag and for that reason we refer to them as deep-water bonefish. That is why BlackBird Guide Services will make sure you are set up for success while fly fishing! Redrum are excellent to catch on fly it’s hard to beat a False Albacore that will get you into your backing in a matter of seconds. These fish are migratory and show up in okay numbers in the spring. In the fall, it’s game on for fly fishing for False Albacore. Don’t be surprised to find hundreds of these fish busting on the surface waiting for a well-placed fly. Another species that is surprisingly great for sight fishing mainly in the summer months are sharks and they are not small! We generally use a 11 to 12 wt fly rod for these toothy critters and there is not shortage of them on the Carolina coast. Book your unforgettable fly fishing excursion today!

Being a dad myself, there is little else in the world that brings me more joy than watching a kid fall in love with fishing. Book your family a fishing charter they won’t forget. Pure excitement and smiles are the goal on these trips and there should be plenty of it. Like all our trips, these are highly flexible and can be geared to catching as many fish as possible or swimming and island exploration. You name it and BlackBird Guide Services can make it happen. For fishing you can expect to catch species such as Black Sea bass, Flounder, Red Drum, Black Drum, Speckled Trout, Croaker, Sharks and many more.

Let us take you on a hunting and fishing tour around Wilmington. We affectionately call this trip a “Cast and Blast,” trip. If you like bird hunting and fishing flood tides for tailing redfish a Cast and Blast trip is right up your alley! The closest thing on the East Coast to upland bird hunting while on a boat is hunting rails during a flood tide. Rail hunting is done along the edges of wetlands in shallow water, mud flats and marsh. These marsh birds provide exciting and fun targets for wing shooters of all levels. At BlackBird Guide Services, we like to hunt rails during a flood tide while casting for tailing redfish. During flood tides, redfish will move up into the grass in areas that are generally inaccessible to them. Redfish move up into grass areas to hunt for crabs and other crustaceans. Redfish make themselves known by sticking their tails in the air while digging up their dinner. Grab your shotgun and your fly rod or spinning rod and come along for an awesome time! Blackbird Guide Services also can provide all equipment for this specialty fishing charter. Note: please reach out to us for dates that will be most ideal for Rail Hunting. Flood tides do not happen everyday so choosing the right day with the right tide is an important part to a successful Cast & Blast trip!