About Your Guide

A Certified Damn Good Guide is someone who goes above and beyond to show you an incredible experience on your trip. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Joe Tunstall

Certified Damn Good Guide

Independent Guide 35 years of exp.

Laid-back

Talkative

Instructional

Adventurous

Quality

Captain Joe has been fishing the waters of coastal North Carolina his entire life, with over 30 years experience. He has traveled the Eastern seaboard as a professional waterman, working in commercial and recreational fishing most of his life. His knowledge for the species he pursues is never quenched, and he's always striving to increase and refine his skill set.

Captain Joe strives to give you the experience of a lifetime. Whether it be light tackle or fly, near coastal or in the marsh, from the boat or the beach, he’ll put you on the fish. The sizzling heat of your fly reel being peeled to the backing at lighting speeds or freight train runs of old in the Pamlico Sound on a spinning reel; Whatever your choice of quarry Captain Joe will hook you up!

Captain Joe’s family has been in the tidewater region since the beginning of the Virginia Colony. His great Grandfather was a registered guide on the Pamlico River guiding thrill seeking anglers to their challenge of the world class Red Drum fishery in the early...

About Your Guide

Joe Tunstall

Certified Damn Good Guide

Independent Guide 35 years of exp.

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Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

Used to tag Sand Tigers for State Research, caught several around 5-600 lbs.

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Blackened Redfish on the 1/2 shell.

What’s your favorite band?

Depends on the day. Metallica is pretty hard to beat.

What’s your favorite movie?

Jeremiah Johnson

Rapid Fire Guide Q & A

What’s the biggest fish you’ve caught?

Used to tag Sand Tigers for State Research, caught several around 5-600 lbs.

If you were cooking for all your friends what would you cook?

Blackened Redfish on the 1/2 shell.

What’s your favorite band?

Depends on the day. Metallica is pretty hard to beat.

What’s your favorite movie?

Jeremiah Johnson

What’s your favorite sports team?

Atlanta Braves

What’s your drink of choice?

Bourbon

What was your last halloween costume?

Rip Wheeler

How did you get started guiding?

Just a natural evolution for me.

What makes you different from other guides?

Willing to hit never fished spots and very enthusiastic to get people fired up about being outdoors. I look for the fish that have never seen a hook.

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Carolina Traditions Guide Co Trips

Choose a trip to get started

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Inshore, Nearshore, River in Harkers Island

Nearshore Fishing Trip

100% (5) Guided by Joe

23 ft 1 - 8 People From $500

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Inshore, Nearshore, Jetty in Harkers Island

NC Classic Inshore Fishing Trip

100% (5) Guided by Joe

23 ft 1 - 8 People From $500

Damn Good

Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.

Nearshore, Jetty Fishing in Harkers Island

Nearshore Fly Fishing

100% (5) Guided by Joe

23 ft 1 - 6 People From $500

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Recent Reviews of Carolina Traditions Guide Co

5.0

based on 2 reviews

Casey

Verified Review

I’m an experienced fisherman who wanted to become better at targeting red drum and trout. Joe not only put me in fish, but taught me things about fishing that area that will help me catch fish on my own for years to come. Highly recommend!

Casey

Verified Review

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Jackie

Verified Review

We had an awesome time with capt. Joe. He worked extremely hard to put us on the fish. Water conditions weren't to our favor, But we will be back next year. Can't wait to fish with our new found friend again. And have another great day on the water. ☆☆☆☆☆

Jackie

Verified Review

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Potential Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart » View Recent Harkers Island Fishing Reports »

Get it while it's HOT!
This species is in play.
You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

Techniques

Artificial Lure Fishing

Types of Fishing

Recent Fishing Reports

Mid April 2026

Early April 2026

Early January 2026

Black drum, black Sea Bass, tautog and skinny water reds. That's what's up for this month.
All areas for sea bass, tautog & black drum less than 60' of water and deeper structure for black drum. Have you done shrimp and squid wing. Sea Bass on 2oz bucktails and black drum on 1/2 oz jigheads.
Redfish in the skinny, sightfishing with fly or light tackle. Tact is key.