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You're in good hands

Book your trip with confidence — We only work with the best local guides that know where to put you on fish.

About Your Trip

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

About Your Trip

Join Captain Ray for a light-tackle fishing trip through the diverse waters surrounding Topsail Island and the New River. With 4-, 6-, and 8-hour options available, these trips can take you from shallow marshes, creeks, and flats to the nearshore waters just off the North Carolina coast when conditions allow.

Inshore, you'll primarily target species like Red Drum, Speckled Trout, Flounder, Black Drum, and Sheepshead. Ray uses his knowledge of the tides to work oyster beds, grass flats, channel edges, creeks, and other areas where these fish gather to feed. Depending on conditions, you'll fish live bait, artificial lures, and topwater plugs on light tackle, with opportunities for sight fishing when water clarity cooperates.

When the weather allows you to head nearshore, the target list can expand to seasonal species including Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Bluefish, False Albacore, and Cobia. These fish move through at different times of year, so exactly what you pursue will depend on water temperature, bait concentrations, sea conditions, and what's currently available.

The 4-hour trip is a great introduction to the fishery and typically focuses on one or two productive areas. Moving up to 6 hours gives Ray more time to fish through changing tides and move between different areas as conditions develop. The 8-hour full day provides the most flexibility to cover water and can combine inshore and nearshore fishing when weather and sea conditions cooperate.

Beginners and experienced anglers are both welcome. Ray enjoys teaching and can help with everything from casting and lure presentation to understanding how tide movement, bait, and structure affect the fish. Fly fishing equipment is also available for anglers who want to take that approach.

Rods, reels, tackle, live bait, lures, bottled water, safety equipment, and your fishing license are all included. The boat is equipped with Garmin-style essentials including GPS and fish-finding electronics, along with a wireless trolling motor, live bait well, and ice box. Any legal fish you decide to keep can be stored on ice for you to take with you after the trip.

Ray fishes throughout the greater Topsail area, including waters accessible from Surf City, Topsail Island, Hampstead, North Topsail, Sneads Ferry, Wrightsville Beach, and Swansboro, allowing the day's location and approach to be adjusted around the season and conditions.

Amenities

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Weather

You won’t lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 7 days before the trip.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

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Pricing Matrix

	4 hours	6 hours
1 Person	$550.00	$650.00
2 People	$550.00	$650.00
3 People	$550.00	$650.00
4 People	$600.00	$700.00

Pay 15% of the price as a deposit today, with the balance due on the day of the trip.

About Your Guide

Raymond B.

Independent Guide

About Your Guide

Raymond B.

Independent Guide

Captain Ray is an inshore and nearshore light-tackle guide who has spent more than 35 years fishing the coastal waters around Topsail Island and the New River area. He started fishing these waters with his father at a young age, developing a connection to the North Carolina coast that eventually led him to make a career out of it.

Before guiding full-time, Ray spent 15 years working in the marine industry. After earning his captain's license, he was able to turn his years of fishing experience into a full-time guiding career. Today, he specializes in shallow-water angling around the flats, marshes, creeks, and estuaries surrounding Topsail Island, while also venturing into the nearshore waters when weather and sea conditions cooperate.

One of Ray's favorite parts of guiding is teaching. He welcomes anglers of all skill levels and is happy to walk beginners through casting, lure presentation, fish handling, and how tides and conditions influence where fish are feeding. More experienced anglers can take advantage of his knowledge of the local fishery while fishing at their own pace.

Ray adjusts his approach throughout the year as water temperatures, bait movements, tides, and seasonal migrations change. Whether you're sight fishing a shallow flat, working an oyster edge for Redfish and Trout, or heading off the beach in search of seasonal species, he'll build the day's game plan around the conditions and what's currently biting.

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Start Location & Lodging Options

Surf City, North Carolina

Areas Fished

About Your Boat

Boat photo for Topsail Inshore & Nearshore

Boat Type: Bay Boat
Boat Manufacturer: Blue Wave
Year Built: 2016
Boat Length: 22'

About Your Boat

Boat Type: Bay Boat
Boat Manufacturer: Blue Wave
Year Built: 2016
Boat Length: 22'
Boat Restroom: No
Engine Manufacturer: Suzuki
Total Horsepower: 250
Number of Engines: 1
Additional Amenities: GPS, Fishfinder, Live bait well, Wireless trolling motor, Ice box

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Trip Details & Amenities

Water Type

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats

Skill Levels

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

Tackle

All rods, reels, and tackle are included.

Beer

Feel free to enjoy responsibly, but please no glass.

Live Bait

Live bait is included for this trip.

Weather

You won't lose your deposit if the trip is canceled due to weather.

Kid Friendly

This trip can cater to small children.

Flexible Cancelation

This trip can be canceled up to 7 days before the trip.

Fish Cleaning

No cleaning service provided.

Boat Restroom

No, this boat does not have a bathroom on board.

Disability Friendly

This trip is not suited for those with disabilities.

Lunch

Please provide your own food / snacks.

Target Species

Color-coded seasonality below is based on .

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »

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

Everything Else to Know

Everything is included, but we also recommend bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, weather-appropriate clothing, and anything else you might want on the trip.

You're all set! You don't need to buy a license for this trip.

We use a cashless autopay system. We'll send you a boarding pass, and on the day of the trip, your guide will scan your boarding pass to automatically transfer the remaining balance. The only cash needed is to tip your guide (we recommend 20%).

Cancel for free up to 7 days before the trip and receive credit back to your account. Cancelling within 7 of the trip will forfeit your deposit to the guide. Day-of cancellations and no-shows will be charged the full balance of the trip to their card.

In the event of inclement weather you'll be covered by out 100% Weather Guarantee and will not lose your deposit.

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First Time Booking with Us?

Captain Experiences is home to thousands of quality, vetted fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports guides across the US and beyond. Our mission is to Unlock the Outdoors by making it quick and easy to book the trip of a lifetime every time with our Damn Good Guides.

We vet our guides and only partner with the best of the best. Our guides do their very best to keep you safe, show you a great time, and send you home with a memorable experience shared with family and friends.

Once you've paid your deposit at checkout, we'll send you a QR Code boarding pass. Just show your guide your boarding pass on the day of the trip, they'll scan it, the remaining balance will transfer automatically, and you'll be all set to get out there. Just make sure you bring a cash tip for the guide!

In the event of inclement weather, our guides will check the conditions and make the final call on whether its safe to go on the trip. If they decide the trip needs to be postponed, we'll work closely with you to reschedule or provide a credit for the full deposit, which can be applied to any of our trips in the US and beyond.

Each trip's price is determined by the guide and reflects all associated costs. A significant factor in pricing is often the type of boat and the corresponding fuel expenses. Additional costs may include leases, marina or slip fees, and the expenses involved in providing and maintaining the necessary gear for your trip.

After booking your trip, we'll connect you directly with your guide to discuss additional details. In the meantime, our team is here to answer any questions via email, text, or phone.