Wild Card Sportfishing offers affordable near shore and offshore Outer Banks fishing charters out of Safe Harbor Outer Banks Marina in Wanchese, North Carolina, led by veteran USCG-licensed Captain Frank Smith. Frank is a US Coast Guard veteran holding a 100-Ton Master’s License with unlimited radar and towing endorsements, bringing 45 years of fishing experience and a background owning several commercial fishing operations and a marine diesel service.
Trips run aboard a 35-foot twin-diesel Bertram Sportfisher, fast and comfortable with plenty of deck space, though not a luxury yacht — the boat’s long-standing reputation for outstanding catches speaks for itself. Oregon Inlet offers some of the best offshore fishing on the East Coast, with the continental shelf’s sharp drop and the collision of the Gulf Stream and Labrador Current at “The Point” (30 miles southeast) creating prime conditions for bluefin, yellowfin, and blackfin tuna, wahoo, mahi, and white marlin.
Rates run $2,100 for a Full Day Offshore Deep Sea Gulf Stream trip (10.5 hours, cash), $2,100 for a Full Day Offshore Variety Trip (bottom/trolling, 10.5 hours), $1,450 for a Full Day Inshore trip (8 hours), $1,000 for a 3/4 Day Near Shore Inshore trip (6 hours), and $700 for a Half Day Near Shore Inshore trip (4 hours) — all cash prices, with a 3% surcharge for credit cards. Makeup (shared) offshore charters run $350 per angler based on 6 anglers. Every private/makeup charter includes fishing licenses, gear, fuel, and bait.
The boat carries a full suite of modern marine electronics (multiple chartplotters, 24-mile radar, color fish scope, GPS, autopilot) and all required USCG safety gear. The business emphasizes being respectful, entertaining, and family-friendly on every trip, with a 20% mate gratuity customary and no hard liquor permitted aboard.
For anglers and families near Oregon Inlet looking for an affordable, veteran-owned offshore or nearshore fishing charter, Wild Card Sport Fishing Charters offers a well-equipped, family-friendly operation with Captain Frank Smith.
