NC Headboats

[BrokenRod]

NC Headboats

Anyone here ever took a 24hr trip on the Capt Stacy IV, the Contenintal Shelf, or the Carolina Princess? I wanna come down near the end of october and those are my three choices. Hows the fishing on them? They catch snapper that late in the year? Any thing else being caught around then?

[BlakSpyda]

I know this thread is a little old, but I took My son and my Brother-In-Law on the 24hr trip w/Capt Stacy on 6-7 Oct, 2007. We did great! Between the three of us, we brought home over 160 pounds of fish. We caught Grouper, Snapper (Red and Silver), Trigger Fish, Grey Grunt, Porgies and Jacks.

A couple of huge Barracuda wer caught also.

Many folks limited out on Red and Silver Snapper.

This trip is hardcore. My knees were pretty much sore from bracing myself against the boat whlie pulling em up and I had one helluva bruise under my right armpit from holding the rod butt there while retreiving. Will I do it again? Hell yeah!

Here ar links to my pics.
http://groups.msn.com/NCSURFISHING/b...o&PhotoID=1025
http://groups.msn.com/NCSURFISHING/b...o&PhotoID=1027
http://groups.msn.com/NCSURFISHING/b...o&PhotoID=1028
http://groups.msn.com/NCSURFISHING/b...o&PhotoID=1029
http://groups.msn.com/NCSURFISHING/b...o&PhotoID=1030

[MacPE6]

I live Swansboro, NC which is just outside Morehead city and have been out with Capt Stacy IV, Carolina Princess and a few others alone and with my son.

If I had to recommend one I would say Capt Stacy IV. Why? They ALWAYS take VERY good care of their fisherman no matter what. The mates do an execlent job of taking care of all with what ever is needed. I have fished the Carolina Princess which was ok. Can't say bad things but can't find good things to say either.

[Doad]

Anybody have any links to these headboats?

Thanks,

Doad

[bigpapamd1]

Originally Posted by Doad

Anybody have any links to these headboats?

Thanks,

Doad

http://www.captstacy.com/

[Desperado]

Thanks for the pics BlackSypda. Makes me want to take my 1st trip down to NC. Looks like outstanding fishing there! From the posts so far, looks like Capt. Stacy is the favorite.

Found one disturbing story on the web about Capt. Stacy though, how they got stranded & had to be rescued by the coast guard. But maybe that's all in the past, or just propaganda from competitors?

[bmcox86]

link? 4 the story

[Desperado]

Originally Posted by bmcox86

link? 4 the story

http://thecrystalcoast.com/

[MacPE6]

Originally Posted by Doad

Anybody have any links to these headboats?

Thanks,

Doad

http://www.captstacy.com/

http://www.carolinaprincess.com/

http://www.continentalshelf.com/

[BlakSpyda]

Originally Posted by Desperado

http://thecrystalcoast.com/

This sounds like a smear tactic! I cannot find any reference to this anywhere else. Something like this would have definitely made the news if a boat with over 50 folks were stranded more than 10 hours past their charter time and the USCG had to resue them.

[jhmorgan]

As a mate out of Lynnhaven, I must say that I can not imagine any situation like this EVER happening. Captains and their crew are far too prepared to allow such an incident to occur. Even the worst of crews would STILL provide passengers with some sort of drinks and food at a time like that (that is if a breakdown ever did occur). After lookin around a little bit, and not finding any other mention of this, I would have to guesstimate that this article was written to do nothing besides make the boat and it's owner look bad. Somebody should notify Capt Stacy unless and warn them that the article is out there. Even if it is true, no nevermind it can;t be true. No one would be that poorly run

[Desperado]

That's pretty much what I was thinking. Probably just propaganda from a competitor. Even if there ever was a grain of truth to that story, I'm sure it's all in the past. Never been on any of these boats myself yet, but based on the positive comments in this thread of those that have been on the Capt. Stacy, I would not hesitate to fish with them at the first available opportunity.

[Gone Fishing]

Any headboats closer to Nags Head or Kitty Hawk or Hatteras Village?

[2aces]

I Have been on the Capt Stacy IV and I must say at the time it was a greaaat trip when i went 4 yrs ago. But I want to go back. Anyone making any trips next year. Keep me informed.

[BlakSpyda]

I'll keep you posted 2aces!

[saltandsand]

Good info in the thread. Mapquest says Atlantic Beach, NC is about 3 hours from Buxton, NC. Anybody have suggestions for a decent head boat in June that is out of or near Buxton, NC (which is between Frisco and Avon)? Thanks!

[New Kent Newbie]

Miss Hatteras its out of either Hatteras Habor or Oden's Dock cant remember

[gwaud]

You will have a better time on a charter instead of the headboat. there is a lot less competion for bait and more privacy. its cost us 200 each for a 12hr trip out of carolina beach. we split the trip with bottom fishing and trolling. we caught snapper/grouper/grunts/mahi/bonita/king macks/barracudas/porgys/triggers and more.

[saltandsand]

Originally Posted by gwaud

You will have a better time on a charter instead of the headboat. there is a lot less competion for bait and more privacy. its cost us 200 each for a 12hr trip out of carolina beach. we split the trip with bottom fishing and trolling. we caught snapper/grouper/grunts/mahi/bonita/king macks/barracudas/porgys/triggers and more.

Any suggestions on charters in that price range out of Buxton area?

[2aces]

My trip I planed on the 23 was a bust, due to bad winds. I had planed to do a 24 hr on the Cont. Shelf but switched over to the Carolina Princess. The Cont. Shelf did go out I dont know how they did but I wish I stuck with that trip just to get my lines wet. My next trip on the CP is set for May 4 weather gods please be good to me.....

[gwaud]

I'm not sure about Buxton, but we used HOTTICKET out of carolina beach. 1st class boat, tackle, knowledge, and mate.

[skipogden]

Because this came up again yesterday off this forum, let me say I am the one who created thecrystalcoast.com, the website that told the story of the Capt Stacy breaking down at sea in 2002. This was no smear tactic. I have no financial interest in any fishing venture anywhere.

The Coast Guard tows hundreds of boats and a broken down fishing boat would not be reported by the media in an area that counts on tourism as their primary income source. The reason I posted this site was a warning. The crew appeared incompetent, and the captain was more worried about the cost of towing the boat in AGAIN than the comfort and safety of the passengers. Had there been a more serious emergency, like a fire, this would have been disastrous.

The Captain Stacy Fishing Center send another boat out to try to get the CS4 started. Why wouldn't they send a boat out to transfer the passengers and get them back to shore? This was one bad decision after another by the captain and by management back at the dock over the radio. And the crew could have done whatever it was they were doing without f*** being every other word out of their mouths.

To be fair, I had many good trips on the CS4 before this time. And you would think the crew and captain especially would be well versed in how to handle this, especially considering the number of times the Stacy has has problems, but the fact that the next day, they could only complain about THEIR inconvenience and having to buy 11 batteries says a lot about where their interest is.

It may be hard to believe but it is 100% true. I would swear to it in court. And since the Captain Stacy Fishing Center knows about the site, if it were not true, they would have had attorneys "ask" me to remove it. They cannot because this is the absolute truth.

Ask locals if they've ever heard of a Capt Stacy breaking down (or beaching) and you'll hear a different story than you hear from those who enjoyed a good day of fishing then went home a few hundred miles away.

[Normark]

Originally Posted by skipogden

Because this came up again yesterday off this forum, let me say I am the one who created thecrystalcoast.com, the website that told the story of the Capt Stacy breaking down at sea in 2002. This was no smear tactic. I have no financial interest in any fishing venture anywhere.

The Coast Guard tows hundreds of boats and a broken down fishing boat would not be reported by the media in an area that counts on tourism as their primary income source. The reason I posted this site was a warning. The crew appeared incompetent, and the captain was more worried about the cost of towing the boat in AGAIN than the comfort and safety of the passengers. Had there been a more serious emergency, like a fire, this would have been disastrous.

The Captain Stacy Fishing Center send another boat out to try to get the CS4 started. Why wouldn't they send a boat out to transfer the passengers and get them back to shore? This was one bad decision after another by the captain and by management back at the dock over the radio. And the crew could have done whatever it was they were doing without f*** being every other word out of their mouths.

To be fair, I had many good trips on the CS4 before this time. And you would think the crew and captain especially would be well versed in how to handle this, especially considering the number of times the Stacy has has problems, but the fact that the next day, they could only complain about THEIR inconvenience and having to buy 11 batteries says a lot about where their interest is.

It may be hard to believe but it is 100% true. I would swear to it in court. And since the Captain Stacy Fishing Center knows about the site, if it were not true, they would have had attorneys "ask" me to remove it. They cannot because this is the absolute truth.

Ask locals if they've ever heard of a Capt Stacy breaking down (or beaching) and you'll hear a different story than you hear from those who enjoyed a good day of fishing then went home a few hundred miles away.

"Not a smear tactic?" Well it is now .
IMO Capt Stacy and crew are top notched and boats do break down . As for professionalism and compassion .. Were you actually there when the boat broke down ? I doubt it .

[kapoc]

Originally Posted by skipogden

The Coast Guard tows hundreds of boats and a broken down fishing boat would not be reported by the media in an area that counts on tourism as their primary income source. They are published go take a look at the USCG public affairs site

Had there been a more serious emergency, like a fire, this would have been disastrous. At that point and time the USCG would have been compelled to perform a expedited rescue under the reason of fear of loss of life and limb. The USCG is not a towing company and will only do so as the last option.

The Captain Stacy Fishing Center send another boat out to try to get the CS4 started. Why wouldn't they send a boat out to transfer the passengers and get them back to shore? As you have stated the weather conditions were degraded which will make a passenger transfer at sea more hazardous that absolutly nessary and requires an extensive amount of training and practice. Same issue with towing their own vessel

And the crew could have done whatever it was they were doing without f*** being every other word out of their mouths. Given a poor judgment on their part but having 20+ lives in your hands and attempting engine repairs while listening to someone on the other end that might not be fully informed of the situation can be frustrating

the next day, they could only complain about THEIR inconvenience and having to buy 11 batteries says a lot about where their interest is. have you ever gone and priced these batteries ....you'd be pissed too at $300 a pop

By the way I have no vested intrest in that operation only have the Experence of running a charterboat and being a mate for a decent amount of time. Yes I have performed tows, I have done pax transfers and have delt with emergent situations to include people having a grand mall seasure on a vessle I was working on, I speak from experance and in the end it is a boat which stands for "break out another thousand"