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May 8, 2009
Inshore fishing: An alternative that’s family
friendly and a lot of bang for the buck
By JOY CRIST
As the modest-sized Got ‘Em charter boat leaves Teach’s
Lair Marina and heads out towards the Pamlico Sound waters bordering
Hatteras Inlet, Capt. Jerry Teel shouts some last minute advice to his
passengers for the afternoon.
“Now if you fall overboard,” he instructs, “before
you panic, take a moment, take a big breath… and then stand up
and walk back over to the boat.”
Got ’Em Charters specializes in inshore fishing, and the boat, a
25-foot Parker, can run just as easily in 1 foot of water or 1,000
feet.
Good thing, too, because on this particular afternoon, the fish are
congregating in the shallow sound waters behind Ocracoke and Hatteras
islands, where literally, if the passengers so desired, they could hop
off the boat and wade around, digging for clams along the way. First
mate Brinklie, a 2-year-old golden retriever who is quickly learning
the business, is figuring out how to lend a paw in the process, digging
away in the silty sand for clams just like her gifted predecessor,
Rusty.
Offshore charter fishing has been a recreational fixture on Hatteras
Island for decades, thanks in no small part to the island’s
proximity to the Gulf Stream and the variety of reputable charter
fishing businesses that call Hatteras home. But for beginners,
families, and fishermen who just want to change things a bit, inshore
fishing is an attractive alternative to the standard Gulf Stream
venture.
One more bonus of an inshore charter fishing trip is the cost. A half-
or full-day inshore trip is generally less expensive than an offshore
charter fishing trip. And in a tight economy when everyone is cutting
corners, including vacationers and fishing-addicted locals, the inshore
fishing business is booming.
“The main reason I switched to a smaller boat is the
demographic,” says Teel. “The business is changing, and
there are more families and less hard core fishermen. I realized that I
could offer to take the kids, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and
it’s a fun trip for everybody.”
Captain Teel and first mate Brinklie are having a decent year. Offering
a variety of fishing trips, from scenic Portsmouth Island day trips to
wreck fishing, Teel has gotten more and more interest from families who
are looking for a boating experience on a budget.
A veteran in the charter fishing game, Teel started a professional
charter service in 1980 in south Florida, mainly targeting sailfish
from the Palm Beaches to Key West. Shortly thereafter, he focused on
fishing the king mackerel tournaments from Morehead City, N.C., to
Texas, placing in the top 10 on several occasions.
In the late 1980s, he started to change over to big-game fishing
charters, pursuing blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo and
dolphin.
Teel discovered a passion for flats fishing along the way and moved
back home to North Carolina and started fishing for trout, redfish and
flounder. By 1997, Teel was spending most of his fishing hours on
Hatteras Island and had launched a charter business devoted exclusively
to inshore species, including red drum, flounder, king mackerel,
Spanish mackerel, speckled trout, bluefish, red snapper, cobia,
sheepshead, black drum, and Atlantic bull croaker.
The 3-year-old Got ‘Em can make offshore trips too, but unlike
the big boats that venture out 30-40 miles into the ocean, Teel likes
to stick to about 25 miles out and makes regular trips to the Diamond
Shoals Light Tower.
When the season starts, the only thing that stops the Got ‘Em is weather or simple lack of fish.
“I don’t force anyone to go out,” says Teel.
“With some people you have to put your foot down if it’s
not safe. If it’s not conducive to fishing, I’ll explain it
to the party, but some people still like to go out and do something
different. It’s better than sitting home and doing nothing, and
you get to see the Outer Banks from a different perspective.”
His reputation has garnered him a small share of fame in the fishing
world. Capt. Teel recently appeared as a guide boat on the Discovery
Channel series "Stunt Junkies" and made a second television appearance
as the guide boat on Herb Gordon's "Get Hooked on the Weekend
Fisherman" series TV show. Teel took Gordon out for a great day of
puppy drum fishing.
Today, 80 percent of his business is repeat business, stemming from the
popularity of his Web site (http://www.gotemcharters.net ) and good
old-fashioned word of mouth, and Teel stays busy, working as often as
he can. At one point last year, he had clocked 88 days straight of
fishing, for 14 hours a day.
“Usually there’s always a weather day,” he says,
“but during that time there were no storms, and I had to finally
force myself to take a break.
“I’ve been fortunate, as inshore fishing is really taking
off. It’s family friendly and a lot of bang for the buck. We can
be fishing within 20 minutes, with not a lot of boat riding, because
the marina is so close to the fishing grounds for the inshore species.
I also do Portsmouth Island tours, or dolphin watching - anything
anybody wants to do. A long as it’s legal, I’m happy to do
it.”
And on every fishing trip, folks on board can expect to enjoy a lot of
sun, some of the most amazing views of Hatteras Island available, and
Capt. Teel and Brinklie’s contagious love of fishing.
“I could be having the worst day in the world, and as soon as I
turn that corner out of the marina, I’m smiling,” says
Teel. “I can’t think of a better office view in the world.
I’m very fortunate to do something I love so much and make a
living out of it.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION
(Inshore fishing trips range from as low as $275 for one angler up to
about $400 for six. Clamming trips or sightseeing trips are often
available. Most marinas have boats that fish inshore. Check
out the marinas and other charter boats that advertise on this Web site
on the front page and on the Fishing Page for information on costs,
trips available, and making reservations.)
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