Capt. Richard with a 49 3/4″ striped bass released in the Pamlico River.
As your captain, I have over 12 years of experience in North Carolina’s charter fishing industry. Born and raised on the Tar River in Tarboro, North Carolina, I began fishing the rivers, estuaries, and gulf stream waters of Eastern North Carolina at an early age. The day after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, I moved to Hatteras Village to fulfill a lifelong dream of working as a mate on an offshore charter boat. After spending 2 seasons in Hatteras with Capt. Steve “Slash” Jones on the Chaser out of Oden’s Dock and learning the fundamentals required to put the meat on the dock, I took a job for 2 more seasons with Capt. Fin Gaddy on the Qualifier out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. While on the Qualifier, I experienced the magnificent tuna fishery for which Oregon Inlet is so well known and had the opportunity to travel and fish in Isla Mujeres, Mexico and the Abacos, Bahamas during the winter. I spent my final full-time offshore season with the legendary charter boat captain Tony Tillett aboard the Carolinian out of Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. A highlight of my fishing career was a 2nd Place finish in the Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament with a crew of anglers consisting of 4 boys between the ages of 7 and 13. During these years, I was able to refine my fishing skills, develop an understanding of seasonal fish patterns within North Carolina, and cultivate the patience and experience necessary for a professional charter business.
Capt. Richard Andrews (kneeling far left) with a limit of yellowfin tuna and a limit of mahi-mahi aboard the Qualifier at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center back in the good old days!
Following the years on Outer Banks charter boats, I met my lovely wife, Austin, and went back to school to pursue a masters degree in Natural Resources from N.C. State University where my graduate research focused on stream and wetland ecology. Soon learning how lucky I had it before school and that a “real job” just isn’t for me, I decided to put my previous experience to use by guiding inshore fishing enthusiasts to new experiences in our fishery in the remote corners of the Inner Banks region of North Carolina. I now live in Washington with my wife, Austin, and son, Tripp.
Whether it’s battling giant Red Drum in the Pamlico Sound, twitching an artificial bait to Speckled Trout, Flounder, and Puppy Drum on light tackle in the shallow creeks, or enjoying rod bending striped bass fishing in the winter and spring on the Roanoke River, I hope you will find my enthusiasm and love for what I do contagious. I enjoy meeting new people, teaching them about fishing in our area, sharing new experiences on the water, and making memories for you!
