I brought my boys, 8 and 11, for a half day trip with Captain Esben and he did not disappoint.  The program he provided was perfect for the boys.  We started at Oregon Inlet and headed to area where we anchored and waded for hermit crabs.  The kids loved finding them.  Knowing getting bites was the most important thing, we targeted sheepshead off pylons.  Captain Esben was a great teacher for the kids, explaining the technique and the fishes tendencies. Naturally, there were tangled lines and plenty of clumsiness with the kids. He handled it with incredible patience and ease.  My youngest asked so many questions - most of them were like “have you ever been stung by a jellyfish” — and he answered all of them with a smile.  Most of all, we landed plenty of fish and had some Carolina Brewery drinks to celebrate.  As my oldest said “Captain Esben is a chill dude.”  Highly recommend.

We met up with Capt. Boxer on our way to the dock and my son and nephew couldn’t stop talking about how “cool” he was. He was great with the boys and even better on the water. He put us on some trout early and worked with the boys to show them how to fish topwater. A storm moved in and he kept constant track of it and moved at the right time. He navigated us through the storm and it created instant memories! While other boats sat on the outskirts of the storm Capt. Boxer took it head on and got us out of it so we could get on more fish and make the most of our time left. After we cut through the storm we set up for red drum and my nephew brought in a stud on cut bait. Capt. Boxer coached him through the whole fight and cheered him on. Shortly after, my son hooked onto a nice bluefish and Capt. Boxer coached him the same. If you’re looking for a fun, exciting day on the water you need to book with Capt. Boxer ASAP. That guy is an unbelievable captain and an even better person. He was top-notch and when it was all said and done, both boys said they won’t go on another charter if Capt. Boxer can’t guide them - and I couldn’t agree more. He made it an experience of a lifetime from the first handshake to the last photo.

Esben absolutely rocked our fishing trip—he totally killed it! He took our group of four novice fishermen out into the Oregon Inlet for an afternoon of fishing, and we couldn’t have been happier with the experience.

From the start, he was prompt in communicating after we booked and made sure we knew exactly where and when to meet. He greeted us on the dock with a big smile, and we instantly knew we were in for a great day. Esben worked hard the entire afternoon, doing everything he could to get us on the fish.

Although we didn’t have any luck for the first three hours, that all changed when he got word from another captain that a school of black drum was moving in. He asked if we were up for a “little adventure,” and we wholeheartedly said yes—then we were off!

What followed was nothing short of exhilarating. We landed a monster black drum, and the photos speak for themselves. Esben went out of his way to make sure we had a truly memorable trip, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

We’ll 100% be booking with Esben again in the future.

We booked a 4 hour trip, only made it out for an hour due to weather, but Captain Esben got us right back out the next morning.  He was professional, knowledgeable, and made the entire experience memorable.  We found some fish, hooked ‘em, and got them in the boat.  His patience and the rapport he built with the 2 teenagers was fantastic.  He taught them the ropes, encouraged them and definitely imparted a love of fishing that will stay with them.  We would highly recommend Captain Esben and will be re-booking anytime we are in OBX!

We brought my daughter, who is 7, and my mom. Captain Esben took great care of my mom giving her a comfortable place to sit and cast, and answered no less than 100 questions from my daughter. Incredibly accommodating of all situations. My wife, who previously didn’t have an interest in fishing, left being able to cast a spinning rod and wants to get back on the water again. Captain Esben is a pro - if you’re on the fence on whether to schedule something, particularly if you’re bringing younger kids, this is your sign to do it.