Roanoke Sportfishing is a solid, owner run pick out of Wanchese, a 50 foot Carolina sportfisher with a posted full day price and a real range of trips from the beach to the Gulf Stream. Captain Elliott Ambrose owns and runs the boat, the full day offshore is a clear $2,450 with bait, tackle, and the license included, and the booking platform record is consistent and positive. The captain’s tenure is shorter than the port’s veterans and the hull age is not posted, which is why it sits in the middle of the field rather than the top, but it is a dependable, fairly priced offshore day.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.7 Roanoke is a strong choice and seventh in the port, a dependable mid field boat with no glaring weakness. The strengths are a clear posted price, an owner captain who runs every trip himself, a genuine spread of offshore, nearshore, and cobia options, and a steady review record. What keeps it mid field rather than higher is comparative: Captain Ambrose’s 11 years, while real, is shorter than the 20 to 45 year tenures of the captains above him, the hull age is not posted, and the boat does not have a standout factor that lifts it. For a longer track record at a similar price, Hatteras Blue and Carly A are the picks; for the widest menu nearby, the Fishin’ Fannatic is the other Wanchese boat. Compare the field on the Outer Banks ranking.
The boat
The Roanoke is a 50 foot Carolina sportfisher, the regional hull built for these waters, rigged for offshore trolling and with the deck for a full day’s fishing. It is a capable middle of the field boat, smaller than the 57 footers in the port but bigger and more sheltered than the 35 to 40 foot boats. The one gap for a buyer is that the build year is not posted, so its age against the rest of the field is hard to judge. It runs as a private charter for a small group, which keeps the cockpit workable on a trolling day.
The fishing and what you target
Roanoke fishes the full Outer Banks range. The offshore trip trolls the Gulf Stream for yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, and blue and white marlin and sailfish, released under the boat’s HMS permit. Closer in, the nearshore trips and a dedicated cobia trip work the seasonal run along the beach, with the spring cobia bite a North Carolina draw. Tower trips and an extended half day round out the menu. Offshore tuna and billfish rules come from NOAA Fisheries, and the cobia and nearshore seasons from the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, so confirm what is open before a targeted trip.
Trips and prices
The full day offshore charter is $2,450 for the boat, up to 6 anglers, cash or credit, with bait, tackle, and the fishing license included, a fair and clear number in the middle of the port. The half day, extended half day, tower, cobia, and nearshore trips are offered but their rates are not posted, which is the one transparency gap, so ask when you book. A deposit secures the date, and fish cleaning and the mate gratuity are extra. Our cost guide shows how a full day offshore compares, and the private versus head boat guide weighs the format.
The crew
Captain Elliott Ambrose owns and runs the Roanoke and has been a captain for 11 years, with prior time as a mate before that, and the reviews describe a professional, hardworking owner operator who books smoothly and puts anglers on fish. The record is solid and consistent across the booking platform, without the standout volume or the decades of tenure of the top boats, but with no recurring complaint either. As a one boat operation, the captain you book is the captain you fish with, which is worth real weight on this coast.
Booking and what to know
Book direct by phone or online, and ask for the rate on the nearshore, cobia, or tower trips if that is what you want, since only the full day offshore is posted. Arrive early for the offshore departure to load and check in at Wanchese. Bring food, drinks, sunscreen, and a cooler; bait, tackle, and the license are covered, and cleaning is handled at the dock for a fee.
How we scored it
Roanoke earns its 7.7 as a dependable, fairly priced owner run boat with a real trip range and a steady record, held to the middle of the field by a shorter captain tenure, an unposted hull age, and no standout factor. It is a sound, no surprises booking. See how we scored this boat and the Outer Banks ranking for the field.