Tail Chaser Charter Fishing is the deep sea charter to book out of Wilmington when you want to know exactly what you are paying for. Captain Brandon Phillips runs a 38 foot Luhrs out of Carolina Beach with the most transparent terms in the port: every trip includes the gear, bait, ice, license, and fish cleaning, and the operator states plainly that there is no fuel surcharge and no hidden fees. Backed by 122 reviews at 4.9 and current into this season, it is the value and clarity pick in a field where a couple of the bigger boats add fuel costs on at the end.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 8.4 Tail Chaser is sixth in the Wilmington ranking and a strong, worth booking call, the pick for anyone who wants a fair, fully priced trip with no surprises at the dock. It suits a half day on the mackerel and a full offshore day equally. The honest caveat is the boat: a 1989 Luhrs is the oldest hull in the ranked field and smaller than the sportfishers above it, so while it fishes well and has the comfort of a cabin, it is not the newest or largest platform in the port. That clarity on price is the direct contrast with Wet N Wild, which runs a bigger boat but can add a fuel surcharge. Compare the field on the Wilmington ranking.
The boat
The Tail Chaser is a 38 foot Luhrs sportfisher from 1989, powered by twin Cummins 450 diesels and cruising around 22 knots, with a cabin, bunks, and a head below. It is the oldest hull in the ranked field, which is the fair knock on it, but a well kept Luhrs ages into a capable, comfortable offshore boat, and the cabin and head are real advantages over an open center console on a long day in a sea. The reviews describe a clean, well maintained boat rather than a tired one, and the electronics and tackle, Penn and Shimano and some custom rods, are kept in good shape.
The fishing and what you target
This is a full range operation, nearshore to the Gulf Stream. Close in it trolls for king and Spanish mackerel and false albacore and works the structure for black sea bass, cobia, and amberjack, while the longer trips reach the offshore bottom for snapper and grouper and the blue water for mahi mahi, blackfin tuna, and the odd sailfish. The 13 hour Gulf Stream run is the top of the menu. The seasons follow the Carolina pattern: nearshore mackerel and false albacore through the warm months and into the fall, bottom fishing steady much of the year, and the bluewater pelagics best from late spring into the fall.
Trips and prices
The price ladder is clear, and what sets it apart is everything around it. A 4 hour nearshore trip is $700 in the morning or $800 in the afternoon, a 6 hour is $1,300, and an 8 hour is $1,700, all booked by the whole boat for up to 6, with the longer full day and Gulf Stream trips priced at booking. The inclusions are the most complete in the port: bait, tackle, ice, rods and reels, the blanket license and permits, and fish cleaning and filleting, with the operator stating outright that there is no fuel surcharge and no hidden fees. A $200 deposit reserves the date, with free cancellation on 7 days notice and a refund or reschedule if the captain calls it for weather. That combination is why value and transparency is the standout factor here. Our cost guide sets the rates in context, and the walk on versus private charter guide covers the format.
The crew
Captain Brandon Phillips runs the boat, often with mate Tyler, and the sentiment across 122 reviews is warm and consistent: anglers describe an attentive, professional crew who know the local fishery, work to put beginners and serious anglers alike on fish, and run a relaxed, friendly day. The one honest note in an otherwise glowing record is that some trips simply hit a slow bite, which the reviews mention without blaming the crew, since the captain still gets the effort and the local knowledge. That is the nature of fishing rather than a mark against the boat.
Booking and what to know
Book through the FishingBooker listing or the operator site, and ask about the longer full day and Gulf Stream rates when you do. Bring food, drink, sunscreen, and a cooler; the gear, bait, ice, license, and cleaning are all covered, which is most of the day’s extras handled. The $200 deposit and the 7 day free cancellation make a weathered date easy to move.
How we scored it
Tail Chaser earns its 8.4 on the clearest, most complete value and transparency in the port, a fully included trip with no fuel surcharge, a deep and current review record, and a well kept boat. Value and transparency and service are its strongest factors. It sits in the strong tier rather than the top because the 1989 hull is the oldest and smallest in the ranked field. See how we scored this boat and the Wilmington rankings, including Carolina Beach Sportfishing and FoxSea Lady.