Climb aboard the 65-foot Crystal Dawn for half-day fishing trips, sunset cruises, a dinner tour and more.
Every trip is a wildlife-watching and sightseeing adventure! From the upper or lower deck you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the sound, inlet, marsh, islands, sandbars and unique Outer Banks landmarks. You’ll see a variety of local watercraft as well as shorebirds, osprey, pelicans and everybody’s favorite – bottlenose dolphins! Have your camera ready!
Wanchese Harbor Dinner Tour
A behind the scenes tour of a busy working harbor – plus dinner by the docks!
The Wanchese Harbor Dinner Tour takes passengers south along the Roanoke Island shoreline to Wanchese’s fishing harbor, a place that few visitors ever see, especially from the water. You’ll enjoy a stop at the Tiki Hut at OBX Marina where you’ll dine on a meal of traditional seafood, fried chicken or eastern North Carolina barbecue prepared by Sooey’s Barbecue.
$48 adults; $33 children (ages 10 and younger)
6:30 to 8 p.m. • Tuesday through Friday
Roanoke Island Sunset Cruises
Kick back and enjoy the view!
Crystal Dawn’s Roanoke Island Sunset Cruise provides a relaxed setting for sightseeing in Roanoke Sound. Bring your cooler and kick back on the upper or lower deck. In addition to wildlife, passengers enjoy views of the Roanoke Island shoreline including Andy Griffith’s home and The Lost Colony’s Waterside Theatre, and of the Nags Head shoreline including Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Small coolers are welcome!
$25 adults, $20 children (ages 4 to 10; 3 and younger, free)
April through October - 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Purple Martin Excursions
A close-up view of a rare natural phenomenon!
Crystal Dawn heads to the William B. Umstead Bridge in Croatan Sound where tens of thousands of purple martins roost in late July and early August. Watch these vibrant (and talkative!) birds as they fly in to roost for the night. It’s a show of a lifetime! Small coolers are welcome!
$30 per person
Evenings of August 1, 3, 8, 10 - 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Half-Day Sound and Inlet Fishing
Everyone loves this trip!
Half-day sound and inlet fishing trips on Crystal Dawn are perfect for all ages, so bring the kids. Fish the calm sound and inlet waters for spot, croaker, flounder, grey trout, speckled trout, puppy drum, sea mullet, bluefish, sea bass and more. Everything you need is provided – bait, tackle, rod, reel, fishing license, fish-finding machines, a highly experienced captain and all the help you need from a fishing mate. They make fishing easy, so all you have to do is show up and start having fun. Small coolers are welcome!
$48 adults, $38 children (ages 4 to 10; 3 and younger, free)
Tickets Sold in Advance
In-Season: June, July & August
7 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 12:30 to 5 p.m.
Off-Season: April, May, September, October
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Private Fishing Excursions
Popular with large families and groups!
For your own custom soundside experiences, Crystal Dawn can be booked for private cruises for up to 97 people and private sound and inlet fishing trips for up to 50 anglers. The boat offers lots of room for passengers to spread out, making it perfect for celebrations of all sorts with plenty of personal space for everyone.
Private Inlet & Sound Fishing Up to 50 anglers
$1,500 (5 hours)
Private Cruises Up to 97 guests
$500 per hour (minimum 2 hours)
Everyone gets a discount!
$3 OFF 1/2 Day Fishing & Cruises
$5 OFF Per 1/2 Day Fishing Ticket on Parties of 10 or More
(252) 473-5577
crystaldawnheadboat.com
2000 Sailfish Drive
Manteo, NC 27954
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
