boat underway
tunaduck logo
2012 Full Day Charter Rates
$1500 Per Day Through Dec. 20
Winter Rate (Dec. 21-March 20) $1650 Per Day
Hatteras, North Carolina
To Book:
772-219-9592, Mary
252-216-6160, Capt. Dan

Available Dates Calendar
EMAIL US


page title

50' Custom Charter Boat "TUNA DUCK "


Captain's Daily Report With Photos | Available Dates Calendar | What's Biting When I Plan to Go Fishing? | The Crew | The Boat
General Information
| Share the Cost of a Fishing Trip?| Tees & Hats | Gift Certificates | Links |
Back to the Dock


There's a page for each billfish, tuna and other meat fish species we target..
Best time to catch 'em, how we fish for them, size range, and more:

Blue Marlin | White Marlin | Sailfish | Yellowfin Tuna | Bluefin Tuna | Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) | Wahoo | King Mackerel

photo in boatyard
The Tuna Duck is a 50' custom built charter boat, designed specifically for fishing the offshore waters off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The Tuna Duck was built in 1985 by Captain Buddy Cannady of Manteo, North Carolina. She was launched in April '85 and purchased in October of that year by Capt. Jerry Shepherd, the owner since that time. In 2007, Capt. Dan Rooks joined Jerry as co-owner and is now the captain.

Observe...THAT CAROLINA FLARE!!!






Cruises comfortably at 25 knots.
Capacity is 6 passengers per Coast Guard regulations
Configured for 3 or 4 fighting chairs
Penn International Reels, ranging from 20 lb. to 130 lb.


view of salon




The cockpit is roomy enough for 6 anglers to fish quite comfortably. It is configured with 2 fiberglass sailfish chairs and a Scopinich Bluefin Unlimited fighting chair.





. bench seats


The heated salon has 2 large bench seats with thick cushions that encompass the entire starboard and port sides. There is plenty of room for coolers and other gear.

.
v berths








The head and V-berths are below






Corey's shearwater gull

Why the name "Tuna Duck"?
The boat was named for the Cory's shearwater gull which is often seen feeding over schools of tunas. Captain Shepherd, who loves ducks and is quite a bird watcher, began calling them "tuna ducks". When he got his boat, he wanted an unusual name that everyone would remember. Hence the name Tuna Duck.


Chartering and Booking information:

Available year 'round for charter in Hatteras, North Carolina and east coast tournaments. Fishing from the Outer Banks off Cape Hatteras, N.C. for yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, dolphin (mahi mahi), and king mackerel.

Located at the southern end of Hatteras Island in Hatteras Village, and fishing out of Hatteras Inlet, between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands.

All tackle and bait furnished; Leave at dawn and return between 4 and 5 PM with 6 to 7 hours actual fishing time. Run to the gulfstream takes only 1 to 1- 1/2 hours. Per Coast Guard regulations, 1 to 6 people on a charter.

To book, call 772-219-9592 to speak with Mary, our booking person, available 7 days a week from 9 AM till 11PM, or Capt. Dan, available when he is not out in the ocean, 252-216-6160.
or
EMAIL US.

Reservations are held the day of booking. To confirm the reservation, a $500 deposit within a week of booking is required. Master Card and Visa, personal checks, and money orders are accepted. Checks can be made out to "Tuna Duck" and sent to:
Jerry Shepherd
1041 Clara Ct.
Richmond, KY 40475


For a full refund of deposits, trips can only be canceled at the discretion of the captain. Parties must be at the dock in Hatteras the morning of the trip; the weather in Hatteras is so "fickle" that often even 24 hours before a trip, it cannot be determined whether a day will be fishable or not.

For exciting tuna action and spectacular billfishing aboard the charter boat "Tuna Duck," we are your experienced North Carolina saltwater fishing guides for hire for deep sea, offshore, saltwater, gulfstream sportfishing charters. Let's go fishing!!



Capt. Dan Rooks
Fish with Capt. Dan Rooks
Over 20 years' offshore & tournament experience
Contact Dan:
PO Box 351
Hatteras, NC 27943
252-216-6160
~EMAIL