Explore the Wilmington area's beautiful scenery by boat with these 5 popular water tours

Cheryl M. Whitaker, Wilmington StarNews
·4 min read

A great way to enjoy sightseeing in the Wilmington area is by boat. Whether you a native, new to the area or vacationing, you can enjoy nature and the beautiful scenery along the Cape Fear River and more locations. Here are five local businesses that offer water tours.

Did we miss yours? Let us know by emailing cheryl.whitaker@starnewsonline.com.

Angry Pelican Charters

Angry Pelican Charters has offered cruises since 2016.
Angry Pelican Charters has offered cruises since 2016.

Angry Pelican Charters offers sunset cruises and dolphin watching trips, since 2016. The tours generally include the Intracoastal Waterway, Cape Fear River along the Southport/Bald Head Island waterfront and nearshore out to the Oak Island Lighthouse.

Wildlife is a big part of these trips, such as alligator and deer sightings at dusk along the waterway. There are plenty of bird sighting on Battery Island, such as the Ibis; and sometimes you can see Brown Pelicans nesting.  And you might spot dolphins feeding playfully.

Trips run now until Thanksgiving, seven days a week. The maximum capacity for the boat is six people. Guests bring their own drinks and snacks. Children of all ages are welcome and animals. The trips depart from Morning Star Marina in downtown Southport.

Reservations can be made through Memorial Day and start again after Labor Day.  During the summer months, the tours are booked weekly on a first-come-first-served basis. To make a reservation, emailAngrypelican66@yahoo.com, visit https://angrypelicancharters.com/ or call 910-742-0296.

More: Proposed rezoning near The Pointe at Barclay could mean more retail, commercial business

More: Brunswick beach town permits new hotel. Here are 7 things to know about the project.

More: As Scotts Hill continues to grow, how one development is playing a major role

Wilmington Water Tours

In its 14th season and and having been voted most years as #1 on Tripadvisor, the Wilmington Water Tours offer a variety of cruises along the Lower Cape Fear River, which includes daily Eagles Island cruises, sunset cruises with live music, and a Black Water Adventure cruise.

Wilmington Water Tours also offers education programming, private charters and much more.

Tours are held February through December. During Daylight Saving Time, tours are seven days a week. Reservations are recommended. For cruise times, please visit https://wilmingtonwatertours.net/.

Wilmington Water Tours offer a package which includes a free round-trip water taxi from the Battleship North Carolina to downtown Wilmington with the purchase of the Eagles Island Cruise.

You can also choose from a variety of other cruises including a wine tasting cruise, breakfast with the birds (birding cruises with Jill Peleuses with Wild Bird and Garden), cruises featuring Chris Fonville and other historians.

For customized private charters, please call Diane at 910-632-4095.

Southport Water Tours

Come take a ride on the "Sally Ann" tour boat, named after Eli Bostic and Robert Frankenfield's grandmothers (Sally and Ann).

The tour boat was custom built to accommodate up to 31 passengers, but for room and comfort, the tour boat usually accepts up to 25 people.

In its seventh season, the boat rides up and down the Cape Fear River and Intracoastal Waterway. Some of the destinations include Bald Head Island, Fort Caswell, Fort Johnston and Battery Island. Participants can see lighthouses along the way and there are plenty of dolphins feeding inshore.

Tours run seven days a week, beginning at 1 p.m. and go out every hour on the hour.

Reservations are recommended but not required. Ticket price starts at $20 for adults and $10 for children. The cost for the Sunset Cruise is $30. Tickets can be purchased online at https://southportwatertours.com/, phone 910-523-6021, or in person at 112 Yacht Basin Drive, Southport.

BrewBoat Wilmington

BrewBoat Wilmington is a pedal boat docked on the north end of the Wilmington Riverwalk.
BrewBoat Wilmington is a pedal boat docked on the north end of the Wilmington Riverwalk.

BrewBoat Wilmington, a river cruising pedal boat, located inside Port City Marina, at 10 Harnett St. near the north end of the Wilmington Riverwalk. (Pedaling is optional, the boat has a motor).

Open seven days a week. Cruises are 90 minutes, during which BrewBoat navigate under the three bridges that span the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear Rivers near downtown.  Departure is every two hours starting at 10 a.m. The sunset cruise is the last one of the day, which departs at 6 p.m. (due to change in the summer).

Bring your own bottle, BrewBoat provides ice, cups, koozies, coolers, and a Bluetooth enabled stereo. The cost is $35 per person and the boat seats 15 people.

BrewBoat is available to rent, if you want to to treat your party to a private charter.

For more information, call 910-239-7703 or visit https://brewboatnc.com/book-now/.

Tuck's Water Shuttle

Join Captain Tate on his private boat Tuck's Water Shuttle out of Topsail Island.

It shuttles to and from Lea-Hutaff Island, surrounding sandbars, and the Intracoastal Waterway. Sunset cruises provided.

To schedule a tour, call 910-616-7106.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Touring Wilmington by boat with these five popular water tours