Exploring Life & Business with Marc Mitchum of OBX Crabbing and Shrimping Charters

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Mitchum.

Hi Marc, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been working on the water as a commercial fisherman and running charters since 1984, when I came to the Outer Banks to work on charter boats that take all-day deep-sea fishing trips to the Gulf Stream. I started crabbing in the early 90s along with the charter trips and found that I enjoyed being able to take my kids along with me to help with catching blue crab. From there, I saw a need for charters that families with young children or others who wanted a shorter trip would find appealing. I decided that a hands-on experience with crabbing and shrimping would allow people to see a part of the true Outer Banks. After spending a year looking for the right boat, OBX Crabbing and Shrimping Charters was launched aboard the Fishing Vessel Jodie Kae in 2012. We have gone to running a few trips that first summer to being very busy from Memorial Day through September each year. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, it’s been a smooth road. The first year was tough, though, because of needing to get the word out and find the best way to advertise. At the time, this was a one-of-a-kind experience, so print advertising didn’t seem to work well. As people started to take our trips, though, word of mouth and their Facebook posts and Trip Advisor seemed to do the trick. The next year began a trend of more and more bookings each season. We’re now booked all day Monday through Friday during the season and often have to turn people away who don’t book ahead of time. We’ve continued to handle our bookings personally, talking to people on the phone and ensuring they are able to get the best time and day possible to fit their needs. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a hands-on, authentic Outer Banks experience. When we started our business, I purposely wanted to be sure we weren’t just taking tourist’s money but made this an educational and memorable experience. Our parties get to see first-hand where their seafood comes from and how it is harvested. All of my mates, which first started with my own sons, are from local fishing families and have grown up working on the water. They are truly an asset as they understand the Outer Banks fishing industry and way of life, and they are able to communicate this to our customers. We love taking people of all ages, but we especially enjoy getting the kids involved, no matter how young they are. As a commercial fisherman, my goal has always been to catch; however, we like to think our charters are more about an experience, something you can’t do anywhere but here on the Outer Banks. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I like to read books that tell stories of hunting and fishing experiences. I also check the Radar Now and Wind Alert apps a lot. 

Pricing:

• Our 4-hour crab/shrimp trip is $600.
• Our 2-hour crab trip is $350.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.obxcrabbing.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/obxcrabbing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/memitchum/