Adventures for Gourmands, Wanderers & Explorers.

Welcome to the Masonboro Island Reserve
Where every journey reveals a hidden treasure. Let us guide you through the solitude and wonder of this unique marine sanctuary—each adventure as personal and memorable as a story shared between friends.

One-of-a-kind Experiences

Person in waders and cap holding a shucked oyster by the water.

Foraging for Foodies & Gourmands

from $50 per person

Ready to get your feet wet and your hands a little dirty?

This seasonal adventure is perfect for gourmands, curious kids, grown-up explorers, and anyone who loves great food and wild places. You’ll wade, dig, and scout the shorelines of the marine reserve in search of oysters, clams, crabs, mussels, tulip snails, marsh samphire, sea lettuce, and other coastal surprises.

It’s part scavenger hunt, part science lab, and part snack quest—with a good chance you’ll pop open an oyster or two (or three) right where you find them.

Once your buckets are full, we’ll walk you through simple, flavorful ways to prepare your harvest—from salty-sweet marsh greens to fire-roasted shellfish (or a pan-sauté if you’re heading home).
Bring your sense of wonder… and maybe a little hot sauce.

Person on a beach at sunset holding a large conch shell, wearing a white t-shirt, blue underwear, and a camera around their neck.

Your Own Private Island

from $150 per person

Escape the Crowds — Discover Your Private Paradise

Leave the hustle behind and soak up the peace and tranquility of a secluded beach, accessible only by boat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard. Guided by the tides, wind, and weather, we’ll work with you to find the perfect hidden gem where you and your posse can unwind for a few hours—or the whole day—feeling like the only people in the world.

Thanks to our unique location within the Masonboro Island Estuarine Reserve, we’re just minutes away from numerous white-sand beaches rarely visited by others—certainly not by the local tour operators.

To make your escape even more comfortable, we’ll provide beach chairs, a Shibumi shade structure, buckets for shell collecting, and a soft cooler for your favorite snacks and drinks. We always recommend packing more than you think you’ll need—because no one ever wants to leave early.

It’s the closest thing to tropical paradise without flying to Tahiti.

Man holding a spotted fish with two hands, wearing a cap and sunglasses, standing near a body of water under a cloudy sky.

Wade Fishing for Trophies

from $125 per person

For the Fly Fisherman and the Spin Caster Alike

The Masonboro Island Reserve is full of hidden honey holes—and here’s the well-kept secret: it’s almost entirely wadeable. Unlike typical flats and bay boat charters where you're confined to a deck, this experience sets you free to walk the water and chase the bite on your own two feet.

In fact, Brian is the only angler we’ve ever seen wade fishing these waters—usually on the fly, though he’ll switch it up depending on wind and structure.

Whether you’re casting a fly or spinning gear, we’ll get you dialed in with a solid understanding of fish behavior, tidal rhythms, seasonal patterns, and how the islands shape the bite.

Launching from kayaks or SUPs, we’ll slip into ankle- to knee-deep water and wade out to the sweet spots—ideal for landing drum, redfish, flounder, and speckled trout. Want to level up the experience? We’ll throw the cast net and gather live bait before heading out.

Person kayaking in an orange kayak on a spartina grass canal, surrounded by tall grasses under a clear blue sky at Masonboro Island Sound

Kayaking & SuP-ing Safaris

Paddle Into the Wild — Explore Hidden Waterways

Just off our dock lies a maze of islands and winding rivers carved through spartina grass. Whether you’re up for a solo adventure or prefer a guided tour, we’ll get you set up with a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and help you plan the perfect route.

from $76 per person

After years of exploring, we’ve found special spots we return to again and again—quiet corners teeming with birdlife and aquatic wonders, best experienced at the calm rhythm of a paddle.

For more adventurous paddlers, we offer immersive routes that take you deep into secluded coves, narrow canals, and untouched island beaches rarely seen by others.

Curated Adventures

Wade in. Play Hard.

Starting at $100 per person

Embark on an unforgettable adventure, custom-designed for those who crave both action and awe.

Your day might include hard-charging fun like fishing, kayaking, foraging, or jogging — or a little bit of everything. Then, as the sun dips low, we’ll slow things down with a beach fire at sunset, complete with fresh oysters on the half shell or decadent Oysters Masonboro.

Our only limits? Tide, wind, weather — and your imagination. And ours knows no bounds.

An Oasis with No Activity.

Starting at $150

Sometimes the best days are the ones where you do absolutely nothing — and love every minute of it.

For busy people, the mental load of planning is often the biggest barrier to truly relaxing. That’s where we come in. We take the logistics off your plate so you can simply show up and soak in the peace of a place where nothing is the plan.

We’ll craft a fully customized experience — with everything you need for a seamless, effortless day on the beach or water. Want to stretch the day into the evening? We can arrange anything from dinner or spa reservations to a cozy fire on the beach.

This day is yours. No agenda. No punch list. Bring a book. Take a nap. Sip something cold.

After a consultation, we’ll provide thoughtful options and clear pricing to make it all happen.

Beach with seashells and driftwood under cloudy sky

Do Gooder.

Starting at $100

Discover the remote beaches of our marine reserve—wild, uninhabited shores that offer unmatched opportunities to connect with nature and uncover hidden beauty.

A simple walk often becomes a treasure hunt, with shells, driftwood, and curious artifacts from distant places waiting to be found. It’s the perfect blend of exploration and stewardship: gather “found art,” clean up ocean-borne debris, and leave the island better than you found it.

Grab one of our custom bingo cards featuring both natural wonders and human-made oddities to spot and collect. Feeling energetic? Try plogging—jogging while picking up litter—for a workout that’s as rewarding as it is fun. And for the curious-minded, we offer tailored add-ons like birding for “bird nerds” and shelling for aspiring conchologists.

Whether you’re strolling or sprinting, every step is a small act of care for this fragile paradise—and there’s no better feeling than ending your adventure knowing you've made a difference.

Snag your spot

🛶 Custom Adventures Start with a Conversation

We’d love to offer a simple, cookie-cutter booking system—but the truth is, the experiences we create don’t fit into neat boxes. Every Saltboro adventure is personalized, and that starts with a quick chat.

To craft the best possible outing, we’ll need to know a few things:

  • Who’s in your group? (How many people and any special considerations?)

  • When are you planning your trip? (Preferred dates or date range)

  • What kind of experience are you after? (High energy? Laid-back? Nature-focused?)

  • How long do you want to be out? (2–4 hours? Full day? Multi-day?)

  • Do you want it guided, lightly guided, or self-directed?

You have 2 options:

  1. complete the contact form to the right and let us know who/when/what/how long/how. We will get right back to you via email or phone.

  2. Text or call us at +203-448-9774, 24/7/365. If we are not available, leave a message and we will get right back to you.

→ Ready to chat? Give us a call.
We’ll help you build an unforgettable experience—one that fits you.

Inside
our world

Separately and together, Sam and Brian bring decades of experience chasing waves, tracking fish, collecting shells, and seeking out the most uninhabited beaches on Earth.

From Saltboro’s perch at Marker 143, adventurers launch into a wild stretch of untamed beauty — the Masonboro Island Estuarine Reserve. Here, remote beaches, hidden coves, and winding canals await exploration. Every journey becomes a story, and every story begins with a paddle into the unknown.

We’re excited to guide you through the secret pathways, unforgettable sights, and hidden gems of this magical coastal wonderland.

Waterway with green navigation marker displaying number 143, pole in water, cloudy sky on the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) near Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.

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Person standing on an uninhabited island beach near a large piece of driftwood, looking at the ocean under a blue sky.
A blue crab on a wooden dock caught by handline crabbing with a chicken neck.
Two kayaks on a sandy shore at low tide during sunset, with scattered shells and a calm water background.
Wooden dock extending over calm water, leading to a distant island under a partly cloudy sky.

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Expansive view of calm water with two small, tree-covered islands under a blue sky with scattered clouds during sunset.