About Foxy Lady Charters
Captain Mike
Born on the banks of the Pamlico. Raised by the rhythm of the river.
If you're visiting Washington, North Carolina, and want to explore the Pamlico the way locals do, there’s no better guide than Captain Mike Bateman of Foxy Lady Charters.
Captain Mike isn’t just your average boat captain—he’s a hometown original, born and raised right here in Washington, NC. His love for the water runs deep. Mike started fishing the Pamlico River as a young boy alongside his granddad, a seasoned commercial fisherman. That time on the water sparked a lifelong passion that has only grown stronger over the years.
By the time he was old enough, Mike was rarely found far from the river. Whether he was water skiing with the local ski team, casting lines at sunrise, or navigating the winding creeks and open waters of the Pamlico Sound,
the river was always home.
In 1988, Captain Mike earned his captain’s license and began a professional life in Cape Hatteras, NC—charter fishing, commercial fishing, and sharing his love of the water with anyone willing to climb aboard. His knowledge of these waters is unmatched, and his easygoing, story-filled personality
makes every trip one to remember.
Now, with Foxy Lady Charters, Captain Mike has brought his boat—and his years of experience—back to his hometown so others can experience the same magic he’s always found on the water.
Step aboard the Foxy Lady.
Explore the Pamlico.
Hear the stories. Catch the fish. Live the legacy.
Book your in-shore or off-shore charter today and
make Washington’s waters your own.
Foxy Lady | more than just a boat
Built with purpose. Sailed with pride. Still making waves.
The Foxy Lady has saltwater in her bones and stories in her wake.
She was handcrafted in 1976 in Jamesville, Virginia by boatbuilder Nathanial Gaskill, commissioned for fellow waterman Nathaniel Atkinson. From the very beginning, she was designed for serious work on the water—sturdy, reliable, and made to handle the open waters of the Atlantic and the winding inlets of the Eastern Seaboard. She was christened Foxy Lady from day one, a name she’s proudly carried through every tide and turn.
Under Atkinson’s hands, the Foxy Lady served as both a commercial fishing vessel and a charter boat, offering locals and visitors alike the chance to experience East Coast fishing at its best. In the mid-1980s, the legacy continued when Nathaniel’s son, Nat Atkinson, took the helm. Nat ran her out of Wachapreague, Virginia, where she became a beloved part of the Wachapreague Marine charter fleet—one of the last of her kind still working coastal waters.
In 2024, her journey found new life when Captain Mike Bateman brought the Foxy Lady home to Beaufort County, North Carolina. With a deep respect for her legacy and a lifetime spent on the same waters she now sails, Captain Mike saw the opportunity to give the Foxy Lady a new chapter—offering charters from his hometown of Washington, NC, and continuing her mission of connecting people to the water.
Today, Foxy Lady is more than a boat. She’s a bridge between generations of fishermen, a floating piece of maritime history,
and a vessel that still has plenty of stories left to tell.
