4 Hour Inshore Fishing Trip up to 6 person
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour private inshore fishing charter accommodates up to six guestsTarget multiple species including flounder, sea bass, and red drumAll equipment, bait, tackle, and fishing licenses included
Looking for a solid half-day of fishing without breaking the bank or spending your entire weekend on the water? This 4-hour inshore trip out of Fisherman's Wharf Marina hits all the right spots. We'll cruise around Virginia Beach's most productive waters in our Sea Hunt Gamefish 27, targeting the bridge pilings, inshore wrecks, and structure that hold fish year-round. Whether you're bringing the kids for their first real fishing trip or you're a seasoned angler wanting to get your line wet, this charter delivers consistent action in a relaxed setting. Six people max means everyone gets plenty of room to fish and personalized attention from your captain.
Your day starts at Fisherman's Wharf, where you'll meet your captain and step aboard our well-equipped Sea Hunt. This boat was built for inshore work – stable, comfortable, and loaded with everything you need for a successful trip. We'll head out to proven fishing grounds around the Virginia Beach area, focusing on structure like bridge pilings and inshore wrecks where fish congregate. The beauty of inshore fishing is the variety – you never know what's going to hit your line next. One minute you're pulling up a chunky black sea bass from 30 feet down, the next you're fighting a red drum that's peeling drag in the shallows. The trip moves at a comfortable pace, giving everyone time to learn proper techniques and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
We fish multiple techniques depending on what's biting and the time of year. Bottom fishing around structure is our bread and butter – dropping baited rigs down to where the sea bass, tautog, and flounder hang out. We'll also do some drift fishing over sandy bottoms for flounder, and when the Spanish mackerel and bluefish are running, we'll switch to lighter tackle and faster presentations. All your gear is provided, from heavy conventional reels for bottom fishing to spinning tackle for the lighter stuff. Bait selection changes with the seasons – we might be using cut bait, live bait, or artificial lures depending on what the fish want that day. Your captain will show you the ropes, whether you're learning to feel the difference between a bite and the bottom, or perfecting your hook-setting technique. The Virginia saltwater license is covered under our charter permit, so you're legal to fish the moment you step aboard.
Summer Flounder are the crown jewel of Virginia Beach inshore fishing, and for good reason. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. They hit hard and fight smart, using their flat bodies to plane against the current. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with the bigger "doormat" flounder showing up in deeper water as summer progresses. What makes them so popular is the combination of a great fight and excellent table fare – few fish taste better than fresh flounder fillets.
Tautog, or blackfish as the old-timers call them, are the bulldogs of the inshore scene. These thick-bodied fish live around hard structure like wrecks and pilings, using their powerful jaws to crush crabs and shellfish. They're notorious bait stealers, requiring patience and quick reflexes to hook consistently. Fall and early winter are prime time for tog fishing, when they feed heavily before moving offshore. Landing a keeper tautog feels like pulling up a submarine – they use every bit of structure to their advantage and never give up easy.
Spanish Mackerel bring the speed and excitement that gets everyone's adrenaline pumping. These sleek predators show up in schools during late spring and summer, often feeding on the surface where you can see them crashing baitfish. They hit lures and baits with explosive strikes and make screaming runs that test your drag system. While they're not huge fish, typically running 1-3 pounds, their aggressive nature and acrobatic fights make them a favorite for kids and adults alike.
Bluefish are the bullies of Virginia Beach waters, traveling in schools and attacking anything that moves. When you find them, the action can be non-stop with multiple hookups and fish jumping all around the boat. They're powerful fighters with razor-sharp teeth, making them both exciting and challenging to land safely. Peak times are spring and fall when massive schools migrate through our waters, but smaller "snapper" blues provide action throughout the summer months.
Black Sea Bass are the reliable workhorses of inshore fishing, found around virtually every piece of structure in Virginia waters. These chunky bottom-dwellers are perfect for beginners – they bite well, fight hard for their size, and are excellent eating. Spring and fall offer the best action when they're in shallower water, but you can find them year-round if you know where to look. They're also one of the more colorful catches you'll make, with males developing bright blue and black patterns during spawning season.
This 4-hour trip strikes the perfect balance between productive fishing time and family-friendly scheduling. You'll get genuine inshore action without the commitment of a full-day trip, making it ideal for first-time charters, families with younger kids, or anyone wanting to sample what Virginia Beach fishing has to offer. The private charter format means you're not competing with strangers for fishing spots or dealing with crowded conditions. Your captain's local knowledge of seasonal patterns, productive structure, and daily conditions gives you the best shot at consistent action. With all gear, bait, and licenses included, just bring yourself and get ready for some quality time on the water. Virginia Beach's inshore fishery is world-class, and this trip puts you right in the heart of it.
Step aboard our 2017 Sea Hunt Gamefish 27 and get ready for some serious fishing action in Virginia Beach waters. This center console is built for anglers who want to maximize their time with lines in the water rather than burning fuel getting there. Twin 250HP Yamahas push this 27-footer to a smooth 58-knot cruise, cutting travel time to your favorite fishing spots around bridge pilings and inshore wrecks. The boat's designed specifically for fishing the Chesapeake Bay and local Virginia Beach waters, handling chop with a dry, stable ride that keeps your group of up to 6 comfortable all day. You'll find everything you need onboard - GPS to navigate to productive structure, fish finder to locate schools of bass and flounder, plus an icebox to keep your catch fresh and drinks cold. Whether you're targeting black sea bass around the wrecks, working the pilings for sheepshead, or chasing red drum in the shallows, this Sea Hunt puts you on fish fast and gets you back to the dock safely. Perfect setup for families and serious anglers alike.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are reliable fighters that hang around every piece of structure we fish. These chunky members of the grouper family typically run 1-4 pounds, with their distinctive spiny dorsal fin and dark coloration. You'll find them on wrecks, around bridge pilings, and anywhere there's hard bottom in 20-80 feet of water. Late spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore to feed and spawn. What guests appreciate is their consistent bite and excellent table quality - firm, white meat that's hard to beat. They're curious fish that will investigate just about any bait dropped near their home. The bigger males often sit deeper on the structure, so don't be afraid to fish right in the rocks. My advice: once you hook one, get it up quickly. They'll try to wrap you around every piece of structure they can find, and where there's one, there's usually more.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are some of the most aggressive predators in our local waters, and they put on quite a show when feeding. These fish typically run 2-10 pounds around Virginia Beach, with their trademark broad tail and razor-sharp teeth. They're warm-water visitors, showing up from late spring through fall in schools that can stretch for miles. What makes them exciting is their feeding frenzies - when they're on the bite, you can catch them one after another. They'll hit just about anything that moves, from spoons to cut bait. The smaller ones make great table fare when handled properly. Fair warning though - watch those teeth when unhooking them. They've got a nasty bite even out of water. Here's my tip: when you find a school, work fast. They move quickly, so get your baits down and keep the action going while they're in the area.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are speed demons that show up in our waters during the warmer months, typically May through September. These silver bullets average 1-2 feet long and weigh 2-3 pounds, but they fight like fish twice their size thanks to their incredible speed. You'll find them cruising near the surface around structure, often in schools that create some serious action when we find them. They're active hunters that hit fast-moving lures and live bait with authority. Guests love the consistent action and the fact that they're fantastic eating - mild, flaky meat that's perfect on the grill. The key with Spanish Mackerel is keeping your presentations moving. They want something that looks like it's trying to escape. My tip: when you see birds diving, head that way. The mackerel are usually pushing baitfish to the surface right underneath all that commotion.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder are fascinating flatfish that make for exciting targets on our inshore trips. These "doormat" fish typically run 15-20 inches, though we've seen some real slabs pushing 5-6 pounds around our local wrecks and structure. They're masters of camouflage, lying flat on sandy bottoms with both eyes on one side of their head. Fall months from September through November are prime time when they're most active and feeding heavily before their offshore migration. What makes them special is their aggressive ambush style - they'll crush a bait when it drifts right past their hideout. The meat is absolutely top-notch, white and flaky. My go-to tip: when you feel that tap-tap bite, give them a second to turn the bait before setting the hook. They like to grab it sideways first.
Tautoga OnitisTautog, or "blackfish" as we call them locally, are tough customers that live around our bridge pilings, wrecks, and rocky structure. These chunky fish average 1-3 pounds but can push up to 8-10 pounds around the bigger structure. They've got powerful jaws built for crushing shellfish, which makes them serious fighters once hooked. Spring through early summer is your best bet when they're most active during daylight hours. What guests love is the challenge - these fish are smart and picky eaters, plus they test your tackle against all that structure. The meat is excellent, firm and white. They're homebodies that rarely leave their rocky hideouts, so positioning is everything. Here's the trick: use green crab bait, crush up the shells and legs, then let that scent drift around your spot. It drives them crazy and gets them feeding.
Virginia Beach, VA