Extended Half Day Afternoon Fishing Trip In Virginia
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Halfday afternoon trip targets cobia, redfish, and bassCaptain Buck provides all fishing equipment and expert guidanceFamilyfriendly charter accommodates up to six guests comfortably
Looking for a solid afternoon on the water chasing some of Virginia's hottest inshore targets? Captain Buck's extended half-day trip puts you right in the action for Cobia, Redfish, and Striped Bass. This isn't your typical quick jaunt – we're talking about a proper fishing adventure that gives you real time to work the water and dial in on what's biting. Perfect for families wanting to get the kids hooked on fishing, or seasoned anglers looking to add some Virginia trophies to their collection. All your tackle and gear comes with the trip, so just bring yourself and get ready to bend some rods.
Captain Buck knows these Virginia waters like the back of his hand, and he's got the track record to prove it. This extended half-day format gives you the sweet spot between a quick morning trip and a full day commitment – usually running about 6 hours of solid fishing time when the afternoon bite really heats up. You'll be working prime inshore structure where Cobia cruise the shallows, Redfish patrol the grass flats, and Stripers stack up around drop-offs and points. The boat handles up to 6 anglers comfortably, so whether you're bringing the whole crew or keeping it intimate, everyone gets plenty of room to fish. Captain Buck's approach is all about reading the conditions and adjusting on the fly – if the Cobia are being finicky, we might switch to targeting Reds in the skinny water, or if the Stripers are schooled up, we'll stay on them until arms get tired.
We're talking about real inshore fishing here – sight casting to Cobia when they're cruising just under the surface, working soft plastics through redfish territory, and throwing everything from topwater plugs to live bait at hungry Stripers. Captain Buck's got the boat rigged with quality spinning and conventional setups, plus all the terminal tackle you'll need. For Cobia, we're often sight fishing with bucktails or live eels when we can find them cruising. Redfish love a well-presented paddle tail or spoon worked through their feeding zones, especially around grass edges and oyster bars. Stripers are opportunistic – some days they want live spot or croaker, other days they'll crush a topwater plug or umbrella rig. The captain reads the water conditions, tide movement, and seasonal patterns to put you on fish using whatever technique is producing. All rods, reels, tackle, and bait are included, though if you've got a lucky lure or favorite setup, feel free to bring it along.
Cobia are the bruisers of Virginia's inshore scene, and when you hook into a 30 or 40-pound fish, you'll understand why anglers get obsessed with them. These brown sharks (as locals call them) cruise shallow flats and structure from late spring through early fall, often visible just under the surface. They're curious fish that will follow the boat or investigate a well-placed lure, making for some seriously visual fishing. When a big Cobia takes off on its first run, it's game on – these fish have serious power and will test your drag system. Virginia's Cobia fishery is world-class, with fish regularly pushing 50+ pounds during peak season.
Redfish might be the most reliable target in Virginia's inshore waters, and for good reason – they feed aggressively and put up a fantastic fight pound for pound. These copper-colored fighters love shallow grass flats, oyster bars, and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. Virginia Reds typically run 18 to 35 inches, with the slot-sized fish being perfect table fare and the oversized bulls providing pure adrenaline. They're year-round residents, though spring and fall fishing tends to be most productive when they're feeding heavily. Redfish have excellent hearing, so they'll often track down a noisy spoon or popper from surprising distances.
Striped Bass are Virginia's bread and butter gamefish, and Captain Buck knows exactly where they stage throughout the seasons. These silver-sided fighters can range from schoolie size up to trophy fish over 40 inches, and they're known for their aggressive strikes and strong runs. Virginia Stripers are particularly healthy due to excellent forage and diverse habitat – from the Chesapeake Bay tributaries to near-shore ocean structure. Spring and fall offer peak action when fish are actively feeding, but summer fishing around deeper structure and current breaks can produce some memorable catches. When Stripers are schooled up and feeding, the action can be non-stop with multiple hookups and bent rods all around the boat.
This extended half-day afternoon trip hits the sweet spot for serious fishing without the full day commitment. Captain Buck's local knowledge and family-friendly approach make this a top-rated choice for Virginia inshore fishing. With all tackle included and a 6-person capacity, you can focus on what matters – getting tight to some quality fish. Virginia's inshore fishery is firing year-round, but prime dates fill up quickly, especially during peak Cobia and Striper seasons. Whether you're looking to introduce kids to the sport or add some Virginia trophies to your logbook, this trip delivers the goods. Book now with Get Hooked Charters and get ready to experience why Virginia's inshore fishing keeps anglers coming back for more.
Hit the waters of Virginia aboard this beautifully restored 40ft Evans cabin cruiser, your floating base camp for chasing cobia, redfish, and stripers. This Downeast beauty got a complete makeover in 2019 and shows it – from the comfortable cabin that sleeps your crew of 6 to the smooth purr of that 800HP Detroit engine pushing you to prime fishing spots at 18 knots. Captain Buck knows these waters like the back of his hand, and this boat's rigged perfectly for the hunt. The fish finder will mark your targets while the GPS keeps you on the productive spots. When the Virginia sun heats up, duck into the air-conditioned cabin for a cold drink from the fridge or grab some lunch from the galley kitchen. Everything's handled – rods, reels, tackle, and bait are all included. The radar keeps you safe in any weather, and there's even a head and icebox to keep your catch fresh. Whether you're bringing the kids for their first real fishing adventure or looking to land that trophy cobia, this classic cruiser delivers the comfort and capability to make it happen.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are unique fish that look like sharks at first glance with their dark brown bodies and single dorsal fin. Most run 30-50 pounds, but they can hit 100+ pounds and 6 feet long. These solitary hunters cruise around structure like reefs, wrecks, and buoys in 30-70 feet of water. Spring through fall is prime time when they're moving through Virginia waters. What makes cobia special is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll test your drag for sure. Plus, they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean with firm, white meat. Here's a local trick: when you spot one cruising near the surface, cast ahead of where it's swimming and let your bucktail jig sink right in its path.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tail - perfect for fooling predators and anglers alike. Most fish run 28-35 inches, though big bulls can push 45+ inches and 50 pounds. They love super shallow water, sometimes so skinny their backs show above the surface in marshes, grass flats, and around oyster bars in 1-4 feet. Fall is prime time in Virginia when they school up before heading south. What hooks people on reds is their explosive topwater strikes and that distinctive tail-walking fight. They're also great eating with mild, sweet meat. Local secret: look for nervous water or tailing fish in the grass flats during falling tides. Throw a gold spoon or topwater plug just past them and work it back slowly.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are Virginia's bread and butter fish, running 20-40 pounds on average with those distinctive black stripes down their silvery sides. They're structure-oriented, hanging around drop-offs, bridges, and rocky areas in 10-50 feet of water. Spring and fall migrations bring the best action, especially when water temps hit that sweet spot between 55-68°F. Guests love them because they fight hard, pull drag, and make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. They're also great for kids since they're forgiving and bite various baits. Pro tip: fish the moving water around dawn and dusk - stripers love current breaks and tide changes. Live bait like spot or menhaden will usually outfish artificials, especially when they're being picky.
Virginia