Chesapeake Charter Fishing | 6 Hour Charter Trip
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Sixhour charter targets multiple Chesapeake Bay speciesAccommodates up to six guests with experienced captain guidanceBottom fishing and trolling options for all skill levels
Six hours on the Chesapeake gives you serious fishing time – the kind where you can really dial in on what's biting and adjust your strategy as the day unfolds. This isn't a quick trip where you're rushing back to the dock just as the fish start cooperating. You've got the whole day to work different spots, try various techniques, and put together a mixed bag that'll have you talking for months. Captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, and with a 6-person max, you're getting personalized attention whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who lives for the bite.
The Chesapeake Bay is a fishing machine – over 200 miles of main stem with countless tributaries, drop-offs, and structure that hold fish year-round. Your captain will read the conditions and adjust the game plan accordingly. Some days that means working the deeper channels for cobia cruising the mid-water column. Other times you'll be tight to structure, bouncing baits for tautog or working the grass lines where spadefish stack up. The beauty of a 6-hour trip is flexibility. If the morning bite is slow, you've got time to move and find active fish. When they're chewing, you can stay put and capitalize. Weather plays a role too – calmer days open up more of the bay, while rougher conditions might keep you in protected waters that still produce solid action.
Bottom fishing and trolling are your bread and butter out here, but the approach changes with the season and target species. Bottom rigs with circle hooks work great for drum, tautog, and spadefish around pilings, rocks, and artificial reefs. Fresh bait is key – blue crab, bloodworms, and cut bait produce when presented right. Trolling covers water fast and triggers aggressive strikes from spanish mackerel, king mackerel, and cobia. Umbrella rigs, spoons, and diving plugs all have their place depending on depth and current. Your captain provides all the tackle, but if you've got lucky rods or preferred setups, bring them along. Light tackle makes every fish more fun, but you need enough backbone to turn fish away from structure. Circle hooks are often required for certain species, so check current regulations with your captain before heading out.
Spanish Mackerel are the bay's butter fish – they show up in big schools and bite aggressively from late spring through fall. These guys love moving water and will smash small spoons, bucktails, and cut bait. They're perfect for kids and beginners because they fight hard for their size and taste great on the table. Peak times are early morning and late afternoon when they push baitfish to the surface.
Black Drum are the bulldogs of the bay. Big fish that pull hard and test your drag system. They cruise shallow flats and around structure, feeding on crabs and mollusks. Spring and fall offer the best shots at trophy-sized fish over 40 inches. They're catch-and-release only over 16 inches in Maryland waters, but the fight alone makes them worth targeting.
Spadefish might be the most underrated fighters in the bay. They school around bridge pilings, buoys, and artificial reefs during summer months. These silver bullets will test light tackle and provide steady action when you find a good concentration. They're spooky, so a quiet approach and fresh bait presentations work best.
King Mackerel are the speed demons that separate serious anglers from weekend warriors. These fish require wire leaders, sharp hooks, and quick reflexes. When kings move into the lower bay during summer, they bring serious excitement. A 20-pound king on appropriate tackle is a fish you'll remember forever.
Cobia are the holy grail for many Chesapeake anglers. These brown sharks (as locals call them) cruise alone or in small groups, often visible near the surface around buoys and channel markers. They're curious fish that will follow boats and investigate baits. Sight fishing for cobia is addictive – spotting a 40-inch fish and watching it eat your bait never gets old. They fight like submarines and taste incredible.
Six hours gives you the best shot at putting together a memorable day on one of the East Coast's most productive fisheries. The Chesapeake changes with the seasons, tides, and weather, but there's always something biting if you know where to look. Havoc Charters has the local knowledge and experience to put you on fish consistently. Whether you're after a cooler full of spanish mackerel for the dinner table or hoping to tangle with a trophy cobia, this trip delivers the time and opportunity to make it happen. Don't wait until peak season books up – reserve your dates now and get ready for some of the best fishing the Chesapeake Bay has to offer.
This 38-foot Post 42 Sportfish is your ticket to serious fishing action on Chesapeake Bay. Built in 2007 and fully restored in 2022, she runs on twin 380HP Cummins engines that'll cruise at 29 knots to get you to the fish fast. The boat's loaded with everything you need for a productive day - fish finder to locate schools, GPS and radar for navigation, plus a wireless trolling motor for stealthy approaches. Stay comfortable between catches with onboard AC, a full galley, and even a bed if you need a quick rest. The icebox and fridge keep your drinks cold and your catch fresh. Whether you're dropping lines for bottom dwellers like Tautog near structure or trolling for Cobia and Spanish Mackerel in open water, this sportfish handles it all. Your captain knows these waters inside and out, so you'll be targeting whatever's biting - Red Drum, Bluefish, Spadefish, and more. With 6 hours on the water, there's plenty of time to work different spots and techniques until you find what the fish want.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bay's heavyweights, commonly running 15-40 pounds with some monsters pushing 60-plus. These bottom-dwellers love oyster bars, muddy flats, and bridge pilings where they crush crabs and clams with powerful jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up to spawn in shallow water. You'll hear them "drumming" underwater - that's how they got their name. They're bulldogs that test your tackle with steady, grinding fights. Fresh crab on a circle hook fished right on the bottom is deadly. Here's the trick: when you feel that subtle tap-tap, don't set the hook - just start reeling. The circle hook will do its job.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the bay's brown sharks that aren't sharks - solitary fish averaging 20-40 pounds with some reaching 60-plus. These curious predators cruise shallow waters around buoys, channel markers, and crab pot floats during late spring and summer. They're sight-fishing targets that often surface to investigate boats. The fight is memorable - long, powerful runs followed by stubborn deep pulls. Plus, they're arguably the best eating fish in the bay with firm, white meat. We cast bucktail jigs or live eels when we spot them cruising. Here's the secret: approach slowly and cast well ahead of them - they spook easily but will usually circle back if you're patient.
Scomberomorus CavallaKings are the bay's speed demons, averaging 15-30 pounds but capable of hitting 50-plus. These torpedo-shaped predators patrol deeper waters around 40-100 feet, especially near structure and temperature breaks. Late spring through fall is peak season when they follow baitfish into our waters. They're pure adrenaline - screaming runs that'll empty your reel in seconds. The fight is what brings people back, plus they make excellent table fare when properly handled. We troll large spoons or slow-pitch live bait near the thermocline. Always use wire leaders - their razor teeth will cut through mono instantly. When one hits, clear the lines fast because they're coming your way.
Chaetodipterus FaberSpadefish are the bay's disc-shaped fighters, typically weighing 3-8 pounds with silver bodies and bold black stripes. They school around structure like wrecks, bridges, and channel markers in 15-40 feet of water. Summer through early fall is your best shot when they move inshore to feed. These fish put up a surprising scrap for their size - they'll pull drag and make you work. The meat is white, flaky, and delicious. Fresh clam on small circle hooks works best, but they're picky eaters. Cast past the school and slowly drag your bait through them. Once you hook one, others often follow, so keep your second rod ready.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that run 1-3 pounds on average in the bay. You'll find them schooling near the surface around structures, bridges, and channel edges during summer and early fall. They hit hard and make blistering runs that'll test your drag. The meat is excellent - mild and flaky when grilled or blackened. We target them by trolling small spoons or casting jigs when we spot schools feeding on baitfish. Pro tip: when you hook one, keep your rod tip up and be ready for that first screaming run - they'll spit the hook if you give them slack. Light tackle makes these silver bullets a real blast to catch.
Richmond