Offshore Fishing In Chesapeake Bay VA | 12 HR Private Trip
Looking for a serious offshore fishing adventure that'll test your skills and fill the cooler? This 12-hour private charter with Is That Right Sport Fishing takes you 40 miles out into the deep blue waters off Chesapeake Bay, where the big pelagics roam. We're talking about a dawn-to-dusk mission targeting some of the most sought-after gamefish on the East Coast – yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, wahoo, and if we're lucky, maybe even a marlin will crash the party. At $2,800 for up to six anglers, this isn't your typical weekend bay trip. This is blue water fishing at its finest, where every cast could connect you with a fish that'll have you talking for years.
What to Expect on the Water
We're pushing off the dock at 5:00 AM sharp, so bring your coffee and get ready for a long day of fishing. The run out to the fishing grounds takes about an hour and a half, giving you time to rig up, talk strategy, and watch the sunrise paint the water. Once we hit the offshore grounds, you'll see why this area is legendary among serious anglers – we're fishing structure, temperature breaks, and current edges where the food chain comes alive. The boat can handle six anglers comfortably, so there's plenty of room to work without getting tangled up in each other's lines. Your 20% gratuity covers the mate who'll be working hard all day – rigging baits, gaffing fish, and making sure everything runs smooth. They'll also clean and package your catch so it's ready for the cooler when we head back to the dock.
Techniques & Tackle
We'll be throwing everything in the tackle box at these fish. Trolling is the bread and butter for covering water and finding active fish – we'll pull spreads of ballyhoo, cedar plugs, and lures at different depths to see what they want. When we mark fish on the sounder or find a good temperature break, we'll switch to chunking and live bait fishing to get them fired up. The heavy tackle comes out when we hook into something that wants to go deep and stay there – these yellowfin tuna don't give up easy, and wahoo can peel line off your reel faster than you'd believe. Bottom fishing comes into play when we're working structure for whatever's holding tight to the hard bottom. The crew knows these waters like the back of their hand and will adjust tactics based on what's working that day. Water temperature, current, and bait movement all factor into the game plan.
Top Catches This Season
Mahi mahi are the crowd favorites out here, and for good reason. These fish are pure eye candy with their electric green and gold colors, and they fight like they're twice their size. Most of the mahi we're seeing run 10 to 30 pounds, with the occasional bull pushing 40 or more. They love floating debris, weed lines, and temperature changes, so we're always scanning the water for signs. Best part about mahi? Where there's one, there's usually more, so when we find a school, things get crazy fast. They're also fantastic table fare – firm, white meat that's perfect on the grill or as sashimi.
Yellowfin tuna are the muscle cars of the deep water, and catching one is a workout you won't forget. These fish average 30 to 80 pounds in our waters, but the big ones can push well over 100. They're built for speed and endurance, so when you hook up, get ready for a long fight with screaming runs and deep dives. Yellowfin are most active during temperature swings and low light conditions, which is why we start early and fish late. The meat quality on these fish is second to none – deep red, rich flavor that's prized by sushi chefs and home cooks alike.
Wahoo are the speed demons of the offshore world, capable of hitting 60 mph when they want to. They typically run 20 to 50 pounds around here, with razor-sharp teeth and an attitude to match. These fish love high-speed trolling presentations and will absolutely destroy a ballyhoo or lure when they decide to eat. The fight is explosive but usually short – they'll make a few blistering runs before coming to the boat. Wahoo meat is white, flaky, and mild – perfect for anyone who thinks they don't like fishy-tasting fish.
Blackfin tuna might be the smallest of the tuna family we target, but they punch way above their weight class. Running 5 to 15 pounds on average, these fish are scrappy fighters that love to school up in good numbers. They're often the first to show up when we're chunking, and they make excellent live bait for the bigger predators lurking below. Don't overlook them on the dinner table either – blackfin have excellent flavor and are perfect for grilling whole.
Bigeye tuna are the night shift workers of the tuna world, often biting best during dawn and dusk periods. These deep-water specialists can grow massive – we've seen them over 200 pounds in these waters. They prefer cooler water and will often be found deeper than their yellowfin cousins. When you hook a big bigeye, clear the deck and settle in for a marathon battle. These fish have incredible stamina and will test your equipment and your endurance.
Time to Book Your Spot
This 12-hour offshore adventure represents serious value for serious anglers who want to target world-class gamefish in one of the East Coast's premier fishing destinations. You're getting a full day with professional crew who know these waters, top-notch tackle, and access to fishing grounds that recreational boaters can only dream about reaching. The $2,800 investment covers up to six anglers, so split among a full group