Premium 4 Hour Oceanfront Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fourhour afternoon inshore fishing trip near oceanfront watersTarget Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, King Mackerel, Cobia, Red DrumSingle guest capacity ensures personalized fishing experience
Get ready for four solid hours of world-class inshore fishing with Knot Tell'n Fishing Charters. This afternoon trip keeps things close to home—within 5 miles of the oceanfront—while targeting some of the most sought-after species in these waters. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting your feet wet, this intimate fishing experience gives you the personal attention you deserve with our single-guest capacity. No crowds, no rush, just you and the fish.
This top-rated afternoon charter runs from the heat of the day into the golden hours when fish start getting active again. You'll be working the productive inshore waters where structure meets open water, creating the perfect hunting grounds for our target species. The beauty of staying within 5 miles is that we maximize fishing time instead of burning fuel getting to distant spots. These near-shore waters hold plenty of action, from schooling Spanish mackerel to trophy cobia cruising the surface. Captain knows these waters like the back of his hand, reading the conditions and adjusting tactics throughout the trip. Expect to move around and try different techniques as we follow the bite—that's what separates a good day from a great day on the water.
We'll be mixing up our approach based on what's biting and where we find them. For Spanish mackerel and bluefish, we'll likely be trolling small spoons and diving plugs at varying speeds to trigger strikes. When we mark schools on the fish finder, we'll switch to live bait or cast jigs to stay on top of the action. King mackerel fishing calls for wire leaders and larger baits—either slow-trolling live bait or pulling lures behind planer boards to cover water. Cobia fishing is where things get visual and exciting—we'll be sight-fishing for these brown sharks, casting crabs or jigs when we spot them cruising. Red drum tactics depend on the conditions, but expect to work structure with cut bait or soft plastics. All tackle and bait are provided, but feel free to bring your lucky rod if you've got one. The captain will handle the technical stuff while coaching you through each technique.
Spanish mackerel are the bread and butter of this fishery, especially during the warmer months. These chrome rockets typically run 1-3 pounds and hit lures with serious aggression. They school up tight, so when you find one, there's usually a dozen more nearby. Best part about Spanish mackerel is they're willing biters and excellent table fare—perfect for anglers who want consistent action and a fish dinner. King mackerel are the big brothers, ranging from 10-30 pounds with the occasional monster pushing 40. They're seasonal visitors that show up when bait is thick, usually spring through fall. Kings are pure adrenaline—long screaming runs and aerial displays that'll test your drag and your nerves. Cobia are the wildcards, ranging from 20-50 pounds and known for their curious nature. They'll often follow the boat or swim right up to check you out before deciding whether to eat. These brown sharks are phenomenal fighters and even better eating. Red drum, or redfish as locals call them, are the inshore slam favorites. They range from schoolie-sized 16-inchers to bull reds over 40 inches. They're structure-oriented fish that love to ambush bait around oyster bars and grass flats. Black drum round out our target list—these bottom dwellers can surprise you with their size and bulldogging fight in the shallows.
This customer favorite afternoon trip offers the perfect balance of action and relaxation without the early morning wake-up call. Four hours gives us plenty of time to work multiple spots and techniques while keeping things comfortable and focused. With single-guest capacity, you're getting a truly personalized fishing experience that bigger boats simply can't match. The afternoon timing often coincides with feeding periods as the day cools down, making it prime time for multiple species. Whether you're looking to put meat in the cooler, chase your personal best, or just enjoy some quality time on the water, this trip delivers. Book your spot with Knot Tell'n Fishing Charters and experience why our inshore program keeps anglers coming back season after season.
Pogonias CromisThese bottom-dwelling bruisers are the heavyweights of the drum family, typically running 5-30 pounds with some monsters pushing 50-plus. They're black to dark gray with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs. You'll find them around oyster bars, muddy flats, and structure in 10-30 feet of water, especially during spring spawning when they school up and make that distinctive drumming sound. What makes them special is their bulldogging fight - pure power from start to finish. Keep the smaller ones under 15 pounds for the table; they're excellent eating. Here's the key: use fresh crab on a circle hook and fish dead on the bottom. Black drum have great noses but terrible eyesight, so scent matters more than presentation.
Lepomis Macrochirus## Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Bluegill is a freshwater gamefish and is popular for its taste and spunky fight.it resembles redear sunfish and orange-spotted sunfish. Bluegills are literally found in every area of the country. The body color of the bluegill depends on its habitat and environment. The body color can be bluish-purple, dark blue, green, or olive green and have vertical 6 to 8 stripes. Female Bluegill has white belly while a breeding male can have a rusty red or orange belly. It has 3 anal fin spines and dorsal fin with 10 - 11 spines. ## Bluegill Size and Weight Bluegill average approximately 8 inches, but can reach up to 16 inches. They usually weigh about a half-pound. Bluegills can grow larger with age and are expected to live up to 10 years. ## Bluegill Interesting Facts • Bluegills are said to be excellent swimmers. They can change their direction very quickly by adjusting their fin movements. The shape of their body helps to reduce water resistance and allows them to move very fast. • They are usually found in a school of 10-20. • Breeding males are most colorful among bluegills. • Bluegill is also used as bait and lure for bigger fishes. ## Bluegill Spawning Lepomis macrochirus maturity age depends on the habitat and environment, but mostly they mature at the age of 2 or 3 years. As the water temperature reaches 70 F, the spawning season begins. It takes place from April to September. After the female lays eggs, the nest is guarded by the male. After reaching a certain length, the younglings leave the nest for deep waters. ## Bluegill Food Bluegills mostly feed on insects, zooplankton, worms, eggs, snails, and small fish. But they are not much picky about their food, and also consume human scraps such as bread, corns, and crackers. ## Bluegill Fishing Bluegills usually hunt for food at dusk and dawn. They can be caught year-round, but spring and early summer are recommended seasons. • Spin casting with worms is extremely effective catching bluegill. • If you are planning a fishing trip with young children, go after Bluegill. They are not picky and will put up a good fight. Using a bobber with a worm will allow even the youngest angler to enjoy the day. • If you are a fly-rod expert, then try laying a spider bubble or fly at the bluegill’s spawning spots. • As bluegill has a small mouth, jig fishing with small hooks is a good option. • Float rigs such as waggler float and bubble rig work great. ## Bluegill Baits and lures: Lure and baits include: • Worms • Bread • Minnows • Small jigs • Insects • Bugs ## Bluegill Habitat and Distribution Bluegill is found mostly in ponds and lakes. They usually live in shallow and along shorelines. They prefer a vegetated or weed-rich area, or fallen logs and sunken objects where they can hide. Clear, quiet, and warm water with suitable hiding places are its favorite, like under a dock. Bluegill is endemic to the Eastern half of America. They can be found in Far East states such as Florida up to far west such as New Mexico. They have also been introduced in North America, Europe, South Africa, Asia, South America, and Oceania.
Rachycentron CanadumCobia are the ultimate sight-fishing target - dark brown bruisers that cruise just under the surface looking like small sharks. These loners average 20-40 pounds and can hit 60-plus. You'll spot them around buoys, wrecks, and structure in 20-60 feet, especially during spring migration. What sets them apart is their curiosity - they'll actually swim up to the boat to investigate, giving you perfect casting opportunities. The fight is all shoulders and stamina, plus they're some of the best eating fish in the ocean with firm, white meat. Here's the deal: when you see one, cast a bucktail jig past it and work it back slowly. Cobia will often follow before striking, so keep that jig moving steady.
Scomberomorus CavallaThe kings are the ultimate speed demons, averaging 15-30 pounds with some pushing 50-plus. These olive-backed missiles have razor-sharp teeth and will test your drag system like nothing else. We target them in 40-100 feet of water around structure, temperature breaks, and bait schools. Spring and fall migrations offer the best action when they're actively feeding. What guests remember is that first screaming run - kings can strip 200 yards of line in seconds. The meat is rich and flavorful, perfect for grilling or smoking. My go-to setup: slow-troll live bait on a wire leader with two hooks - one through the nose, one free-swinging near the tail. Kings love to hit bait from behind, so that stinger hook is crucial for hookups.
Scomberomorus Maculatus<h2><strong>Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) </strong></h2><p>Often found both coasts of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, the Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) is a favorite fishing target for both recreational and commercial fishers. It can be easily identified with its long, streamlined body, silvery color with a dark greenish top, and yellowish oval spots scattered on its sides. They are speedy swimmers and can often be seen in large groups or schools. They also migrate from the northern part of the Atlantic coast to as far south as Mexico during winter. They can, however, be found in pretty much every ocean in the planet.</p><p>Spanish Mackerels are carnivores and usually prey on prey mainly on herring, menhaden, sardines, mullet, needlefish, and anchovy and, sometimes, even on shrimp, crabs, and squid. On the other hand, same as their close relatives like tuna and other mackerels, they are preyed upon by dolphins, sharks, and of course, humans.</p><p>The Spanish Mackerel is a highly valued fish for both sports fishers and commercial fishers because of its tasty meat that can be cooked by grilling, frying, baking, and even by smoking. It’s also a popular fish in Japan and other countries as it can be eaten raw as sushi.</p><p> </p><h2><strong>Interesting Facts About Spanish Mackerel</strong></h2><ul><li>The biggest Spanish Mackerel ever caught measures a little over six feet long and weighs about one hundred and twenty pounds.</li><li>Angler Doug Buhagiar with the help of his brother caught the humongous fish on the beach on Fraser Island off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast.</li><li>Spanish Mackerels are one of the fastest swimmers in the ocean, clocking at about 5.5 meters per second on average.</li><li>They swim in large groups or schools that can stretch up to 20 miles.</li><li>They can live up to twenty-five years in the wild.</li><li>As with other mackerel species, Spanish Mackerels are often caught for food.</li><li>They can be cooked in various methods, including: baking, grilling, steaming, smoking, poaching, and frying.</li><li>The Spanish Mackerel is also a popular sushi fish.</li><li>They are a source of omega-3 fatty acids in human diet.</li><li>High human consumption meant high demand for the fish, thus, led to overfishing and a significant fish population decline over the past few decades.</li><li>Fishing restrictions were made to help repopulate oceans with this particular fish species.</li><li>Annual catch limits are divided between the commercial and recreational fishers in both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.</li><li>Minimum size restrictions are also placed to provide the species time to mature and spawn.</li><li>Since the regulations, Spanish Mackerel populations have significantly improved.</li><li>Females can lay 500,000 to 1.5 million eggs throughout the spawning season.</li><li>Their eggs float in the water because they contain oily drops.</li><li>For fertilization, the eggs merge with sperm cells that are released by males.</li></ul><p> </p><h2><strong>Spanish Mackerel Average Speed and Size</strong></h2><p>Clocking in on average at 5.5 meters per second, the Spanish mackerel is one of the fastest and most agile fish species in the ocean. They can also mature and grow really fast, reaching their full maturity in just two years. An adult measures about one to two feet in length and weighs around eight to eleven pounds. </p><p> </p><figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="https://guidesly-assets.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/content/Atlantic_Spanish_Mackerel_Heat_Map_1600x_edb4bab39c_1_aa05948f23.webp"></figure><h2><strong>Where to Find Them</strong></h2><p> </p><p>Many successful anglers have caught Spanish Mackerels by trolling or drifting on boats. Others have also been successful fishing on piers, jetties, and beaches by casting spoons and jigs and live-bait fishing. They can often be found in large schools swimming near the surface of the water. Although, this fish live mainly in tropical and subtropical waters, it can sometimes be seen in temperate waters as well.</p><p> </p><h2><strong>Spanish Mackerel Fishing Tips</strong></h2><p>If you’re going to be fishing offshore, look around structures in the open waters where schools of Spanish Mackerels are often seen. Just make sure to drift to the area where they are so as not to spook the school of fish away. For nearshore fishing, again check around structures in open waters, including flats and oyster bars. In a warmer weather, schools are often spotted closer to shores. So you might want to stay on land and fish in the surf, piers, and jetties when the water warms.</p><p>As for the gears you’re going to need, here are some of our recommendations:</p><p><strong>Equipment</strong></p><ul><li>Light to medium spinning tackle</li><li>Medium 7 to 8-foot rod</li><li>12-20 lb. braided line</li><li>1/0-2/0 circle hook that matches bait size</li></ul><p><strong>Lure</strong></p><ul><li>Heavy metal lures, shiny spoons</li><li>Plastics with jig heads</li></ul><p><strong>Bait</strong></p><ul><li>Live shrimp and fish such as sardines, minnows, mullet, and greenbacks</li><li>Cut bait such as squid</li></ul><h2>Is Spanish Mackerel Good to Eat?</h2><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">When it comes to delicious fish that is versatile in flavor and texture, Spanish Mackerel is at the top of the list. This fish is a great ingredient to cook with and offers many different options for tasty dishes. It has a mild flavor that is not too fishy. When cooking with Spanish Mackerel, it can be grilled, baked, or even smoked, which makes it an excellent choice for different cuisines. The texture of this fish is also quite unique, as it is both flaky and tender at the same time. Whether you want to fry it up for a crispy meal or use it in a stew, there are many possibilities when it comes to preparing Spanish Mackerel. </span></p><p><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255);color:hsl(0, 0%, 0%);">Besides being a delicious and versatile fish, Spanish mackerel is also a healthy option for your diet. It is packed with essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and protein, which can improve heart health and provide energy. </span></p>
Virginia Beach, VA, United States