Expert Fishing Trip In Chesapeake Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore charter targeting striped bass and mackerelProfessional captain provides top-tier gear and local expertiseAccommodates up to four anglers from June through October
Captain Andy's got the perfect setup for serious anglers looking to test their skills in Maryland's legendary Chesapeake Bay. This isn't your casual Sunday afternoon trip – we're talking 6 hours of focused fishing aboard a top-rated vessel that's built for performance. The Bay's productive waters are loaded with Spanish Mackerel, Striped Bass, Redfish, Sea Trout, and Black Drum, and Captain Andy knows exactly where to find them. You'll bring up to 3 buddies for what consistently ranks as one of the best fishing experiences on the East Coast. From June through October, these waters deliver non-stop action that keeps anglers coming back season after season.
Captain Andy runs a tight ship with all the gear you need for a world-class inshore fishing experience. We're talking quality rods, fresh bait, and tackle that's specifically rigged for Chesapeake Bay's target species. The boat's equipped with fish finders and GPS units that'll put you right on top of the action. You'll start early to beat the crowds and hit the prime feeding times when these fish are most active. The Bay's structure – from grass beds to drop-offs – creates perfect ambush points for predator fish. Captain Andy's spent years learning these waters, so you're not wasting time searching. He knows the seasonal patterns, tide movements, and exactly which spots are producing. Expect to move around throughout the day, working different depths and structures to keep the fish coming.
This trip focuses on proven inshore techniques that consistently produce in the Chesapeake. You'll be working everything from live bait presentations to artificial lures, depending on what the fish are hitting. Light tackle fishing is the name of the game here – it gives you the sensitivity to feel those subtle bites while still having enough backbone to handle bigger Stripers and Reds. Captain Andy provides top-tier spinning reels spooled with appropriate line weights for each target species. Drift fishing with live spot or bloodworms works magic for Sea Trout and Black Drum, while trolling umbrella rigs or casting topwater plugs can fire up the Striped Bass. Spanish Mackerel respond well to small jigs and spoons worked near the surface. The key is staying versatile and switching tactics based on conditions – something Captain Andy excels at reading.
Spanish Mackerel show up in big schools during summer months, typically running 12-20 inches and putting up scrappy fights with impressive speed bursts. These fish love bright, flashy lures and often feed aggressively near the surface. Peak season runs July through September when water temperatures hit their sweet spot. What makes them exciting is their willingness to bite and the sheer numbers you can catch when you find a hot school.
Striped Bass are the crown jewel of Chesapeake Bay fishing, with schoolies running 18-28 inches and occasional larger fish pushing 30+ inches. These predators patrol grass lines, channel edges, and structure areas throughout the season. Spring and fall migrations offer the best action, but summer residents provide consistent opportunities. Stripers are smart, strong fighters that test your tackle and technique – exactly what serious anglers are after.
Redfish cruise the shallows and grass flats, typically ranging 20-35 inches with powerful runs that'll test your drag system. These copper-colored bruisers feed on crabs and baitfish, making them perfect targets for both live bait and artificial presentations. Late summer and early fall produce the most consistent action. The fight they put up pound-for-pound makes them a customer favorite.
Sea Trout patrol sandy bottoms and grass edges, running 14-24 inches with a sweet, flaky meat that's table fare gold. These fish bite best during moving tides and low-light periods. They're spooky but aggressive feeders when conditions align. Summer through early fall provides the most reliable fishing, and their willingness to hit both live bait and soft plastics keeps things interesting.
Black Drum are the heavyweights of this mixed bag, often running 16-30 inches with some real hogs mixed in. These bottom feeders love crabs and worms, making them perfect targets around structure and oyster bars. They're strong, stubborn fighters that use their body weight and power to test your tackle. Peak season runs through summer and early fall when they're most active in the Bay's warmer waters.
Captain Andy's 6-hour charter delivers exactly what serious anglers want – quality fishing time with a guide who knows how to put you on fish. The season runs June through October, hitting peak productivity during the hottest months when all target species are active. With space for just 4 anglers, you're getting personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably. This trip consistently produces mixed bags that keep everyone busy, whether you're looking to fill the cooler or chase your next personal best. The Chesapeake Bay's reputation as a world-class fishery is well-earned, and Captain Andy's local expertise maximizes your time on productive water. Don't wait – prime dates fill up fast during peak season.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the heavyweights of the drum family, running anywhere from 5-30 pounds in our waters, though the real bulls can push 50-plus. These dark, powerful fish love hanging around oyster beds, muddy flats, and channel edges in 3-15 feet of water where they can crush crabs and shellfish with those strong jaws. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning - that's when you'll find the best action. What guests love about drum fishing is the solid, bulldogging fight they put up, plus the smaller ones under 15 pounds are excellent eating with sweet, firm meat. The bigger fish are better released since the meat gets tough. Pro tip from years of guiding here - fresh peeler crab on a Carolina rig fished right on the bottom near oyster structure is your best bet, and don't set the hook hard since they have bony mouths.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are sight-fishing gold with their copper-bronze backs and that signature black spot near the tail. Most Bay redfish run 20-35 inches, making for perfect action on medium tackle. These fish love super shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet around oyster bars, grass flats, and marsh edges where you can often see their backs or tails. Summer and early fall are prime when they're actively feeding in the shallows during moving tides. What makes reds special is that heart-stopping moment when you see one tailing in skinny water, plus their bulldogging fight and excellent eating quality. The smaller ones are fantastic on the table with sweet, firm meat. Best local approach: sight-cast gold spoons or soft plastics to feeding fish, but keep your distance and make accurate casts - spook them once and they're gone for hours.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are one of the Bay's most consistent fighters, typically running 14-24 inches and 1-5 pounds with those beautiful spotted sides. They prefer grass flats and shallow waters, especially around creek mouths and drop-offs in 3-10 feet. These fish are most active during warmer months, with night fishing often producing the best results. What anglers love about trout is their willingness to hit topwater lures and that distinctive "speckled" appearance that makes them so photogenic. They're also excellent table fare - mild, flaky white meat that's perfect for the dinner table. Just don't overcook them since the meat is delicate. Here's a guide tip that works consistently: fish plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds during low light conditions. The cork's noise draws them up, and that slow-sinking shrimp mimics their natural prey perfectly.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are fast, aggressive fish that typically run 1-3 pounds in the Bay, though bigger ones show up during peak season. You'll spot them by their silvery sides covered in yellow spots and that classic streamlined body built for speed. These fish love to school up near the surface around structure - bridge pilings, channel edges, and drop-offs are prime spots. Summer through early fall is when they're most active here, especially during moving water on the tide changes. What makes them fun to target is that explosive strike when they hit your lure, plus they make great table fare with that mild, flaky meat. Here's a local tip: when you see diving birds working baitfish, get there quick - Spanish Mackerel are likely feeding underneath and they'll hit small spoons or jigs cast right into the action.
Morone SaxatilisStriped Bass are the Bay's signature fish, and for good reason. These silver beauties with their distinctive dark stripes typically run 20-40 pounds, though we see plenty of smaller schoolies and the occasional 50-pounder. They're structure fish - you'll find them around bridge pilings, channel edges, and rocky points in 10-40 feet of water. Spring and fall are peak times when they're feeding heavy, but summer early mornings and late evenings can be fantastic. What makes stripers special is that hard initial run when hooked, plus they're hands-down some of the best eating fish in these waters with sweet, flaky white meat. They're also smart fish that'll test your skills. Local secret: when fishing live eels around structure at night during a moving tide, let that eel work naturally near the bottom - stripers can't resist it.
Chesapeake Bay