Expert Fishing Trip In Chesapeake Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore charter targeting striped bass and mackerelProfessional captain provides toptier gear and local expertiseAccommodates up to four anglers from June through October
Captain Andy's got something special brewing on the Chesapeake, and if you're serious about putting fish in the box, this is your ticket. We're talking six solid hours of top-rated inshore action targeting the Bay's heavyweight lineup – Striped Bass, Spanish Mackerel, Redfish, Sea Trout, and Black Drum. This isn't some cookie-cutter charter where you're fighting crowds and sharing space. You and three buddies get the whole boat, premium tackle, and a captain who knows these waters like his own backyard. The season runs June through October when the fishing's absolutely on fire, so you're hitting prime time no matter when you book.
You'll be fishing aboard a well-equipped vessel that's built for performance, not just looks. Captain Andy's rigged her with quality electronics, top-shelf rods and reels, and everything you need to handle whatever the Bay throws at you. We're talking serious gear for serious anglers – none of that bargain-bin stuff you see on other boats. The trip kicks off early when the bite's hot, and we'll be moving between proven honey holes where the fish stack up thick. Expect to work structure, drop-offs, and current breaks where predators ambush baitfish. This is hands-on fishing where you'll learn to read the water, understand the tides, and pick up techniques that'll make you a better angler long after you leave the dock.
We're running a mix of techniques depending on what's working best that day. Live bait fishing with spot, menhaden, and eels produces explosive strikes from big stripers, especially around structure where they're feeding aggressively. When the Spanish Mackerel are schooled up, we'll switch to light tackle with small spoons and bucktails – these fish hit like freight trains and put on aerial shows that'll get your heart pumping. For Sea Trout, we're working soft plastics along grass beds and channel edges where they cruise looking for easy meals. The beauty of fishing the Chesapeake is the variety – one minute you're battling a bull Red on heavy gear, the next you're finessing speckled trout on ultralight tackle. Captain Andy reads conditions like a book and adjusts tactics accordingly, so you're always fishing the most productive methods.
The Striped Bass fishing here is world-class, with fish ranging from schoolie size up to true trophies pushing 40+ inches. These rockfish are aggressive predators that'll crush live bait and challenge even experienced anglers with their powerful runs. Peak season runs May through November, but summer months offer the most consistent action when baitfish are thick. Spanish Mackerel show up in serious numbers during summer, typically running 1-3 pounds of pure muscle that fights way above its weight class. They're speed demons that hit fast and jump high – perfect for light tackle enthusiasts. Redfish have been making a strong comeback in recent years, with slot-sized bulls offering bruising fights in shallow water. These copper-colored fighters are ambush predators that'll inhale a well-placed bait and make searing runs toward structure. Sea Trout are the Bay's most technical species, requiring finesse and patience to consistently hook up. They're spooky fish that reward skilled presentations with delicate takes and acrobatic fights. Black Drum round out the slam as bottom-dwelling powerhouses that test your drag system with bulldogging runs. These fish can push serious size in Chesapeake waters, making every hookup a potential trophy.
Spanish Mackerel are summer visitors that arrive in schools so thick they'll blacken your fish finder screen. These silver bullets typically run 12-20 inches and fight like they're twice that size, making blistering runs and spectacular jumps that'll keep you laughing all day. Best fishing happens June through September when water temps climb into the 70s and baitfish concentrate along drop-offs. What makes them special is their willingness to bite – even novice anglers can get into double-digit days when conditions align. Black Drum are the Bay's bulldogs, with mature fish exceeding 30 pounds and testing tackle to its limits. They're bottom feeders with incredible power, using their broad tails and thick bodies to make punishing runs toward structure. Peak season runs April through October, with larger fish moving into shallower water during spawning periods. Landing a big drum requires patience and strong tackle – these fish don't give up easy. Striped Bass are Maryland's signature species and the reason most anglers make the trip to Chesapeake Bay. These magnificent predators can exceed 40 inches and 30 pounds, offering fights that combine raw power with surprising agility. They're most active during dawn and dusk periods, feeding aggressively on schools of baitfish in 15-40 feet of water. What makes stripers special is their intelligence – they're pattern fish that respond to specific presentations and reward anglers who understand their behavior. Sea Trout bring finesse fishing to the Bay, requiring light tackle and delicate presentations to consistently hook up. These spotted beauties typically run 12-18 inches but occasionally surprise anglers with specimens exceeding 20 inches. They're structure-oriented fish that hold along grass beds, oyster bars, and channel edges where they ambush small baitfish and crustaceans. Best action occurs during moving water when these predators feed most actively. Redfish have been the Bay's comeback story, with populations rebounding strongly over the past decade. These copper-colored drums typically range 18-27 inches in the slot, offering powerful fights in relatively shallow water. They're sight fishing targets during calm conditions, cruising grass flats and oyster bars where they root for crabs and small fish. What makes reds exciting is their aggression – when they decide to eat, they absolutely crush baits with explosive strikes.
Pogonias CromisBlack Drum are the Bay's heavyweights, commonly running 15-40 pounds with some real monsters pushing 60-plus. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs. Look for them around oyster bars, bridge pilings, and shallow flats with muddy bottoms - they love areas where they can root around for food. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially during spawning season when they school up tight. What makes them special is that bulldogging fight once hooked - they'll use every ounce of that weight against you. The smaller ones under 15 pounds make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My tip: use fresh crab or clam on a circle hook and let it sit on the bottom - patience pays off with these guys.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails, typically weighing 5-15 pounds in our waters. They cruise super shallow flats and marsh edges, often in water so skinny their backs show above the surface. Fall brings the best action when they school up and feed aggressively before winter. What makes reds special is their power - they'll strip drag and make long runs in shallow water where you can see the whole fight. They're also excellent eating with sweet, firm meat that holds up well to any cooking method. The secret to catching them here is working the edges of grass beds with gold spoons or soft plastic shrimp. Look for nervous water or tailing fish, then make quiet casts ahead of where they're heading.
Salmo TruttaSea Trout, or Speckled Trout as we call them, are beautiful fish covered in dark spots with that classic trout profile. They typically run 12-18 inches and 1-3 pounds, though we get some nice ones pushing 4-5 pounds. These fish love grass beds and shallow water structure in 3-8 feet, especially around creek mouths where fresh water meets salt. Summer evenings and early mornings are prime time when they feed actively in the shallows. Guests enjoy their scrappy fight and those aerial jumps when first hooked. The meat is delicate and sweet - perfect for a fish fry. The trick with specks is to work soft plastics slowly over grass beds or use topwater plugs at dawn and dusk. They're sight feeders, so clear water makes all the difference.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish Mackerel are sleek, fast-moving fish that typically run 1-3 pounds in the Bay, though we occasionally see bigger ones. They're easy to spot with their silvery sides covered in yellow spots and that torpedo shape built for speed. You'll find them schooling near the surface around structure like channel edges and drop-offs, especially during summer months when water temps hit the 70s. These fish put up a great fight for their size - they'll make several hard runs and jump when hooked. The meat is excellent eating too, with a mild flavor that's perfect grilled or smoked. Pro tip: when you see diving birds or breaking water, get there fast and cast small spoons or jigs right into the action.
Morone SaxatilisStriped Bass are the Bay's signature fish, running anywhere from schoolie size up to 40+ pound cows. These silver beauties with their distinctive dark stripes love structure - channel edges, rock piles, and bridge pilings where they ambush baitfish. Spring and fall migrations bring the best action, but we catch them all season long in 10-30 feet of water. What guests love most is their power - a good striper will make long runs and fight hard right to the boat. Plus, they're fantastic eating with firm, white meat that's great grilled or baked. The key here in the Bay is matching your bait to what they're feeding on - live spot, white perch, or big bloodworms work best when presented near structure where the current breaks.
Chesapeake Bay