Best Bay Fishing in Virginia Beach | 6-8 Hours

Bay Fishing Charters In Virginia Beach

Looking for a solid day of fishing without the rough seas? Our bay fishing charters are where you want to be. We're talking 6 to 8 hours of prime fishing time in Virginia Beach's protected bay waters, where the fish are biting and the ride stays comfortable. You'll have room for up to 4 people, making it perfect for small groups who want personalized attention and plenty of space to fish. This isn't some crowded party boat situation – it's your crew, our expertise, and some of the best inshore fishing Virginia Beach has to offer.

What to Expect on the Water

The Chesapeake Bay system around Virginia Beach is absolutely loaded with structure and feeding grounds that hold fish year-round. We're fishing grass beds, channel edges, bridge pilings, and those sweet spots where current meets shallow water. The beauty of bay fishing is the variety – you never know if the next bite is going to be a hefty redfish cruising the shallows or a cobia following a ray along the bottom. The water stays relatively calm compared to offshore trips, but don't think that means less action. These bay fish are aggressive and they fight hard in shallow water. You'll spend your day moving between proven spots, reading the water, and adjusting techniques based on what the fish are telling us. Weather rarely shuts us down completely since we've got plenty of protected areas to work with.

Techniques & Tackle

We fish light to medium tackle most of the day, which means you'll actually feel every head shake and run these fish make. Live bait is king out here – we're talking finger mullet, spot, croakers, and whatever else the baitfish are doing. We'll also throw artificials when the situation calls for it, especially soft plastics and spoons around structure. You'll learn to work different depths, from sight fishing in 2 feet of water to targeting drop-offs in 15-20 feet. We provide all the gear, but if you've got your own setup and want to bring it, that works too. The key is staying mobile and reading the conditions. Tides matter big time in the bay, and we time our moves around the water flow. You'll see how a spot that's dead at low tide comes alive when the water starts moving.

Top Catches This Season

Redfish are the bread and butter of Virginia Beach bay fishing, and for good reason. These copper-colored bruisers love our shallow grass flats and oyster bars. They typically run 20-35 inches here, with the occasional bull red pushing 40-plus inches making your reel scream. Spring through fall is prime time, but we catch them year-round when you know where to look. What makes reds so special is how they fight – they use that broad tail and stubborn attitude to make long, powerful runs that'll test your drag system. Plus, they're beautiful fish with that distinctive bronze coloring and black spot near the tail. You'll find them tailing in skinny water on warm days, absolutely perfect for sight fishing when conditions line up right.

Cobia are the wildcards that make every trip exciting. These brown sharks (as some folks call them) are curious, aggressive, and absolutely demolish whatever they decide to eat. Virginia Beach sits right in their migration path, and from late spring through early fall, you never know when one might show up. They love following rays and other large objects, so we're always scanning the water for that telltale dark shadow. Cobia average 25-40 pounds here, but 50-plus pounders aren't uncommon. They're incredible table fare and put up a fight that combines power with surprising agility for such a big fish. The best part about cobia fishing is how visual it can be – watching a 40-pound fish rise up to investigate your bait gets your heart pumping every single time.

Time to Book Your Spot

This bay fishing experience gives you everything you want in a day on the water – consistent action, beautiful scenery, comfortable conditions, and fish that fight like they mean it. You're getting local knowledge that takes years to develop, quality gear that's maintained and ready to go, and access to spots that produce fish day after day. Whether you're looking to introduce someone to fishing or you're a seasoned angler wanting to target specific species, our 6-8 hour bay trips deliver the goods. The bay fishing around Virginia Beach is world-class, and we're here to put you on the fish. Don't wait around – good fishing days have a way of booking up fast, especially when word gets out about how the fish are biting. Give us a call and let's get your trip on the calendar.