Fish Tales will be running 4 boats this year. Due to the COVID thing we were not allowed to mix groups. People liked it so much we have continued limiting the trip to one group, plus the COVID is still around. There is a minimum charge, but you will have the boat to yourself. We are still limited to 6 passengers per boat, but if you have a larger group, we can take additional boats and stay within talking distance of each other.
All our boats meet or exceed U.S. Coast Guard regulations and all Captains are licensed. Everything for fishing is provided, including fishing license, rod & reel, bait & tackle. There will be a friendly mate onboard to bait your hook, remove your fish and clean them for you at the end of the trip. All our boats are about 24 feet long, have padded seats and are very stable.
The life jackets on board are life saving devices and are not comfortable to be worn during the trip. You are welcome to bring your own if you want to wear one during the trip. There are restroom facilities at the harbor. Most of our boats have canopy tops, but it is best to wear a hat and put on sunscreen. We don’t go out in rough sea conditions or heavy rain.
If weather conditions don’t allow us to make it through the entire trip, we will adjust the cost. A credit card is required to reserve your trip, if the captain cancels your trip due to weather you will not be charged. If you cancel the trip or don’t show up, you will be charged 10%. Please arrive 15 minutes early for the trip and bring your credit card, so we can run your balance. If you are paying cash, please bring the exact amount. Please listen to the directions given to you when booking your trip. If you have any questions Jan can be reached at 757-336-3474 or Captain Pete at 757-894-0875.
We offer a choice of trip lengths to suit your family.
You will have the possibility of catching Flounder, Bluefish, Kingfish, Croaker, Spot, Sea Trout, Sea Bass, Puffer, Sea Perch, Rockfish, Red & Black Drum, Jacks, Rays, Sharks and more.
2-hr trips: $185 up to 4 persons, $39 for each additional person
4-hr trips: $299 up to 4 persons, $69 for each additional person
Ocean & Bay trips depart daily at:
7:30am – 10am – 1pm – 3:30pm
Reservations are required.
Fish Tales is currently running 4 and 8 hour Ocean trips. Depending on the season and what’s biting at the time, we fish for; Flounder, Spadefish, Triggerfish, Seabass, Tautog, Bluefish, King and Spanish Mackerel, Little Tunny, Bonito, Skipjack Tuna, Dolphin(the fish), Red and Black Drum, Cobia, Kingfish and a verity of Sharks.
Methods include, trolling, casting, drifting and bottom fishing on the reef and wrecks.
Distances range anywhere from just outside the inlet to 15miles offshore.
These trips are weather sensitive. We don’t go out in what we consider rough weather. Even on calm days there is often a swell. If you tend to get seasick, or are concerned that you may, we suggest that you take Dramamine prior to taking the trip. It’s best to take a pill the night before and another a hour before the trip. The doctor prescribed patch behind your ear is the most effective solution to motion sickness.
All bait, tackle and fishing licenses are supplied. You are welcome to keep any legal fish that you catch and the mate will clean them for you at the end of the trip.
There are restrooms at the harbor, other than that we have a port-a- potty on the boat.
Our boats are 24 foot long Carolina Skiffs, with canopy tops, fish finding equipment and all Coast Guard required safety equipment.
The cost of a 4 hour ocean trip is $399.00 for up 4 people, $100.00pp for additional anglers, up to 6 maximum.
The cost of the 8-hour trip is $750.00 for up to 4 people, $175.00 for each additional person, up to 6 persons. The 8-hour trip departs at 6am and returns to the dock at 2pm. We feel 4 anglers are best on both these trips. If the weather becomes too rough to stay offshore, we will move into calmer waters for a shorter and/ or discounted trip.
A relaxing, yet exciting trip great for the whole family. Enjoy Fishing, Crabbing, Clamming, Dolphin encounters. See some of the 300 plus species of Wildfowl, Wild Ponies, Sea Turtles and other unusual sea creatures. Maybe even a Seal!
We typically clam on exposed mud flats at low tide, by treading. We supply the socks and a basket. We also have rakes available. The remote flats that we clam get very little pressure from other clammers, so you most often are able to get a good bunch to take home.
$355 Up to 4 persons
$75 for each additional person
Rather than trying to fill the cooler with a bunch of fish, we will be trying to fill the cooler with one fish. Please don’t book this trip if you are looking for constant action. We are fairly successful catching sharks on these trips, but it doesn’t work every time.
$325 Up to 3 persons
$89 for each additional person
Although shark numbers have been significantly reduced over the past years due to extreme over fishing, there are still good numbers and a wide variety of sharks in Virginia’s bays and ocean waters. Depending on the time of the year, species that can be found in the bays and surf include Sand Tiger, Dusky, Hammerhead , Bonnethead, Finetooth, Bull, Sharpnose, Dogfish and Nurse. In the near shore ocean there are Sandbar, Hornshark, Thresher and Blacktip.
Offshore there are Tiger, Mako and Blue sharks. Yes, we also have Great Whites and they pretty much go where ever they want.
In late May through June large female Sand Tigers and Duskys come into the back bays to spawn. These females can grow to well over 400 pounds. Depending on water temperature and availability of food, some of these sharks remain in the bay throughout the summer. During this same time Hammerheads are spawning in the near shore ocean. The newborn Hammerheads remain in and around the inlets throughout the summer months.
The Pony Swim from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island is one of the largest events in the country. Thousands of people travel from all parts of the country, and beyond every year to attend the Pony round up.
Swim Over July 24, 2024, Swim Back July 26, 2024
Thousands of people line up on the banks near the swim area to watch the event. As you can imagine, with thousands of people, some are going to get a better look than others. Rather than standing on a crowded bank for hours, some of the local charter boats offer the opportunity to see the swim by boat.
Captain Pete is Chincoteague’s longest operating Charter Boat Captain, and this is not his first rodeo. We will be operating 3 boats this year, all three will have licensed Coast Guard Captains and all required safety equipment. This is not the cattle car approach, with a bunch of people packed in to bench seats. Each boat takes a maximum of 6 passengers so you will have plenty of room and the best view at the swim.
You will have the opportunity to get out of the boat and walk around, wade or take a swim on the Assateague side. If you plan on getting out of the boat I recommend wearing aqua shoes, not flip flops. You can either wade with the ponies from the boat or be within arm’s reach as they enter the water. There is no better spot to watch the pony swim anywhere! We will have complimentary coffee, water, juice and breakfast sandwiches on board. All boats have canopy tops. 2 of the boats have heads, the 3rd shares.
After the swim there is a 45-minute rest period for the ponies, during which time we will take you for a ride looking for Dolphin, Sea turtles or any other unusual creature that pops its head up. We will then sail down to watch the Saltwater Cowboys herd the ponies down main street to the carnival grounds. Like one group said “You ain’t seen the swim, unless you’ve seen by boat!”.
Captain Pete offers both the swim over and the swim back. The swim over departs from Curtis Merritt at or before 5am the morning of the swim. The swim back time of departure depends on the tide. This year’s swim is expected to take place between 7 & 10am.
For reservations, please call with a Visa, Discover or Master Card at 757-336-3474. Hope to see you at the Pony Swim, Capt. Pete
$275 per person swim over
$125 per person swim back
To reserve, call 757-336-FISH (3474)
Fishing trips on hold until mid-April when the water warms. Waterfowl hunting through January.
For the latest fishing report and information Email Capt.
Pete at [email protected]. To book a trip please call Jan at 757-336-FISH (3474).
Good luck and good fishing,
Captain Pete
“Had a wonderful time on our fishing trip! Andrew was excellent and would definitely ask for him for next time. Learned tons and caught big fish! Thank you so much.”
Kayla & Penny
