If you’re ever in the Tidewater Virginia area, you simply must take a way offshore fishing trip from the Virginia Beach fishing Center at Rudee Inlet. They’re located at 200 Winston Salem Ave. (757-491-8000). Ask about Rudee Tours. You’ll find a full service marina which offers head boats, daily fishing charters, beach parking, and a full service store. You can also find and book a decent hotel close by.
These way offshore trips are different than regular offshore trips. The most noticeable difference is the price, but when you see the size, and quality of your catch, you’ll see it was money well spent. These trips usually start in late winter, and continue through February (depending on what the captain says).
The head boat fleet is the finest in Virginia Beach. The targeted fish on this particular trip is the coveted Black Sea Bass, an excellent dining choice. The meat is flaky and white. I like them fried, grilled, or stuffed with shrimp, crabmeat and baked. This popular bottom fish can be caught in and around wrecks, and on rocky bottoms. Its appearance is black with bluish green specks. You should handle these fish with care because of their stiff dorsal fins. They can really hurt. They average 1-2 pounds, but the way offshore trips will yield larger catches. I have caught fish in the 5 pound range. You’ll work plenty hoisting them off the bottom, but what fun you’ll have doing it. (A helpful hint) Don’t wait until the boat stops to get your rigs tied, and hooks baited. When the captain says, “drop’em,” make sure you’re ready to do just that, and you won’t regret it, especially on the first 2 or 3 stops. That’s when you really catch’em. Also, if you get hung in the wreck, just let out about 8-10 ft. of line, then start reeling it in like crazy. If that doesn’t work, yell for the mate.
You don’t have to worry about licenses, bait or even a rod and reel for that matter. At the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, they’ve got it all covered. All you need is about $120, some guts, a cooler for lunch, beer, or whatever you require, and it’s on. Oh, and a few extra bucks for the mates. They work hard for your tips.
These captains are safety first. They won’t take chances with your life to make a buck. I learned this first hand when I booked a way offshore trip. I paid the man, climbed aboard, and off into the cold dark and misty December morning we motored. About 1 hour into our 3-4 hour trek, the captain informed us that due to rough seas, (which we hadn’t run into yet), we would be returning to Rudee Inlet, where he would refund our money, and take us out another day. Well, I don’t know about you, but given the choice, I choose the captain who doesn’t wait until he’s 55 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach in rough seas to realize he’s more than way offshore, he’s in way over his head. Frankly speaking, if it’s rough seas, or bad weather ahead, and El Capitan knows this? That’s not the time to be profit driven or ruled by the male ego. Lord knows I love fishing, but at the end of the day, I want to go hooooome! So, go book yourself a nice hotel, (because after one of these trips you won’t feel like driving) and upon your return, shower, have dinner, check out the high energy night life, get good nights sleep and head home the next day. You will have had a safe and adventurous fishing trip off the coast of Virginia Beach, with plenty to show for it.
Finally, check out the fish cleaning station to the right as you disembark. For a nominal fee they’ll clean your catch so all you have to do is put’em on ice. Happy fishing!
