Cost Breakdown: Fishing Charters in Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is home to some of the best fishing available on the east coast but the thought of paying for this experience can seem daunting. Knowing the average costs of Virginia Beach fishing charters can help you decide if this trip is right for you.
The average cost of Virginia Beach fishing charter trips 4 hours in duration is $575, 6 hours in duration is $843, 8 hours in duration is $1063, 10 hours in duration is $1433, and 12 hours in duration is $2160.
What makes Virginia Beach such a popular fishing destination is its great mix of inshore and offshore fishing opportunities. In this article, we are going to look at the best times to book a charter and what you should expect to pay for a trip of a lifetime.
Click here to view our Virginia seasonal fishing times guide in this helpful guide.
Charter Costs: Trip Length (Private Trip)
-4 Hour Trips
Most of the time, you will be targeting inshore species such as speckled trout and redfish. Based on 13 charters surveyed, you can find 4-hour trips in Virginia Beach for an average of $575, with the highest cost being $700 and the lowest being $300.
A 4-hour trip is a great way to get a solid amount of fishing in while not taking up the whole day. With 4-hour trips, you will stay close to shore and fish inshore bays and wrecks and usually won’t have to deal with huge waves, making it a much more relaxing trip. You will most likely need to travel around 30 minutes to an hour round trip, so you will have at least 3 hours dedicated to fishing.
4 hour trips are also great for family trips. A perk of a 4-hour trip other than price is that you can research the tide and decide if you want your trip in the morning, afternoon, or even evening with some charters. This can help you plan your trip around the best times of the day.
-6 Hour Trips
You should bring a light meal and some drinks for when you are out on the water. Some fish commonly targeted on 6-hour trips are redfish, cobia, mackerel, and speckled trout. The average cost for a 6-hour trip based on a survey of 8 charters was $843, with the highest costing trip being $1100, and the lowest costing trip is $550.
6-hour trips are very popular because you get a couple more hours to track down fish but aren’t spending all day on the water. For these trips, you will generally stay near shore and will spend an hour or two traveling to and from the spot.
You can also catch offshore fish on 6-hour trips if you are willing to spend more time on the boat ride out to the spot. Since you will be spending more time on the water, this isn’t the ideal option for a family trip but can work.
-8 Hour Trips
Based on 7 charters, the average cost was $1063, with the cheapest being $800, and the most expensive being $1600.
8-hour trips are considered full-day trips. You can still spend your time inshore, but 8-hour trips open up more options of where you can fish. With these trips, you can make it out much further and still have enough time to thoroughly fish the area.
You can expect to spend an hour or two in transit, depending on where you are fishing. Since these trips are longer, you should bring at least one meal. These trips also bring more opportunities to catch bigger fish such as cobia, striped bass, tuna, mahi-mahi, and marlin. It would be difficult to plan an 8-hour fishing trip for a family.
-10 Hour Trips
The average cost out of 6 charters for 10-hour trips was $1433, the cheapest costing trip was $1275, and the most expensive trip was $1600.
10-hour trips are the second-longest trips offered for a single day. They can be intense and are not recommended for families or those that fish more so for leisure. You should bring at least two meals and plenty of water. With 10-hour trips, you can make it very far offshore, and can expect about 2 hours of transit time.
These trips are canceled more often than shorter trips. This is because you will generally be much further out, and the weather is usually worse out there, and it is much harder to predict. If a trip is canceled by a captain, they will usually work with you on a refund or reschedule the trip. 10-hour trips allow you to target any fish that is in the area and in season.
-12 Hour Trips
10-hour trips allow you to target any fish that is in season and gives you plenty of time to target them. Based on 6 charters, the average cost was $2160, the cheapest was $1800 and the most expensive was $2900.
Most charters don’t go over the 12-hour mark on their trips. These are not trips for those who leisurely fish. You can expect at least 2 hours of transit and quite a few waves. Since these trips are so long, you should bring at least two meals and plenty of water.
Weather is a big factor in these trips as bad weather that far out can be very dangerous and can damage the boat. Some trips are canceled due to the weather. Most of these trips will be offshore, but there are inshore options for 12-hour trips as well.
Click here to learn about how good the fishing is in Virginia Beach. Also, you may be interested in a complete guide in the best fishing times for Norfolk fishing.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Virginia Beach
These Virginia Beach-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| E-Fishinsea Sport Fishing Charters | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Sea Teaser Sportfishing | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Four Reel Charters | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Reel Release Sport Fishing | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Marcia B Sportfishing | Virginia Beach, VA |
| AquaMan Sportfishing – Game On | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Knot Wish’n Custom Charters | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Anchor Up Fishing | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Southern Belle Sportfishing | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Knot Tell’n Charters | Virginia Beach, VA |
| First Landing Charters | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Top Notch Charters | Virginia Beach, VA |
| Prowler Fishing Charter | Norfolk, VA |
Seasonal Trip Cost Breakdowns (Private Trip)
Spring
Spring is a somewhat popular time for fishing in Virginia Beach. There is an uptick in visitors to the area for a few weeks because of spring break, and some of those visitors will be booking fishing trips. This usually happens mid-spring and marks the start of one of the busier seasons for guides. Fishing will be good in late May, bringing in more business for charters as well.
Spring will usually have no extra charges due to the season. Guides will be much busier during the last half of spring than the first half.
Longer trips can be much easier in the spring than in the summer because the weather will be much cooler, which can help you stay on the water longer. Spring fishing in the area can produce a ton of fish, the main species being flounder, striped bass, and Atlantic mackerel.
Summer
Summer is a very busy season for guides in Virginia Beach. The weather is great along with the fishing, some of the most popular species in the area can be caught during the summer. Weather is a factor to think about while booking a trip in the summer.
It can get extremely hot, and if you are on a boat without much cover, it can be a long day. Prepare with plenty of water and sunscreen. Summer is generally a popular time for anglers to go on fishing trips, so you can expect some competition from other anglers booking charters, making it a good idea to book well in advance if possible.
Pricing in the summer is usually slightly more expensive than in other seasons, mainly due to the increase in demand in the summer. That increase in demand is mainly because fish like tuna, mahi-mahi, and striped bass are in their peak season during the summer.
Fall
Fishing in the fall is another great time to fish in the area. Early fall is the busiest time during the fall. There are species-specific trips that may have extra fees during the fall, but generally, there are no extra costs due to the season.
Business in the fall is not nearly as busy as in the spring and summer, but it is still a good idea to book in advance if possible. Fall is the peak season for a lot of species in the area and is a very popular time to fish. Some notable species that peak in the fall are redfish, marlin, tuna, and mackerel.
Winter
Wintertime is a down season for charters, fishing is only good for select species, and some fish are out of season. This makes it much easier to find a charter on short notice.
Charters will sometimes lower their price during the winter, and trips will only be more expensive if the trip is only possible during the winter. The main species targeted in the winter in Virginia Beach are bluefin tuna, striped bass, and sea bass.
Virginia Beach Fishing Charter Cost Impacts
Better Value if You Fish with Group
Fishing with a group can add value in multiple ways. When you split a trip with someone, the cost is based on per person rather than per boat, making the trip more accessible. Another way that value is added is because you will have more lines in the water, creating more opportunities to catch fish.
And lastly, a group adds to the fun of the fishing trip. Group trips are a great way to spend your day and can create great memories of catching a ton of fish. Fishing with a group works well with people who don’t take it too seriously, but if you are looking to chase down a trophy fish, a solo or duo trip may be a better fit for you. This doesn’t mean that if you take fishing seriously you shouldn’t book a group trip, just that it may work better with a group that is fishing for leisure.
Cost of Shared Fishing Charter
The cost of these kinds of charters varies depending on the length, type, and location of the trip. Most trips will have a flat rate for a certain amount of people, which can be split among the group, and have an additional cost for each person after that.
Generally, the cost per person after the flat rate is around $100. You will generally save money by going this route, the split cost for a group is usually much cheaper than a flat rate for one or two people.
Factors that May Impact Charter Costs
Charter costs can vary based on a few different factors, mainly the busyness of the season, gas and bait prices, supply chains, weekday vs weekend, and major events in the area like spring break. Booking a trip during a busy season or during a time with a major event going on may increase the cost.
This increase in demand also increases the demand for bait in the area, which may increase the price if bait shops don’t have the supply required. Gas prices also affect the pricing because boats can burn through a ton of gas on just one trip, especially bigger boats.
If you book your trip on the weekend, you may see a slight price difference, but usually not a drastic change. Also, if a popular species like striped bass is in its peak season, prices may increase with the demand for charters.
Additional Costs with Charter Fishing
Most of the time, charters will provide you with almost everything you need for your day on the water, but you will still have to bring some things on the boat. You’ll want to bring food, drinks, and sunscreen.
Fishing licenses are required and are usually offered in the form of day, week, or year-long licenses. Some charters will have day passes available to purchase from them, but sometimes you will need to go to a local bait store and get one yourself.
The charter will take care of the fishing equipment, bait, and sometimes even the cleaning of the fish. Some charters will clean the fish on the boat or dock, but sometimes you will need to pay someone to clean your fish. Tips are customary in the charter business, usually, tips will go to first mates if the charter has them, or directly to the guide if it’s only them.
A standard tip is usually 15-25%, depending on the quality of the trip. There are cases where you can bring your own gear, this is mainly done on fly fishing trips but is never required. If you plan on keeping fish, you may have to flash freeze your filets and ship them home, this usually isn’t very expensive, but something to consider.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Maryland, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Virginia Beach, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Norfolk, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the fishing charter costs in the Outer Banks, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the average cost to fish in Charleston, please check out this helpful guide. To learn if Virginia Beach fishing is good, please check out this helpful guide.
