Chesapeake Bay may be a world-famous fishery, but there’s no better way to experience it than through the eyes of a local. Whether you’re a brand new fisherman or a seasoned angler, you’ll get to know the secret hottest spots around and reel in the catch of a lifetime with Patent Pending Charters!
Captain John Whitman is a second-generation fisherman with over 45 years of angling and boating experience under his belt, making him your perfect guide to the Bay and its bountiful waters. He was born and raised here, and loves targeting anything from Redfish to Black Drum to Mackerel—but especially Striped Bass!
You’ll be heading out to the Bay in an impressive 46’ Alan Boat Builders commercial vessel. Her size makes her a true fishing machine – yourself and 5 other anglers will all be able to comfortably troll, live line, or chum these waters at the same time. She comes fully decked out with all the necessary safety and navigational equipment, including top-quality GPS and fish finder systems to get you to the hottest fishing spots.
If nothing sounds better to you than cruising around the Bay for various species of trophy Rockfish, then Capt. John has you covered. Whether you’re an experienced angler or are just discovering your love for the water, he’s happy to help you find your perfect technique. He’ll be there to guide you through everything from trolling to live lining or chumming—the last two are perfect for beginners! Available but not included is a gourmet meal prepared on board by the captain consisting of Jumbo lump crab cake, fresh garden salad with apple vinaigrette dressing, freshly baked cornbread, and homemade pasta salad. It costs 30.00 per person.
You’ll be equipped with top-quality rods and reels, live bait, and a fishing license, which are all included in your trip. Come aboard Patent Pending Charters and let Capt. John show you how the locals do it.
Captain
Capt. John Whitman
Most popular features:
Rating summary
Photos & videos by reviewers (113)
Angler rating
Anglers claimed
Good experience
97%
Appropriate for children
96%
Friendly captain
99%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Recommend this charter
94%
Caught fish
89%
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (PM) on May 17, 2025
Capt. John and First Mate Ronnie gave us the best day of fishing! Capt. John knew exactly where the hot spot would be, and within minutes we were all catching Striped Bass. First Mate Ronnie was amazing at helping us get the fish in the boat, teaching us how to reel, and keeping all the lines ready. He was so funny, patient and wanted us to have a great time. Capt. John is total class. His years of experience and professionalism transcend. He has the best stories and an infectious laugh. He made our charter fun, successful and safe. He always knew where to move the boat for to catch the fish, and kept an eye on the weather. The boat was perfect - it is clean and there was plenty of room for all of us and our coolers. We made some great memories that day and plan on chartering another fishing trip in the future with Patent Pending.
Capt. John and First Mate Ronnie gave us the best day of fishing! Capt. John knew exactly where the hot spot would be, and within minutes we were all catching Striped Bass. First Mate Ronnie was amazing at helping us get the fish in the boat, teaching us how to reel, and keeping all the lines ready. He was so funny, patient and wanted us to have a great time. Capt. John is total class. His years of experience and professionalism transcend. He has the best stories and an infectious laugh....
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on May 25, 2025
I didn't attend the boat outing myself, but my boyfriend and his family had an absolutely amazing time celebrating his 30th birthday, thanks to the captain. I've heard nothing but great things about the experience - from how smooth everything went to how friendly and accommodating the captain was throughout the trip. Everyone came back with big smiles, great stories, and lots of pictures, and they all said it was the perfect way to celebrate such a special occasion. Huge thanks to the captain for helping make his birthday one to remember.
I didn't attend the boat outing myself, but my boyfriend and his family had an absolutely amazing time celebrating his 30th birthday, thanks to the captain. I've heard nothing but great things about the experience - from how smooth everything went to how friendly and accommodating the captain was throughout the trip. Everyone came back with big smiles, great stories, and lots of pictures, and they all said it was the perfect way to celebrate such a special occasion. Huge thanks to the captain...
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (PM) on July 5, 2025
Boat was big and comfy. Plenty of shade and space. Captain knows where to find fish. Even cooked us up some fresh fillers.
Boat was big and comfy. Plenty of shade and space. Captain knows where to find fish. Even cooked us up some fresh fillers.
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (AM) on November 29, 2024
Captain John and first mate Ronny had to put the work in to get on the fish today but the kept working until we found them. My whole crew got to boat their first Rockfish and we had a great time cruising the bay on a super comfortable boat. Both Capt John and Ronny shared great stories and jokes. Overall awesome experience and I will definitely use Patent Pending Charters the next time I want to get on the Bay!
Captain John and first mate Ronny had to put the work in to get on the fish today but the kept working until we found them. My whole crew got to boat their first Rockfish and we had a great time cruising the bay on a super comfortable boat. Both Capt John and Ronny shared great stories and jokes. Overall awesome experience and I will definitely use Patent Pending Charters the next time I want to get on the Bay!
Experience:
Boat
Crew
Overall
Half Day Trip (PM) on September 29, 2024
Captain John is well prepared, deals with his customers in a professional and kind manner. the boat is very welcoming, clean and well equipped. We had a great afternoon and we’ll definitely work with Captain John again.
Captain John is well prepared, deals with his customers in a professional and kind manner. the boat is very welcoming, clean and well equipped. We had a great afternoon and we’ll definitely work with Captain John again.
Patent Pending Charters offers the following trips to customers:
When you book a trip with Patent Pending Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
Trips booked with Patent Pending Charters include:
Patent Pending Charters offers the following type of fishing:
Patent Pending Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
Top targeted fish species with Patent Pending Charters include:
Tracys Landing, Maryland, United States
Captain John is a second-generation fisherman who served in United States Coast Guard. He grew up in the bay, so being a fisherman is something that came naturally to him! He has fished in this area all of his life, and loves targeting anything from Rockfish to Red Drum to Mackerel, but especially Striped Bass. He spent some time as a businessman working in the catering industry, and now that he's retired he loved nothing more than spending his time fishing and introducing new and experienced anglers alike to these waters.
Inshore Fishing
Chesapeake Bay
Light Tackle
Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning
Jigging
Toilet
Air Conditioning
GPS
Fishfinder
Bed
Live Bait Well
Kitchen
Refrigerator
Ice Box
Radar
Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
First Mate
Customary tip is 20%
Fishing License
Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
Pickup agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Child Friendly
Children over 5 years old
You Keep Catch
We wil filet your catch for you at no extra cost.
Catch and Release Allowed
Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% deposit to guarantee your reservation.
The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:
Cash
Visa
Mastercard
PayPal