I’ve been fishing for striped bass on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia for over 40 years. I’ve fished at various spots from the top of the Bay where the Susquehanna River enters the Bay all the way down to the mouth where the Bay empties into the Atlantic. I’ve fished with many different captains and caught fish ranging from tiny ones to an 18 lb lunker. Most of my fishing for stripers was with a fly rod, however I didn’t have my equipment with me on this trip so I used the gear that Captain Doug had aboard his boat…and there was plenty of it, all in very good condition.

Our half day with Captain Doug Brown and his mate was one of the very best and enjoyable days that I’ve spent on the water not only because he took us to fish-rich places but because he and his mate are wonderful, welcoming, and interesting people. There were three of us…me, my son, and my 18 year old grandson who had never fished for stripers before. We all felt welcomed from the time we boarded the boat and when we left we felt like we had not only gained some beautiful fish to take with us but that we had had gained two friends that we look forward to fishing with the next time we were on the Cape.

We caught our limit of keepers within the first hour and a half, Not all were keepers…some were in the 25-27” range (below the slot limit below the 28” lower limit) and some were in the 32-33” range (above the upper 31” slot limit).The important things is that we caught something on every pass and they all were fighters and in fantastic condition. My grandson not only caught the first fish, the most fish and the biggest one. Not bad for a first-timer. He’s now asking when we can go back. A lot of credit goes to the mate who helped school the three of us in how striper fishing is done in the Bay. We didn’t lose any of the fish that we hooked/

Getting our limit quickly wasn’t the end of the day. I had arranged with Captain Doug for him to bring a fly rod so I could try to catch one on that way and I also had asked him whether my son and grandson could do some spin casting for fish as well. Not only did Captain Doug have it all, he also had a couple of spots, the flats he called them, where we could go. Unfortunately, the fish didn’t cooperate so we called it a day.

Captain Doug knows the waters and his mate is a fantastic teacher and helper. He’s as good, and in some ways, this team is as good or better than any other that I have ever fished with.  On a 1-5 scale, I give them both 100s. They are that good.

We recently took a half-day trip with Captain Doug and first mate Kayleigh. My kids had been pond fishing many times, but this was their first time fishing in the bay. My wife and I were (and still are) very much beginners, neither of us ever having caught a fish before.

We set out late in the afternoon due to the tides and headed out toward Brewster where the kids both reeled in their first stripers. Very exciting!  One was a keeper and the other was too small and had to be thrown back. Things got a little slow so Captain Doug decided to switch locations.  He took us out to (I think?) Billingsgate Shoal where Kayleigh taught us the “jigging” technique. I don’t know if it was the technique or the location or both, but from that point on the fish were biting like crazy. It seemed like only a few minutes would go by and we’d have another one. All told we probably caught at least 30 stripers, many of which would have been keepers had we not hit our limit much earlier in the day.

The end of the trip coincided with sunset which was a nice bonus. We sat back and enjoyed the ride back to Eastham while marveling at Kayleigh’s skill in gutting and fileting our catch on the move. By the time we arrived back at the dock, our haul was nicely packed up in several huge ziploc bags all ready to throw into the cooler. Lunch the following day, naturally, was striped bass, marinated in lemon and olive oil, and prepared simply on the grill.

We all had a wonderful time and the kids are already asking to do it again next summer. The crew was super friendly and excellent at what they do. I would strongly recommend them without hesitation.

We recently had the pleasure of embarking on a half-day fishing charter with Captain Doug and Mate Kaylie, and I can confidently say it was an experience that surpassed all expectations. From the moment we set foot on the boat until the very last cast, their professionalism, expertise, and warm personalities created an atmosphere of pure enjoyment.

First and foremost, Kaylie’s exceptional ability to engage with children made this fishing trip particularly remarkable. Her patience and genuine care for young anglers were evident from the start. She took the time to explain fishing to the kids, teaching them how to reel in their catches. Her enthusiasm turned the entire trip into a fun-filled adventure for the little ones.

Captain Doug’s vast knowledge of the local fishing grounds was truly impressive. His years of experience shone through as he took us to the prime fishing spots. His understanding of the fish was remarkable, and he wasted no time in finding the best spots for us to reel in some impressive catches.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend Captain Doug and Mate Kaylie’s fishing charter enough. Their professionalism, knowledge, and exceptional rapport with children made our half-day fishing trip an unforgettable adventure. Their dedication to ensuring a memorable experience for everyone on board will undoubtedly leave you with cherished memories.