Grading Scales Sportfishing 

4.9/5 (64 reviews)
 Messick Road 413, Poquoson, VA 23662, United States

Where else can you choose between fishing for Trout, Rockfish, Drum, and Spadefish, and going offshore in pursuit of monster Marlin, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and bottom-dwelling Tilefish? Discover the riches of the Chesapeake Bay and beyond with Grading Scales Sportfishing.

There’s nobody better to show you these waters than Captain Craig Freeman. He’s been fishing since he was old enough to walk and has been hooked ever since. By now, he has a whole cabinet full of tournament trophies, and will do everything to make sure you land the fish of a lifetime.

The 25’ Parker center console will guide you out to the depths (weather permitting), and has no trouble nearshore. Up to 6 guests are welcome aboard. Bring some drinks and snacks, stock up the captain’s cooler, and make yourselves at home for the day!

Fitted with downriggers and outriggers, she’s a serious fishing vessel. Capt. Craig will ensure that the livewell is full before you head to sea, and off you go. You’ll use the latest rods and reels as you bottom fish or troll, and you’ll have all the weights necessary to reach the deep waters in search of the tastiest fish. Bring your own fly gear and you can even go fly fishing!

Capt. Craig specializes in fishing for Cobia and Flounder but he’s equally adept in the shallows or the depths. Hit the inshore waters and fill the boat with some of the Chesapeake’s favorite sons. Sheepshead, Tautog, Seabass, Trout, Spadefish, and Redfish will all make for a delicious treat at the end of the day.

You can also head offshore in search of some of the ocean’s finest creatures. Battling it out with a Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, or Mahi Mahi, will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced. These beasts will do anything to get off the end of your line, so get ready for the fight of a lifetime.

Everything you need for a productive day on the water awaits you aboard with Grading Scales Sportfishing. Come and discover these incredibly diverse waters and experience fishing like never before!

Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc

Charter Operator

Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc

15 years of experience
 ID & credentials verified
 responds within an hour

Most popular features:

 Fishing License
 Live Bait
 You Keep Catch
 Child Friendly
 Ice Box
 Rods, reels & tackle

Trip availability and prices

Trip Date:
Days:
Group Size:
Almost there...
3 Hour Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
3 Hour Trip, starts at 5:00 PM
Seasonal trip Jun 1 - Sep 30 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu)
Price for up to 6 people
US $300 
4 Hour Trip (AM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Price for up to 6 people
US $600 
4 Hour Trip (PM)
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
Price for up to 6 people
US $600 
6 Hour trip

 In demand! Last booked: 3 days ago

FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
6 Hour Trip, starts at 9:00 AM
Price for up to 6 people
US $750 
8 Hour Trip
FREE Cancellation 7 days notice
8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
Price for up to 6 people
US $900 
There are 2 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary

4.9/5
out of 5 stars from 64 reviews
Boat
4.9/5
Crew
5.0/5
Experience
4.9/5

Photos & videos by reviewers (49)

June fishing trip
June fishing trip
June fishing trip
+46

Angler rating

53
3
0
0
0

Anglers claimed

Good experience

98%

Appropriate for children

98%

Friendly captain

100%

Satisfied with the boat

100%

Recommend this charter

88%

Caught fish

94%

Showing 1 - 5 of 64 reviews
Brian B.
Brian B.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great day!

VERIFIED
NEW

6 Hour trip on May 24, 2025

My daughter and I had a wonderful day with Captain Craig. Would highly recommend his charter.

My daughter and I had a wonderful day with Captain Craig. Would highly recommend his charter.  

 Brian B. recommends Grading Scales Sportfishing
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc (The Charter Operator)
Replied on May 26, 2025
Thanks for a great trip with tough conditions. We will get them next time.

Patrick B.
Patrick B.
4.7/5

Experience:

4.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Great Captain

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (AM) on June 17, 2024

Craig was a fantastic captain. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and most importantly put us on some fish. He knew a lot about the local scene, had intimate knowledge of regulations from being on a conservation board, and used his experience as an educator to thoroughly explain/answer questions in a very comprehensive way. Highly recommend!

Craig was a fantastic captain. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and most importantly put us on some fish. He knew a lot about the local scene, had intimate knowledge of regulations from being on a conservation board, and used his experience as an educator to thoroughly explain/answer questions in a very comprehensive way. Highly recommend!  

Review media 0
 Patrick B. recommends Grading Scales Sportfishing
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc (The Charter Operator)
Replied on June 22, 2024
4.0 out of 5.0 on the boat because I had a reel bearing grind on a reel. 🤷‍♂️ Everything else was great. Custom rods, good bait, caught fish. It was a good trip with good people.

Erica B.
Erica B.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Fun family trip

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (AM) on August 12, 2024

Captain Craig and First Mate Chase were great! Our boys caught 3 Spanish Mackerel and my husband fought and won a nice size Cobia. We look forward to another trip!

Captain Craig and First Mate Chase were great! Our boys caught 3 Spanish Mackerel and my husband fought and won a nice size Cobia. We look forward to another trip!  

 Erica B. recommends Grading Scales Sportfishing
1 person finds this review helpful
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc (The Charter Operator)
Replied on August 14, 2024
Y’all were a fun group of fish with. Thank you thank you for the kind words. Looking forward to the next time.

Catalina M.
Catalina M.
5.0/5

Experience:

5.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

June fishing trip

VERIFIED

6 Hour trip on June 22, 2024

Knowledgeable respectful and helpful We definitely enjoyed the trip and we definitely will be back with them hopefully soon

Knowledgeable respectful and helpful We definitely enjoyed the trip and we definitely will be back with them hopefully soon  

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 Catalina M. recommends Grading Scales Sportfishing
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc (The Charter Operator)
Replied on June 24, 2024
We enjoyed fishing with your group. Looking forward to the next time.

Jason A.
Jason A.
4.7/5

Experience:

4.0/5

Boat

5.0/5

Crew

5.0/5

Overall

Fishing with Craig

VERIFIED

4 Hour Trip (PM) on August 31, 2024

 

 Jason A. recommends Grading Scales Sportfishing
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc
Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc (The Charter Operator)
Replied on September 1, 2024
Thanks

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FAQs about Grading Scales Sportfishing

What are the trip rates for Grading Scales Sportfishing?

Grading Scales Sportfishing offers the following trips to customers:

  • US $300 per group - 3 Hour Trip (3 hours)
  • US $600 per group - 4 Hour Trip (AM) (4 hours)
  • US $600 per group - 4 Hour Trip (PM) (4 hours)
  • US $750 per group - 6 Hour trip (6 hours)
  • US $900 per group - 8 Hour Trip (8 hours)
Which amenities are available onboard with Grading Scales Sportfishing?

When you book a trip with Grading Scales Sportfishing, you can expect the following amenities onboard:

  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well 50 gallons
  • Outriggers
  • Ice Box Coolers for fish and food
  • Radio
  • Sonar
What's included in the trip price with Grading Scales Sportfishing?

Trips booked with Grading Scales Sportfishing include:

  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (Prepared before the trip)
  • Lures
  • First Mate (Mate works for 20% tips)
  • Fishing License
What types of fishing does Grading Scales Sportfishing offer?

Grading Scales Sportfishing offers the following types of fishing:

  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Reef Fishing
  • Wreck Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing
What fishing techniques does Grading Scales Sportfishing offer?

Grading Scales Sportfishing offers the following fishing techniques:

  • Light Tackle
  • Heavy Tackle
  • Bottom Fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
  • Jigging
  • Fly Fishing
  • Drift Fishing
  • Deep Sea Fishing
Which fish species can I catch with Grading Scales Sportfishing?

Top targeted fish species with Grading Scales Sportfishing include:

  • Black Drum
  • Cobia
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Flounder
  • Redfish
  • Seabass (Black)
  • Sheepshead
  • Spadefish
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Speckled Trout
  • Tautog
  • Tilefish

Your operator

Grading Scales Sportfishing Llc

Poquoson, Virginia, United States

3 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
64 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since July 2015

There is nothing better than teaching others and watching them enjoy catching fish. That is what sets us apart from other charters. We let you get incredibly hands on and want you to learn the craft. We will let you cast, rig baits, or sit back and relax. It is up to you how involved you get in the days fishing. For our typical charter, we usually target Cobia and big Red Drum. We sight fish for them. However, we also offer nearshore and offshore charters where we target other popular species of fish. We can customize your trip to your desired species, depending on the season. If it swims, we can catch it!

The fish you can target

Black Drum
Black Drum
Cobia
Cobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Flounder
Flounder
Redfish
Redfish
Black Seabass
Black Seabass
Sheepshead
Sheepshead
Spadefish
Spadefish
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish Mackerel
Speckled Trout
Speckled Trout
Tautog
Tautog
Tilefish
Tilefish

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
6 persons
Boat length
25 ft
Year built
2010
Boat manufacturer
Parker
Boat type
Center console

Engine model
Suzuki
Powered by
1 x 300HP
Max cruising speed
32 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing

Nearshore Fishing

Offshore Fishing

Reef Fishing

Wreck Fishing

Flats Fishing

Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Light Tackle

Heavy Tackle

Bottom Fishing

Trolling

Spinning

Jigging

Fly Fishing

Drift Fishing

Deep Sea Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS

Fishfinder

Live Bait Well

50 gallons

Outriggers

Ice Box

Coolers for fish and food

Radio

Sonar

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle

Live Bait

Prepared before the trip

Lures

First Mate

Mate works for 20% tips

Fishing License

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 7 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 7 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.

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included

Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.

Child Friendly

Should be old enough to hold a rod

No Smoking

You Keep Catch

Can be cleaned for $25-50

Catch and Release Allowed

How you can pay

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% 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

 American Express

 PayPal

When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 4% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Poquoson right now

Black DrumBlack Drum
CobiaCobia
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
FlounderFlounder
RedfishRedfish
Seabass (Black)Seabass (Black)
SheepsheadSheepshead
SpadefishSpadefish
Spanish MackerelSpanish Mackerel
TautogTautog
TilefishTilefish
2 people are looking at this charter.