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James McGeehan
Captain

James McGeehan

Bethany Beach, United States
Federal waters
Angler's choice
25+ reviews
Capt. James is experienced in navigating the waters of Bethany Beach, Delaware and is ready to take you on a therapeutic fishing excursion. The crew will demonstrate techniques such as bottom fishing, trolling, drifting, jigging, or something unique to the area. The only way to learn is to join them on the water.

Charter

Rusty Reel Charters

Rusty Reel Charters

Bethany Beach
Instant Confirmation
Trips from
US $900

Rating

4.8
48 reviews
4.8
Boat & Equipment
4.8
Captain & Crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

What anglers say

96%
Recommend this charter
96%
Caught fish

All reviews (48)

Showing 1 – 5 of 48 reviews
  • David Heinrich
    David Heinrich
    us
    New York, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    An Unforgettable Family Fishing Adventure with Captain Jim and Tom! 🎣

    4 Hour Trip (AM) • 5 adults • 3 children

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had an excellent fishing trip with Captain Jim and deckhand Tom! I brought my two sons and daughter, and they made sure everyone had a great time. Jim was knowledgeable, friendly, and put us right on the fish. Tom was fantastic with the kids—patient, helpful, and always ready to bait a hook or lend a hand. The boat was clean, the crew was professional, and the entire experience was fun from start to finish. We made some wonderful family memories and would absolutely book with them again. Highly recommended—and be sure to ask Captain Jim how much he loves ice cream! 🍦

    Response from Captain

    bless you, Saint Patty😎👍

  • Andrew White
    Andrew White
    us
    Maryland, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip!

    10 hour trip • 5 adults

    We may not have found the tilefish today, but Captain knew exactly how to turn the trip into a success! He put us right on the seabass, and as soon as the line hit the water, the action started. We were getting bites almost immediately and had a blast reeling them in. The captain knew where to go, kept us on the fish, and made sure we had a great day on the water. If you’re looking for a captain who knows his stuff and works hard to put you on fish, look no further. Great captain, great fishing, and a great day on the water. We’ll definitely be back!

    Response from Captain

    😎👍🙏 see you guys soon you are all awesome

  • Christopher L Farrands
    Christopher L Farrands
    Repeat angler
    us
    Pennsylvania, US
    Member since 2016
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Great trip!

    12 Hour Trip – Offshore • 5 adults

    We had a great trip with Steve and Derek on the Rusty Reel. They did a great job with managing the timing of things throughout the day, keeping things moving and ultimately helping our group of 5 with having a great full day out to the canyons. Several first time folks in the group. We caught 1 tuna within minutes of being out. After that we were a little slow for an hour or so and pivoted to Tile fish (caught 23 of them). Then the captain said lets move and get back into Tuna this afternoon before the day is shot. Caught 2 more tuna because of that call. Great boat and crew.

    Reported catch:
    Bluefin Tuna
    Tilefish
    Response from Captain

    Derek and I had a great time with you guys. Hope to see you again next time your here for some more fun and new experiences 👍

  • Jennifer Sims
    Jennifer Sims
    us
    New Jersey, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    What a trip!

    4 Hour Trip (AM) • 6 adults

    I'll start by saying that Captain McGeehan was great! He's funny and interesting. Most of all, he actually gives a damn about his charters! He went above and beyond to ensure that we were having a nice time. He made sure that the weather was optimal for our excursion. He went out of his way to make sure that we were catching fish, and boy did we catch some fish! Our first mate, Derrick kept our lines in tract, or hooks baited and even caught a massive flounder! 22 inches! The boat was everything we needed and more. Comfy ride, even in medium chop. We had a terrific time and look forward to hanging out with Captain McGeehan again. I urge you, book your trips now! Once others catch on, you'll have a hard time snagging a trip with the best Captain in Delaware!

    Reported catch:
    Black Seabass
    Flounder
    Response from Captain

    Thank you everyone. Next time lets go farther 😎👍

  • Joshua Albright
    Joshua Albright
    Repeat angler
    us
    Pennsylvania, US
    Member since 2023
    4 trips
    4.7
    Verified

    Fun trip and great captain and mate

    10 hour trip • 6 adults

    we really enjoyed our trip. the captain and first mate were friendly and very knowledgeable on the waters and local fishing conditions. they worked very hard to make our trip a success although there were some rough water conditions that were not included in the local marine forecast. We were not able to fish at our intended location and target species but the captain still found us some less choppy waters and we caught a fair number of sea bass. the trip was an overall success.

Real catches shared by our community

  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Young angler holding a dark reef fish aboard a boat during an offshore fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Black Seabass
    Joshua A.
    Joshua A.
    we really enjoyed our trip. the captain and first mate were friendly and very knowledgeable on the waters and local fishing conditions. they worked very hard to make our trip a success although there were some rough water conditions that were not included in the local marine forecast. We were not able to fish at our intended location and target species but the captain still found us some less choppy waters and we caught a fair number of sea bass. the trip was an overall success.
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Three anglers proudly display a large Mahi Mahi aboard a sportfishing boat during a successful offshore trip.
    Fish 1
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Ray B.
    Ray B.
    caught 55 Lbs. of mahi and sea bass. A lot of other folks were not catching anything close to our haul. Captain and First Mate were game on and they found the fish !!
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Angler displays multiple fish caught on a multi-hook rig aboard an offshore fishing boat, with a second adult visible behind him.
    Fish 1
    Black Seabass
    Steve T.
    Steve T.
    Friendly captain and crew. Landed over 130 sea bass, about 40 keepers with our party of 6. Excellent action all day. Would do it again for sure.
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    A variety of fish laid out on a dock, showcasing a successful fishing trip. The scene includes a fisherman in the background, emphasizing the fishing environment.
    Fish 1
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Justin H.
    Justin H.
    Great trip. The captian was great and knowledgeable. Made sure we caught fish. Caught near our limit in tile, and a few mahi. Looking forward to booking another trip when the tuna come back around.
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Solo angler displaying two large fish on a marina dock, with additional catch stored in an open cooler.
    Fish 1
    Black Drum
    Daniel Y.
    Daniel Y.
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Two adult anglers display a mahi-mahi and a large reef fish at an indoor dockside cleaning station.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Chuck B.
    Chuck B.
     capton and mate were great with our kids and got us on. A lot of fish was a great time. 
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Two anglers proudly displaying large Yellowfin Tuna on the dock, with a few Mahi Mahi laid out nearby after a successful fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Rich B.
    Rich B.
    A true fishing experience! The Rusty Reel is an older boat, the sign of a good work boat! We were catching tuna as to where other boats around us weren't. The Captain and Mate were vey well experienced and got us our fish! We will definitely repeat this trip! I highly recommend The Rusty Reel!!!
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    Angler proudly displaying two large fish on a fishing charter, showcasing a successful day at sea.
    Amy D.
    Amy D.
    Capt Steve and Derick did a good job. Went out to the canyon (like much of the fleet) Tuna and Mahi weren’t biting, after giving it his best Steve consulted our group and we pivoted to Tile fish. We finished strong with a full cooler and everyone at their limit. After retuning to the marina and chatting with other boats we made the right call by shifting.
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    A scenic view from the boat showcasing a bridge over calm waters, perfect for a day of fishing.
    Theresa R.
    Theresa R.
    Steve our captain was amazing and a welath of knowledge on good fishing spots. His 1st mate, Derek was so helpful when we needed it. I will definitely sign up for another charter with Rusty Reel.
  • Rusty Reel Charters
    Rusty Reel ChartersBethany Beach, DE
    A group of anglers proudly displaying their catch of multiple fish, including a flounder, on the dock next to the 'Rusty Reel' boat after a successful fishing trip.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Black Rockfish
    Lori L.
    Lori L.
    Another epic day on the water with Captain Steve and First Mate Tom. On the fish all day long - 8 hour trip! 45 keepers!!!

What's biting with Rusty Reel Charters in Bethany Beach

While the fishing may be great, the conditions aren't ideal for going out to sea. If you find a captain brave enough to head out, then target Seabass, Rockfish, and Tautog for a productive day out.

Top catches for November

Fishing reports

Angler proudly holding a large reef fish aboard a sportfishing boat offshore, with another adult partially visible and coolers on deck.

Tile fishing the fun way

Jun 6, 2026 • Bethany Beach
Fishing deep waters with bass rods and 30 lb braided line and 16 ounce weight.
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Two anglers proudly posing with a large catch of Black Sea Bass displayed on the dock after a successful fishing trip.

Friday fish fry!

Jun 14, 2025 • Bethany Beach
Great day on seabass limited out and released over 100
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A large catch of black drum laid out on the dock, showcasing a successful fishing trip in a marina setting.

First trip of the season sea bass

May 27, 2025 • Bethany Beach
Great trip today for seabass . Charter was very happy and even got tired from catching so much. Took home 50 lbs of fish.
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