Got to the Marina at 12:45.  Jake (Mate) greeted us kindly and was doing some light prep for the trip.  Launched off at around 1:15 after some general safety talk/information from Pat (Captain).  He explained that the AM run was very “slow” and they only caught a single ribbon fish, but the day prior, they had hauled multiple dozens in.  Such is the way with chartering boats for fishing, having been on many trips (both charted and on friends vessels) I was well aware the day could be a strike out.  We had my BIL and FIL not he boat along with my 12yo son and nephew.  We initially looked for live baitfish for about 5-10 min along the south shoreline out of owl creek inlet with no luck, before moving off and setting to trolling lures for the next 4 hours.  We paralleled no more than a mile or so from beachline north up to Cape Henry LH and then back.  We “caught” 2 bluefish the size of my hand, before heading back in.  Paid the Cap and tipped the Mate, and we were back on the road by 5:15pm. 

The boat was very nice, clean and in very good condition (visibly).  It was well stocked with rod/tackle from what I could tell. 

The mate was a nice kid, knowledgable and answered the questions we had.  Made small talk while we passed the time which was fine and set to rigging marlin lures in the middle portion of the trip because the action was so dead and perhaps they had a night run or offshore the next day. 

Had very little interaction with the Captain, which under the circumstances (no action) seemed a little off.  Like I said, I’ve been on many trips and fully understand that there are no guarantees, but gotta say, even in those past experiences, we would pull up and maybe try a different spot, or a different fish.  We did get a communication from the Cap that he had heard there were a few bites in some other region that we headed to, but that was about it.  Generally,  just seemed like there was indifference and we were moving the northern tourists up and down the shoreline until the clock runs out and they could get ready for the next job (or whatever was planned).

Would this review be different had we caught a few fish?  Possibly, but we’ll surely be back in VA Beach multiple times in the coming years, and can’t say I won’t be considering other options.