By Rich Schott

Jen and I were practically buzzing with excitement as we pulled out of our driveway in Maryland, leaving our familiar surroundings behind for our next great adventure. Our destination? The charming coastal town of Cape Charles, Virginia, where a thrilling day of cobia fishing with the renowned Tuscarora Outfitters awaited us. It had been a few years since our last dedicated cobia expedition, and the anticipation was palpable.

Since we were embarking on a journey of about three hours, we wisely decided to travel down the night before. This allowed us to check into a hotel for a couple of nights, ensuring we’d be well-rested and ready to hit the water by 8 am. That evening, we indulged in a delicious dinner at the Great Machipongo Clam Shack, a true local favorite. The fresh seafood was the perfect prelude to the culinary delights we hoped to catch ourselves the following day.

The next morning dawned with a beautiful, perfect weather canvas. As we left the Oyster Farm Marina aboard Tuscarora, a stunning 32-foot custom-built Carman, the Chesapeake Bay offered a gentle chop. The forecast, however, promised calmer waters by late morning, a prediction that thankfully held true. Our captains for the day were the legendary father-son duo, Capt. Lee Buckel and Capt. Patrick Buckle. These men live and breathe the Chesapeake; they’ve spent their entire lives navigating its waters and possess an intimate knowledge of its secrets.

For the day's strategy, the captains opted for sight fishing, a technique that was delightfully new to both Jen and me. It was clear from the moment we stepped aboard that the Tuscarora was built with cobia fishing as a top priority. The boat was impeccably set up for the task, a testament to its custom design. Their arsenal was impressive: top-of-the-line St. Croix rods expertly paired with Penn and Shimano reels, all meticulously spooled and rigged with live eels and an array of artificial jigs, poised for immediate deployment the instant a brown beauty was spotted.

Within the first thirty minutes of our excursion, the captains’ expertise paid off handsomely. They skillfully put us onto the fish. We quickly hooked three magnificent cobia, measuring between 34 and 40 inches. However, as is often the case with fishing, luck wasn’t entirely on our side that first round. Our initial catches, while impressive in size, were just shy of the legal requirement for keeping, which mandates a length of at least 43 inches.

Despite this minor setback, the fishing action remained consistently exhilarating throughout the morning and well into the early afternoon. The bay was alive with activity; schools and dense balls of baitfish shimmered everywhere, providing a smorgasbord for our target species. We saw and caught an incredible number of cobia, a true testament to the captains’ skill and the productive waters. The captains were remarkable, continuously spotting fish and having the gear ready for quick casts, ensuring we were always poised for another potential hook-up.

Amidst the flurry of activity, we finally managed to land a cobia that met the keeper regulations – a proud moment for both of us! Adding to the day’s excitement, I also had the thrilling experience of catching a small hammerhead shark, which we, of course, carefully released. It was a truly cool and unexpected encounter.

After several hours of navigating the Chesapeake’s bountiful waters, the collective energy was winding down, and we all felt ready to return to the dock and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. Capt. Patrick, ever the professional, expertly filleted and bagged our keeper cobia, preparing it perfectly for the grill. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, we bid farewell to our exceptional captains.

Back on shore, Jen, ever the enthusiast for local flavors, suggested a celebratory drink at the Cape Charles Brewing Company. We always make it a point to support local businesses whenever we have the opportunity, and this was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic day. Feeling refreshed, we headed back to our hotel and spent some quality time unwinding by the pool, reminiscing about the awesome day on the water.

The next day, Jen was eager to fire up the grill. The cobia we had caught was absolutely divine – fresh, flavorful, and the perfect reward for our successful expedition. It was, quite simply, excellent!

If you or anyone you know dreams of experiencing the thrill of catching a cobia on the Chesapeake Bay, look no further than Tuscarora Outfitters. They are your go-to contact for an unforgettable fishing adventure. What an absolutely incredible day it was. We’re already looking forward to our next fishing adventure!

Two Big but Too Small Cobia at Once

Jen Catching a Big Cobia

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