Divergent Fishing Charters

08/22/2026

One more story to add to the current situation.

Starting in May, staff members of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program left the office with one goal in mind – to collect data on osprey nests.

08/02/2026

This has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve made since starting Divergent Fishing Charters.

Our business has always been built on providing a quality fishing experience not simply taking people for a boat ride. I take great pride in seeing clients catch fish, make memories, and leave the boat with smiles on their faces.

Unfortunately, the 2025 and 2026 seasons have been anything but what I believe the Chesapeake Bay fishery should be.

The Bay is facing many challenges, including water quality, habitat loss, pollution, and changing environmental conditions. From my perspective as a charter captain who spends hundreds of hours on these waters each year, I also believe the continued reduction of the Bay’s forage base has become one of the biggest concerns affecting the fishery.

Over the past several trips, catches have been far below the standard I expect. Some trips have produced only a few fish after hours of effort, while others have produced none at all. I cannot, in good conscience, continue charging clients for a charter when I don’t believe I can provide the quality experience they deserve. That’s simply not who I am.

For that reason, I have made the difficult decision to temporarily pause charter operations until October 2026, when fishing conditions have traditionally improved.

Several trips have already been rescheduled into the last quarter of 2026. All deposits have either been credited toward a future trip or fully refunded. I sincerely apologize for the delay in communicating this decision, but I wanted to carefully evaluate every option before making it.

I know I am not alone in facing these challenges. Other charter captains throughout our coastal communities are experiencing many of the same economic realities as our fisheries continue to struggle.

Thank you to every client who has supported Divergent Fishing Charters over the years. Your trust means everything to me, and I remain committed to honesty, integrity, and providing the quality experience you’ve come to expect.

If you’d like to discuss my decision or my observations of what I’m seeing on the Chesapeake Bay, I’m always happy to have a respectful conversation.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. I look forward to welcoming you back aboard this fall.

Sincerely,

Captain Doug Goodman
Divergent Fishing Charters

07/05/2026

It’s been a hot weekend so far. We made it out on the water today. No pictures but we found some fish. It’s been a classified day 😊

07/05/2026

https://youtu.be/2Tvq8W8QtLM?is=tW2nC0dmbtkz0BNp

06/25/2026

06/25/2026

There has been an osprey die-off happening in Mid-Atlantic states and it’s been going on for a few years now. These charismatic, birds of prey are much-loved for their high-diving fishing technique…

05/29/2026

New Atlantic tarpon regulations take effect June 1, 2026, in Virginia waters.

Recreational possession is prohibited, and any Atlantic tarpon caught must remain in the water. The regulation also prohibits gaffing or spearing, requires circle hooks when fishing with bait, and prohibits commercial harvest, landing, possession, sale, barter, or trade.

For more information, read the full regulation here:
https://www.mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/MRC_Scanned_Regs/FINFISH/FR1420_05-26-26.pdf

05/19/2026

03/19/2026

03/19/2026

This article was originally posted on Feb. 2 but has been updated here to reflect the current status of Virginia legislation and the outcome of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries