Inshore Bay Fishing Charters Ocean City MD | Saltwater Adventures
Nearshore Fishing Charters Ocean City MD | Saltwater Adventures
Offshore Fishing Charters in Ocean City, Maryland | Saltwater AdventuresAbout Captain Tony Battista
Captain Tony Battista has been fishing the waters in and around Ocean City for more than 50 years now. He’s been a professional captain and guide since 2007. In his professional career alone, he’s logged 247 days offshore and 1,672 days inshore. In addition to Ocean City, he’s also run charters out of Hatteras, NC and Virginia Beach. If you add up all his days on the water from 1972 till present, he has well over 2,800 days out there. Fishing is such a huge passion of his that you’ll even find him out on the water on his days off with family and friends.
Captain Tony is a great teacher and has helped many people over the years become better fishermen. In his late 20s and early 30s, he worked at a boat dealership. In addition to working in the sales department, part of his job was doing demos, sea trials, and boat deliveries. It quickly became apparent to him that more than half of new boat owners really had no clue how to operate their boats safely. On his one day off each week, he started a side business teaching people what they needed to know—basic boat safety and navigation, docking, and trailering their new boats. It also became clear that many had little to no fishing experience, which led to offering fishing lessons as well.
His most famous client? A previous governor of Maryland that led the state for 10 years. If you ever get the chance to fish with Captain Tony, ask him about it. It’s a great story that turned into a long lasting friendship until the governor passed away.
In 2007, he got his captain’s license and started running other people’s boats and continued that for almost 10 years. Around year 7, he realized he wanted to own and run his own charter boat. He had been introduced to a local boatbuilder in West Ocean City and fell in love with their boats immediately. After all the details were discussed, a deposit was given. It couldn’t have been more perfect—the boat shop was only a quarter mile away from his home. The expected time to complete the boat was about 18 months. It ended up taking almost 30 months. The boat was launched in June of 2017, and Saltwater Adventures fishing company was born.
Why Fish with Captain Tony?
Whether you’re a complete beginner who’s never held a fishing rod or an experienced angler looking to explore Ocean City’s waters, Captain Tony’s approach is the same: he wants you to catch fish, learn something new, and have a great day on the water.
With 50+ years of local knowledge, he knows these waters better than most. He knows where the fish are, what they’re biting on, and how the tides and seasons affect the catch. But more importantly, he loves sharing that knowledge with you. He’s not just there to run the boat—he’s there to teach you, answer your questions, and make sure you walk away a better angler than when you stepped on board.
Captain Tony takes pride in creating a relaxed, no-pressure atmosphere on every trip. First-timers feel comfortable asking questions. Kids get excited about fishing. Experienced anglers pick up new techniques. That’s what over 2,800 days on the water—and a genuine passion for teaching the next generation—will do. In fact, he even offers hands-on fishing instruction and custom packages for those who want to take their skills to the next level.
Meet the Kashmir
A Boat Built To Go Fishing In Ocean City
The Kashmir is a beautiful 25-foot locally built fishing machine with plenty of room for your group to fish comfortably. She’s powered by a Yamaha 200HP outboard that gets you to the fish quickly and efficiently. Captain Tony has equipped her with top-of-the-line SIMRAD electronics including radar, chart plotter, and depth finder, so he can put you on the fish in any conditions. She’s also equipped with a Minn Kota 36-volt trolling motor for those quiet approaches in the back bays, an ICOM VHF radio for safety, and a great stereo system to keep the good vibes going.
As for the fishing gear, Captain Tony doesn’t cut corners. He keeps only the best quality gear on board so you can focus on fishing, not fighting with equipment. You’ll be fishing with premium reels from Shimano, Daiwa, and FFP, matched with high-performance rods from St. Croix, Hell’s Bay, FFP, and Dark Matter by John Skinner. Whether you’re bottom fishing for flounder or casting for stripers, you’ll have the right tool for the job.
Don’t forget to ask Captain Tony how he named the boat!
When Captain Tony's Not in Ocean City
A Little More About Your Ocean City Captain
Tony and his wife Anita have a home in Southwest Florida, right on the water in Cape Coral, tucked in behind the Sanibel and Captiva Islands. It’s another incredible fishery with lots of opportunities in the skinny water and out in the Gulf. In addition to fishing, the area is considered the “shell capital” of the world. Both Tony and Anita enjoy spending days at Cayo Costa collecting shells and taking in the emerald green water and stunning beaches.
If you are down in SW Florida during the winter, you might want to look him up.
Here in Ocean City, his favorite fish to target are flounder, sea bass, triggerfish, cobia, and mahi. Down in Florida, it’s speckled trout, snook, redfish, grouper, and both red snapper. Tarpons are exciting too, but Tony prefers catching fish you can actually eat. In fact, he loves to cook and is always coming up with new recipes to share with his customers.
That brings us to one of his most popular offerings—the “Hook & Cook” charter. After a great day of fishing, Captain Tony works with a couple of local restaurants that will prepare your catch for lunch or dinner the same day. There’s nothing quite like eating fish you caught just hours earlier. It’s the freshest meal you’ll ever have and truly the perfect way to end a good day on the water.
Ready to Get Out on the Water?
If you’re looking for a captain who knows these waters inside and out, who genuinely loves teaching people to fish, and who runs a top-notch operation, give Captain Tony a call. Every trip is a chance to make some memories and maybe learn a thing or two about fishing along the way.