A Kid's Fishing Party on the James River is just plain fun!  They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, but a video must be worth more than that.  Check out this video (click here for video) to see the great time they had on their Tidal James River, Kid's Fishing Party.  We also have specialized outings that highlight different sections of the James River during the spring, summer and fall.

Tidal James River Outings

Kids Fishing Party

Ride aboard the Discovery Barge II.  Ideal for birthday parties, friendly get-togethers, or family outings.  Our 24' pontoon boat is a stable platform while fishing for catfish or the spring run of shad, herring, striped bass, and white perch.  Watch bald eagles, great blue heron, and osprey all while fishing the historic tidal James River.  This trip is for up to six kids and one chaperone and the chaperone rides for free.  Kids Fishing Party is a four-hour outing.

4-Hour trip for up to six ... $350

Kids Wildlife Viewing Tour

Watch bald eagles soar, great blue heron stalk the shallows and osprey, the best fishermen on the river, dive from the sky into the water to grab a fish.  All this with binoculars in hand.  Cruise the river from our 24' pontoon boat.  This trip is for up to six kids and one chaperone and the chaperone rides for free.  Kids Wildlife Viewing Tour is a four-hour outing.

4-Hour trip for up to six ... $350

'Falls of the James' Outings

Fish & Explore

Ideal for groups of three to eight kids in same age range.  Catch sunfish, bass & catfish.  Flip rocks and discover the critters that call the James River home.  A river adventure with lots of opportunity to learn about our river's environment.  Click here for more info on Fish & Explore.

6-Hours of fishing and exploration, $80 each

Fishing 101

For three to eight kids aged 9-15, Fishing 101 covers fishing basics.  Some other activities include wildlife watching, minnow seining, rock flipping, swimming, snorkeling and fish watching.  Click here for more info on Fishing 101.

6-Hours of investigation:  $80 each

Wade Fishing & Exploration

For two to ten kids.  Wade Fishing & Exploration is a class that you can really, "sink your feet into".  This class will give you a sound base for future exploration of the James River's shallow fishing waters.  Learn about river safety and fishing for red breasted sunfish, bluegill, & smallmouth bass.  Click here for more info on Wade Fishing & Exploration.

2-Hours of wading & fishing fun:  $35 each

For more information or to book your fishing trip, contact Capt. Mike Ostrander at 804-938-2350.

The photo's stories?  Top right:  Young Man and the Sea.  On a Kids Fishing Party on the tidal James, Jackson and his friends fished and swam during the day.  They watched eagles and osprey and caught a few catfish too.  Then, at the end of the day, a big fish hit a bait and the rod bent over double.  Line was peeling off the reel and the birthday boy, Jax, got the rod in his hand.  After an epic fifteen minute battle the big striped bass was brought aboard.  After a few pics, the fish was released back into the river.  -- Photo by Greg Velzy

Above left:  On the lower James River the wildlife viewing opportunities are fantastic.  From bald eagles, great blue heron and wild turkey, to white-tailed deer swimming across the river, every trip offers something wonderful for all ages. -- Photo by Al Warfield

Above right:  On a 'Fish & Explore' trip, the kids collected some macroinvertabrates.  We then identified them as two damselfly larvae and a dragonfly larvae.  After that, they seined for a few minnows, caught a couple of crayfish then went fishing for smallmouth bass & sunfish.  Good stuff! -- Photo by Capt. Mike

To the left:  On a 'Fish & Explore' trip, Hayden displays a nice smallmouth bass.  This picture was taken just after eating lunch on Williams Island, where the kids also flipped rocks and seined minnows.  They also learned the James River is 340 miles long, and the watershed is over 10,000 square (25% of Virginia!)." -- Photo by Capt. Mike

What do people have to say about 'Kid's Fishing Parties'?  "This is the best day of fishing ... ever."  

-- Joel C.

For more information or to book your fishing trip, contact Capt. Mike Ostrander at 804-938-2350.