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Charter Fishing on the Chesapeake Bay
Fish Taxi offers exciting charter fishing experiences on the Chesapeake Bay with light tackle. With a wealth of knowledge and a passion for fishing, we strive to provide unforgettable adventures for all our guests. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every trip is safe, enjoyable, and memorable.
Discover Prime Fishing Destinations
Fish Taxi takes you to prime fishing locations along the Chesapeake Bay, where the waters teem with a diverse range of fish species. From the thrill of hooking striped bass to the challenge of targeting bluefish, our destinations promise an unparalleled fishing experience.
Hooper's Island
Choptank
Tangier Island
Smith Island
Captain Joseph Tompkins
Captain Joseph Tompkins—better known as Capt. Joe—is a proud USCG Certified Captain, carrying forward a legacy of watermen that stretches back generations.
Born in the quiet backwaters of rural Hampton, South Carolina, his family’s story is woven into the maritime heritage of Georgetown, SC, where his great-grandfather and great uncles built their own shrimp boats right in their front yards, rolling them down to the docks by hand. That tradition of grit and craftsmanship lives on in the F/V Captain Andrew, Georgetown’s oldest wooden-hull shrimp boat, still in operation today.
The Legacy of the Captain Andrew
- Built: 1968
- Type: Wooden-hull shrimp trawler
- Length: Approximately 40–45 feet
- Role: Commercial shrimping vessel, still combing the waters of South Carolina’s coast
- Notable History: Known for decades of faithful service, the Captain Andrew even made headlines in 2016 when her crew rescued two fishermen and their sunken boat off the coast of Georgetown.
This vessel is more than a boat—it’s a living symbol of the Jordan family’s enduring bond with the sea.
Capt. Joe’s earliest memories are of fishing alongside his grandfather, with a fly pole in hand almost as soon as he could walk. Afternoons and weekends were spent exploring rivers and creeks with both his grandfather and his Granny, Katherine Jordan Hunter—herself the daughter of the Captain Andrew. Fishing wasn’t just a pastime; it was a way of life.
In true waterman fashion, there was no running to the store for bait. The family raised their own worms in a homemade worm box, teaching young Joey the value of resourcefulness and respect for the rhythms of nature.
As he grew, Capt. Joe’s fishing adventures expanded beyond the creeks of Hampton. With his stepdad Russell and his mom Debbie (granddaughter of Capt. Andrew Jordan), he spent countless hours on Lake Thurman in McCormick, SC, chasing “strippers” and learning the patience and skill of freshwater fishing.
Later, he moved to Savannah, Georgia, where he cast lines into the Savannah River, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean. These years honed his versatility—saltwater, freshwater, rivers, lakes, and open ocean—each teaching him new lessons about tides, currents, and the unpredictability of the catch.
In 2016, Capt. Joe and his family relocated to Calvert County, Maryland, along the storied Chesapeake Bay. For him, it felt like coming home—back to the water, back to the rhythm of fishing life. But the Bay was a new frontier, with its own challenges and secrets.
He spent years learning this territory, studying its seasons, species, and shifting waters. The Chesapeake demanded patience and respect, and Capt. Joe gave it both. Today, he has all but mastered this craft—as much as Mother Nature allows.
That upbringing instilled in Capt. Joe a deep love for the water, a respect for tradition, and a passion for sharing the joy of fishing with others. Today, as the captain of Fish Taxi, he brings not only skill and experience but also a storyteller’s heart. Every trip is more than a charter—it’s an invitation into a living heritage, where guests can experience the same rivers, lakes, and coastal waters that shaped generations of Jordan/Tompkins fishermen.
Capt. Joe isn’t just running a boat—he’s carrying forward a legacy. From the handmade shrimp trawlers of Georgetown to the striper runs of Lake Thurman, from the Atlantic tides of Savannah to the oyster-rich waters of the Chesapeake, his story is one of family, faith, and the sea. Step aboard Fish Taxi, and you’ll not only fish—you’ll become part of that story.
Fish Taxi proudly runs on a 27-foot Judge Center Console, a vessel purpose-built for versatility and performance. Powered by a Honda 250 outboard motor, and equipped with Hummingbird Side Scan sonar and Garmin navigation technology, this boat is designed to give anglers the edge—whether chasing stripers in the Chesapeake Bay or exploring its winding tributaries.
Why Judge Yachts?
Judge Yachts is a boutique American boatbuilder founded by Maryland waterman Bill Judge in the early 2000s. With roots in the Chesapeake Bay, Judge set out to design boats that could handle the Bay’s famously short, steep chop while meeting the real-world needs of anglers and families.
⦁ Built for the Bay: Judge hulls are engineered to tame rough water, offering stability and comfort without sacrificing speed.
⦁ Semi-Custom Craftsmanship: Each boat is tailored for practical use, blending rugged dependability with clean, seaworthy design.
⦁ Chesapeake Heritage: The Judge 24 and 27 models pioneered the idea of a “sport utility boat”—trailerable, versatile, and capable of going anywhere.
The Fish Taxi Advantage
Our Judge 27 is more than just a boat—it’s a fishing platform designed for precision and reliability. With advanced sonar and GPS technology, Capt. Joe can locate fish with accuracy, navigate safely, and ensure every trip is both productive and enjoyable.
Judge Yachts’ reputation for rock-solid performance and Bay-tested durability makes this vessel the perfect fit for Fish Taxi. It’s a boat that honors Chesapeake tradition while embracing modern innovation—just like Capt. Joe himself.
Judge Yachts’ reputation for rock-solid performance and Bay-tested durability makes this vessel the perfect fit for Fish Taxi. It’s a boat that honors Chesapeake tradition while embracing modern innovation—just like Capt. Joe himself.
Step aboard Fish Taxi’s Judge 27, and you’ll experience the best of Chesapeake Bay fishing—heritage, technology, and adventure all in one ride.