Afternoon Kayak Fishing – Great South Bay
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Guided kayak fishing targeting Sea Bass, Porgies, and WeakfishAfternoon trips offer calm conditions and stunning bay viewsExpert guide provides equipment and techniques for successful fishing
There's something special about hitting Great South Bay in the afternoon when the sun's high, the wind dies down, and the fish start getting active. This 4-5 hour guided kayak fishing trip puts you right in the heart of some of Long Island's best inshore fishing waters. You'll paddle out with an expert guide who knows every productive drop-off, structure, and feeding zone where striped bass, tautog, southern flounder, and bluefish love to hang out. The afternoon timing is perfect – you get warmer conditions, calmer seas, and that golden hour bite that makes for some serious action on the water.
Your afternoon starts with a quick gear check and launch from one of the protected areas along Great South Bay's shoreline. The bay's shallow flats and grass beds create perfect hunting grounds for our target species, and the kayak gives you the stealth advantage that bigger boats just can't match. You'll work your way through productive areas, casting to structure, drifting bait along drop-offs, and sight fishing in the shallows when conditions are right. The guide handles all the navigation and puts you on fish – your job is just to cast, set the hook, and fight whatever grabs your line. With just one angler on this trip, you get personalized instruction and the flexibility to focus on whatever techniques interest you most.
The kayaks come rigged with rod holders, tackle storage, and everything you need for a productive afternoon. You'll be fishing with medium to medium-heavy spinning gear that's perfect for the mix of species we target here. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you might be throwing soft plastics on jig heads for flounder, dropping rigs with clams or crabs for tautog around structure, or casting topwater and swimmers for stripers and blues. The guide carries a full selection of terminal tackle, fresh bait, and artificial lures that have been producing in the bay. Live bait like killifish, spearing, or grass shrimp often gets added to the mix when the bite calls for it.
Striped bass are the crown jewel of Great South Bay fishing. These silver-sided fighters range from schoolie size up to keeper bass pushing 30+ inches, and they're active throughout the warmer months. You'll find them cruising the grass flats, ambushing bait around structure, and feeding aggressively during the afternoon tidal movements. What makes stripers so exciting is their versatility – they'll smash topwater plugs, inhale live bait, and absolutely crush soft plastics worked along the bottom.
Tautog, or blackfish as the locals call them, are the ultimate structure fish. These bottom-dwelling bruisers love to hang around rocks, pilings, and hard structure where they feed on crabs and shellfish. They're incredibly strong for their size and will test your drag system once hooked. The afternoon bite can be fantastic when you find a productive piece of structure, and tautog are one of the best eating fish in these waters.
Southern flounder are the perfect kayak fishing target – they love the shallow flats and grass beds that are easy to reach by paddle. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, burying themselves in sand and mud waiting for baitfish to swim overhead. When you hook a nice fluke, you're in for a wild ride as they make long runs and use their flat profile to fight every inch of the way to the kayak.
Bluefish bring the aggressive action that gets your heart pumping. These toothy predators travel in schools and when you find them feeding, the action can be non-stop. Blues will hit almost anything you throw at them, fight hard, and often bring friends along for the party. They're especially active during the afternoon hours when baitfish are moving through the bay.
This afternoon kayak fishing trip gives you everything you need for a top-rated Long Island fishing experience. At $400 for the 4-5 hour guided trip, you're getting expert local knowledge, all the gear you need, and access to some of the most productive inshore waters on the East Coast. The single-angler setup means maximum flexibility and personalized instruction whether you're new to saltwater fishing or looking to dial in new techniques. Great South Bay's afternoon bite is legendary among local anglers, and there's no better way to experience it than from a kayak with a guide who lives and breathes these waters. Don't wait – prime afternoon slots fill up fast during the peak fishing months.
This sleek 2023 Hoodoo kayak puts you right in the action on Great South Bay's productive inshore waters. At 10 feet, she's perfectly sized for solo anglers who want to get up close with Long Island's saltwater species. The stable design handles bay chop with ease while staying whisper-quiet, so you won't spook the fish as you drift over structure or work the shallows for sea bass and porgies. Man-powered means you control every move - paddle to the honey holes, drift the drop-offs, or hold position over productive bottom. The low profile gets you into skinny water where bigger boats can't reach, opening up miles of fishable shoreline and back bays. Built for serious fishing, this kayak handles everything from light tackle bottom fishing to working top water lures along the grass beds.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBlues are aggressive predators known for their razor-sharp teeth and fierce strikes. These silver-green torpedoes typically run 2-10 pounds in our waters and travel in hungry schools that can turn the bay into a washing machine when they're feeding. You'll find them in open water, around bait schools, and near structure during their summer residency here. Mid-June through October is prime time when they migrate through, with late summer bringing smaller "snappers" perfect for beginners. What guests love is the nonstop action - when you find a school, it's game on with hard strikes and strong runs. They're also great eating when bled and iced immediately. Pro tip: use wire leaders or heavy fluorocarbon since those teeth will cut through regular line like butter. Look for diving birds - that's your signal the blues are feeding below.
Paralichthys LethostigmaFluke are masters of disguise - flat, oval-shaped fish that bury in sand and mud with both eyes on their left side. Most run 15-18 inches, but we see some pushing 5+ pounds in deeper channels and around structure. They love sandy bottoms near drop-offs, creek mouths, and areas with good current flow. Summer into early fall is peak season when water temps are right and baitfish are abundant. What makes flounder fishing fun is the surprise factor - they ambush prey from below, so you never know when that rod tip will bounce. They're also some of the best eating fish in the bay with delicate, sweet meat. Best trick I can share: drift with the current using bucktails tipped with gulp or live minnows, keeping your bait just off bottom with a slow jigging motion.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the bay's premier gamefish, running 20-40 pounds with those iconic dark stripes down silver sides. These powerful swimmers cruise structure like drop-offs, bridges, and rocky areas, often hunting in schools during their spring and fall migrations through our waters. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially dawn and dusk when they feed actively in moving water. What makes stripers special is their hard fight and excellent eating quality - that sweet, flaky white meat is tough to beat. They're also smart fish that test your skills. My go-to tip: when you hook one, keep steady pressure but don't horse them. They'll make strong runs, especially in shallow water, so let your drag work and stay patient.
Tautoga OnitisBlackfish are the bay's bulldogs - thick, stubborn fighters averaging 1-3 pounds with mottled dark skin that blends perfectly with rocky structure. These guys love hanging around jetties, rock piles, and hard bottom areas where they crush shellfish with powerful jaws. Fall through early spring is prime time when they're most active and feeding heavily before winter. What guests love about tog fishing is the challenge - they're notorious bait thieves with a knack for stealing your offering without getting hooked. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, firm white meat. Here's the key: use green crabs, crush up some shells for chum, and fish tight to structure. Keep your bait moving just slightly off bottom and set the hook hard at the first tap.
Swansboro, Nc