Full Day Guided Fishing - Greenport, NY
Picture this: you and up to four buddies heading out for a solid eight hours on the water around Greenport, chasing some of Long Island's best inshore species. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking about a proper full-day charter where you'll have time to really dial in on different techniques and put some serious fish in the cooler. Captain and crew from East End Fishing Charters know these waters like the back of their hand, and they're going to put you on fish while teaching you a thing or two along the way. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just getting your feet wet, this trip is designed to give everyone a shot at multiple species using both casting and bottom fishing methods.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day kicks off bright and early from Greenport, where you'll meet your captain and get the rundown on what's biting and where we're headed. The beauty of an eight-hour trip is that we're not rushed – we can chase the bite wherever it takes us. You might start the morning working some structure for stripers with live bait, then move to open water for blues when they start busting bait pods. The afternoon could have you dropping down for some quality bottom fish like sea bass and porgy. Your captain reads the conditions daily and adjusts the game plan accordingly, which means you're always fishing where the action is hottest. All your tackle, bait, and gear are provided, so you just need to show up ready to fish. The boat's equipped with quality rods, reels, and a variety of terminal tackle to match whatever we're targeting.
Casting and Bottom Techniques
This trip gives you the best of both worlds – you'll get to work topwater action with casting gear and also learn proper bottom fishing setups. When we're casting, we're usually working with bucktails, soft plastics, or live bait like bunker and eels, depending on what the fish want. The captain will show you how to work different lures and read the water for signs of feeding fish. Bottom fishing here means dropping rigs down to structure where the sea bass, porgy, and tautog hang out. We're talking high-low rigs, fish finder rigs, and sometimes specialized blackfish rigs when the tog are cooperating. The gear is sized right for the species we're after – no heavy offshore tackle when we're finesse fishing for weakfish, and no light spinning gear when we're pulling keeper stripers off the bottom. Your captain adjusts everything based on conditions, tide, and what's showing on the fish finder.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Striped bass are the bread and butter around Greenport waters, and for good reason. These fish fight hard, taste great, and can range anywhere from schoolie size up to solid keepers pushing 30-plus inches. Spring through fall is prime time, with the best action often coming during moving tides around structure. What makes stripers special is their versatility – they'll hit everything from live eels to metal jigs, and the fight never gets old.
Bluefish bring the chaos that every angler secretly loves. When blues are busting bait on the surface, it's pure mayhem – birds diving, water boiling, and fish hitting anything you throw at them. Summer months see the biggest concentrations, and these fish pull drag like nothing else their size. Just watch those teeth when you're unhooking them.
Summer flounder, or fluke, are the ultimate flatfish challenge around here. These ambush predators lie buried in sand waiting to crush a bucktail bouncing by. The technique takes some learning – you've got to keep that jig moving and feel for that subtle pickup. Landing a doormat fluke over 20 inches is something every angler remembers.
Spotted weakfish might be the most underrated species we target. These fish are gorgeous with their spotted flanks, and they're absolute bulldogs on light tackle. They show up in good numbers during late spring and summer, often feeding in shallow water where you can sight cast to them. The bite is usually subtle, but once hooked, they make screaming runs that test your drag.
Tautog are the heavyweights of the bottom fishing world here. These fish live around hard structure and have incredible pulling power for their size. Fall is peak season when they're feeding heavily before winter. Landing a quality tog over five pounds requires patience, the right bait presentation, and quick hooksets. They're also some of the best eating fish in these waters.
Time to Book Your Spot
An eight-hour charter gives you real time to learn, relax, and put together a mixed bag that'll have you talking for months. East End Fishing Charters runs a top-rated operation that focuses on putting customers on fish while making sure everyone has a good time on the water. With all gear included and a captain who knows how to find the bite, this trip delivers consistent action for groups looking to experience the best of Greenport's inshore fishing. The boat handles up to five anglers comfortably, making it perfect for family trips or groups of friends wanting to get away from the dock-side crowds. Book early, especially during peak season – word gets around fast when a charter consistently produces fish, and the best dates fill up quick.