10 Hour Inshore Cowboy Trip - Long Island, NY
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
10hour inshore fishing adventure with professional techniquesMultiple fishing methods including trolling, jigging, and live baitSmall group charter accommodates up to 4 guests maximum
Ready to fish like the pros do? This 10-hour inshore adventure with Saltwater Cowboy Fishing Charter is where serious anglers come to test their skills against Long Island's top gamefish. You'll spend a full day working the productive waters around Long Island Sound and the South Shore, using every technique in the book to put fish in the boat. With Captain leading the charge and room for up to 4 anglers, this isn't your typical half-day trip – it's a deep dive into what makes Long Island fishing so legendary. Bring your appetite for action because we're going to keep those rods bent all day long.
This is fishing the cowboy way – no single approach, no sitting around waiting. You'll rotate through bottom fishing when the bite is hot down deep, switch to live bait when the predators are prowling, and work jigs and poppers when the fish are fired up and feeding aggressively. The beauty of a 10-hour charter is having time to really dial in what's working. Maybe we start the morning chunking for stripers, move to some rocky structure for tautog around mid-day, then finish strong trolling the edges as the sun gets low. Captain knows these waters like the back of his hand and isn't afraid to move around to find the bite. You'll cover serious ground, from the productive flats to deeper channels, rocky bottom to sandy areas where flounder like to hide.
This trip is all about versatility and putting fish in the boat. Bottom fishing means dropping rigs down to where the black sea bass and scup are hanging out, using the right sinker weight to stay connected to the bottom in the current. Live bait fishing is where things get exciting – nothing beats the way a striper crushes a live bunker or how aggressive a weakfish can be on a live spot. Jigging and popping keeps you active, working bucktails through the water column or throwing poppers when fish are breaking on top. Chunking is a Long Island staple, especially for striped bass – cutting up bunker and creating a slick that draws fish right to the boat. Trolling lets you cover water and target fish that are on the move, pulling umbrella rigs or tube and worm combinations at just the right speed.
Striped Bass are the crown jewel of Long Island fishing, and for good reason. These fish fight hard, grow big, and show up in good numbers from spring through fall. You'll find them around structure, in rips and current breaks, and they respond to everything from live eels to chunked bunker. The best fishing typically happens during moving water, and a 28-inch striper will give you a fight you won't forget. White Weakfish, or sea trout as many locals call them, are pure fun on light tackle. They're aggressive feeders that love live bait and soft plastics, usually running 2-4 pounds but occasionally surprising you with a doormat that goes 6 pounds or better. Scup, also known as porgy, are abundant around Long Island and perfect for filling the cooler. They're great eating and fight well for their size, usually found over rocky or hard bottom in 20-40 feet of water.
Tautog are the bulldogs of the reef – short, powerful fish that use every rock and crevice to their advantage. They're structure-oriented fish that require precise presentations with green crabs or clams, and once hooked, they'll try to wrap you up in the nearest piece of structure. Spring and fall offer the best tautog fishing, with fish ranging from keeper size around 16 inches up to trophy fish over 10 pounds. Southern Flounder are the flatfish specialists, masters of camouflage that ambush prey from the sandy bottom. They're found in shallower water, often around inlets and bay mouths, and respond well to live bait presentations and bucktail jigs tipped with squid or spearing. Black Sea Bass round out the lineup as one of the most reliable bottom fish around Long Island. They're structure lovers that congregate around wrecks, rocks, and reefs, making them perfect targets for bottom rigs with clam or squid baits.
A 10-hour inshore trip is the real deal – enough time to really get into the fish and try different techniques until you find what works. With only 4 spots available, you'll have plenty of room to fish comfortably and get the personal attention that makes the difference between a good day and a great day. Long Island's inshore waters are some of the most productive on the East Coast, and this trip gives you the time to really explore what they have to offer. Whether you're looking to fill the cooler with dinner or target that personal best striper, this is your chance to fish with a captain who knows how to make it happen. The combination of variety, action, and professional guidance makes this trip a top choice for serious anglers who want to experience the best of Long Island fishing.
Your fishing platform for this 10-hour Long Island adventure is a well-equipped motorboat built for serious angling action. This vessel comes loaded with everything you need to hunt down fish in the inshore waters - a reliable fish finder to spot the action below, GPS to navigate the prime fishing spots, and radar for those hazy morning starts. The onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh while you're busy bending rods with bottom fishing, jigging, and trolling techniques. With space for 4 anglers, there's plenty of room to work the deck without bumping elbows during the fight. The boat includes a toilet for comfort during those long fishing sessions. Whether you're chunking for stripers or working live bait around structure, this motorboat puts you right where the fish are biting in Long Island's productive inshore waters.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are the workhorses around our wrecks and rocky bottom - chunky, aggressive fish that hit hard and fight dirty around structure. These grouper cousins average 1-3 pounds with keepers running 12-16 inches, though we see plenty pushing 20+ inches on good days. They love wrecks, jetties, and rocky bottom in 20-100 feet of water from late spring through fall when they're inshore feeding. What makes them popular is the steady action - where you catch one, there's usually more. They're also fantastic eating with firm, white meat. During spawning, males turn bright blue with a pronounced hump - quite a sight. Pro tip: use a two-hook rig with squid or clam strips and keep your rod tip up. Bass will try to dive back into the structure once hooked, so you need to muscle them up quickly.
Stenotomus ChrysopsScup, or porgies as we call them locally, are the perfect species for action-packed trips. These silvery, deep-bodied fish run 12-16 inches and 1-3 pounds, and they're absolute suckers for bottom rigs with clam or squid. We find huge schools around rocky structure, wrecks, and pilings in 15-60 feet of water from late spring through early fall. What makes scup trips fun is the steady bite - once you find them, it's fish after fish. They're scrappy fighters for their size and make excellent table fare with sweet, white meat. They're also primo live bait for bigger stripers. My go-to trick: use small hooks and light sinkers. Scup have small mouths, so downsize your tackle and let the bait drift naturally near the bottom rather than anchoring it down hard.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern flounder are the masters of camouflage - flat, oval-shaped fish that bury in sand and mud waiting to ambush prey. Both eyes sit on their left side, which always gets a reaction from first-timers. They typically run 15-18 inches around here, but we see some pushing 25+ inches on good days. Look for them in shallow bays, around structure, and sandy bottoms in 5-30 feet of water. Fall migration brings the best action as they fatten up before heading offshore for winter. What guests love is the surprise factor - one minute your bait's sitting still, next minute you've got a strong, steady fight. They're also primo table fare. My trick: use light jigs with live minnows or shrimp and work them slow along the bottom. Flounder don't chase - they wait for an easy meal to pass overhead.
Morone SaxatilisStriped bass are the backbone of our Long Island fishery - these silver-sided fighters with their distinctive dark stripes average 20-40 pounds but can push 50+ on a good day. They're structure-oriented fish, so we find them around drop-offs, sand bars, and rocky bottom along the shoreline. Spring through fall is prime time when they migrate up our coast chasing baitfish. What makes stripers special is their incredible fight - they'll make long runs and jump when hooked. Plus, they're fantastic eating with sweet, flaky white meat. My local tip: when we're chunking for them, always keep your drag loose at first. These fish hit hard and fast, and a tight drag will snap your line before you know what happened.
Tautoga OnitisTautog, or blackfish, are the bruisers of the rocky bottom - thick, powerful fish that average 2-4 pounds with doormat-sized fish pushing 8+ pounds. These mottled brown fighters live around jetties, boulder fields, and structure where they crush crabs and mussels with their strong jaws. Fall and spring offer the best shots when they're feeding heavily before and after winter. What makes tog fishing addictive is the challenge - they're tough to hook and even tougher to pull out of the rocks. The reward is some of the best eating fish in our waters. Local secret: use green crabs with legs and claws removed, and fish right in the structure. Don't be afraid to lose some tackle - that's where the big fish live, and you need to get your bait in their kitchen.
Atractoscion NobilisWhite weakfish might sound delicate, but don't let the name fool you - these are strong fighters that'll test your tackle. Also called white seabass, they're actually part of the croaker family and can reach impressive sizes up to 28 inches and 7+ pounds around here. We typically find them suspended between the bottom and surface in 20-100 feet of water, especially around structure where squid hang out. Spring through early fall gives us the best action when water temps hit that sweet spot. What guests love is their powerful runs and head-shaking fight. They're also top-notch table fare. Pro tip: when you're targeting these fish, use squid as bait and don't let it hit bottom - keep it drifting in the middle of the water column where they feed.
Long Island