Long Island Inshore Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target inshore species across Peconic Bay and Long Island SoundLearn various fishing techniques with experienced captain guidanceFourhour charter accommodates up to four guests comfortably
Picture yourself casting lines across some of New York's most productive inshore waters, where Peconic Bay meets Great South Bay and Long Island Sound stretches toward the horizon. This 4-hour fishing charter with Saltwater Cowboy takes you right into the heart of Long Island's top-rated fishing grounds, where stripers cruise the shallows and fluke hide in sandy bottoms. You'll fish with an experienced captain who knows these waters like the back of his hand, ready to put you on fish and teach you techniques that'll make you a better angler. With room for up to 4 guests, this trip keeps things personal – no crowded boat decks or fighting for rail space.
Your captain runs these waters daily, reading tides, structure, and bait movements to put you where the fish are feeding. Whether you're working the deeper channels of Peconic Bay for keeper fluke or drifting the shallows of Great South Bay targeting schoolie bass, every spot gets chosen based on current conditions and what's biting. The boat stays mobile – if the action slows, you're moving to the next productive area. Long Island Sound offers different opportunities depending on the day, from bluefish blitzes near the surface to bottom fishing for scup and weakfish around structure. You'll cover serious water in four hours, hitting multiple spots to maximize your chances of a mixed bag.
This charter focuses on teaching you techniques that work in Long Island's inshore waters. You'll learn to drift for fluke using bucktails tipped with squid or Gulp baits, feeling for that subtle tap that means a keeper on the line. Live lining bunker for striped bass becomes second nature as your captain shows you how to present bait naturally in the current. When bluefish are around, you'll switch to wire leaders and learn the aggressive retrieve that triggers strikes from these toothy predators. Bottom fishing gets refined too – proper sinker selection, reading your rod tip, and knowing when to set the hook on scup and weakfish. The captain adjusts techniques based on conditions and your skill level, whether you're picking up a rod for the first time or looking to dial in your game.
Striped bass run these waters from spring through fall, with schoolies providing consistent action and larger fish pushing 30+ inches when conditions align. These fish love structure – bridge pilings, drop-offs, and rocky areas where baitfish get pinned by current. Bass fishing peaks during moving water, especially the last two hours of incoming tide when they push into shallower areas to feed. Summer flounder, or fluke, represent the bread and butter of Long Island inshore fishing. These flatfish love sandy bottoms with current, ambushing prey from their hidden positions. Keeper fluke start at 19 inches, with fish over 5 pounds considered trophy catches that'll have you grinning for photos.
Bluefish bring the excitement factor when they show up in feeding frenzies, often pushing baitfish to the surface in spectacular displays. These aggressive fighters average 3-8 pounds and provide non-stop action when schools move through. White weakfish, also called sea trout, offer light-tackle fun with their delicate mouths and willingness to hit small jigs and soft plastics. They're most active during low-light periods and around structure in deeper water. Scup, or porgy, might be smaller than other targets, but they're excellent table fare and eager biters that keep kids and beginners engaged when the action gets slow.
Four hours flies by when you're putting together a mixed bag of Long Island's best inshore species. You're getting hands-on instruction from a captain who fishes these waters year-round, learning techniques that translate to better fishing wherever you drop lines. The intimate 4-person capacity means personalized attention and plenty of room to fish comfortably. Whether you're looking to improve your skills, introduce someone to fishing, or just get out on productive waters with an experienced guide, this charter delivers the goods. Long Island's inshore fishing stays hot through multiple seasons – book your trip and see why local anglers keep coming back to these waters.
This well-equipped motorboat puts you right in the heart of Long Island's best fishing waters. With room for up to 4 anglers, she's built for serious fishing along Peconic Bay, Great South Bay, and Long Island Sound. The fish finder helps locate schools while GPS keeps you on productive spots. An ice box preserves your catch, and the onboard toilet means more time with lines in the water. Radar handles foggy mornings when the fish are biting but visibility drops. Whether you're targeting fluke, stripers, or porgies, this boat gets you to where they're feeding. The captain knows these waters inside and out and loves teaching new techniques - just ask and he'll show you the ropes. Perfect setup for learning or improving your inshore game in some of New York's most productive fishing grounds.
Pomatomus SaltatrixThese aggressive predators are some of the most action-packed fish you'll encounter around Long Island. Blues typically run 3-15 pounds here, with their razor-sharp teeth and relentless feeding making every hookup a battle. You'll find them in schools throughout Peconic Bay and the Sound, especially around structure and baitfish. They're most active from late spring through fall when water temps warm up. What makes them special? They fight hard, taste great when fresh, and they're not picky about lures - everything from poppers to bucktails work. Pro tip: use a wire leader and keep your fingers clear when landing them - those teeth are no joke. The feeding frenzies they create are something to see.
Stenotomus ChrysopsThese feisty little porgies are perfect for anglers wanting consistent action and great eating. Scup run 8-15 inches with compressed, silvery bodies and surprisingly strong jaws for crushing shells. They're bottom feeders that love rocky areas, pilings, and structure where they hunt clams and worms. May through October is prime time when they move inshore - they head deep and south when it gets cold. Guests enjoy them because they're scrappy fighters for their size, easy to catch, and make excellent table fare. Plus, they're great live bait for bigger fish. Simple tip: fish small hooks with clam, squid, or worms right on bottom near structure, and use a slow jigging motion to get their attention.
Morone SaxatilisThe king of Long Island waters, stripers are what most anglers dream about. These silver-sided beauties with their distinctive black stripes average 20-40 pounds and put up fights that test your gear. They're structure-oriented fish, so we target them around bridges, jetties, and rocky areas where they hunt bunker and herring. Spring and fall migrations offer the best action, but they're catchable year-round. What sets them apart is their combination of size, fight, and table fare - plus they're smart, making each catch earned. They prefer moving water and low-light conditions. Here's the key: match your bait to what they're feeding on, and don't be afraid to fish early morning or evening when they're most active.
Paralichthys DentatusFluke fishing is pure strategy - these flatfish are masters of disguise, lying camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches, but doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds make hearts race. Look for them on structure edges, drop-offs, and around jetties throughout our bays where they hunt crabs and baitfish. Peak season runs May through October when they're shallow and feeding actively. Guests love the challenge because fluke are finicky - you need to feel that subtle tap and set the hook quick. They're also some of the best eating fish around. My go-to trick: drift with bucktails tipped with squid or gulp, and always give a little twitch to trigger strikes.
Atractoscion NobilisAlso called white seabass, these silver torpedoes are actually part of the croaker family and can surprise you with their size - averaging 28 inches but capable of much bigger. They're strong fighters despite the "weakfish" name, and they make those distinctive croaking sounds when landed. You'll find them suspended between bottom and surface around structure, often where squid are present. Spring through early fall offers the best opportunities in our waters. What guests love is their unpredictable nature and solid fight once hooked. They're excellent table fare too. My trick: use live squid or anchovies and fish them on a drift between mid-water and bottom - if your bait hits bottom, reel up and recast.
Long Island