Long Island Inshore Fishing - 4 Hours of Action
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Four-hour inshore fishing across three premier Long Island baysCaptain provides hands-on instruction for various fishing techniquesSmall group experience with maximum four guests aboard
When you're looking for serious inshore action around Long Island, this 4-hour charter with Saltwater Cowboy puts you right in the thick of it. We're talking about three of the most productive fishing waters on the East Coast - Peconic Bay, Great South Bay, and Long Island Sound. Each spot has its own personality and fish populations, which means your captain can adapt the day based on conditions, tides, and what's biting. You'll have room for up to 4 anglers, so it's perfect for small groups who want personalized attention without the crowded boat experience. The captain knows these waters like the back of his hand and genuinely enjoys teaching different techniques, whether you're a weekend warrior looking to step up your game or someone who's never held a fishing rod.
This isn't your typical head boat experience where you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers. With just 4 spots available, you get the kind of hands-on guidance that actually makes a difference in your fishing. The captain will read the conditions and move between productive spots throughout your 4 hours, hitting structure, drop-offs, and current breaks where the fish like to hang out. Depending on the season and what's moving through, you might start the morning working the eelgrass beds for flounder, then shift to deeper water for stripers, or find yourself casting into feeding bluefish that are tearing up baitfish on the surface. The beauty of inshore fishing around Long Island is the variety - you're never locked into just one technique or target species for the entire trip.
The captain comes prepared with everything you need, but he's also more than happy to work with your personal gear if you prefer. You'll likely be using medium to medium-heavy spinning setups paired with braided line for sensitivity and hookset power. Depending on what's biting, you might be bouncing bucktails and gulp baits along the bottom for flounder, throwing topwater plugs at breaking fish, or drifting live bait around structure for stripers. The captain adjusts techniques throughout the day based on what the fish are telling him. If you want to learn specific methods - maybe you've heard about fluke fishing but never tried it, or you want to get better at reading your fishfinder - just speak up. That's exactly the kind of stuff he loves sharing with anglers who are eager to improve their skills.
Bluefish around Long Island are absolute bulldogs that'll give you a fight from the moment they grab your bait until they're in the net. These aggressive predators typically run between 2-8 pounds in the inshore waters, with the occasional larger fish pushing double digits. They show up in big numbers during their spring and fall migrations, often feeding in schools that create surface action you can see from a distance. When you find them feeding, it's fast and furious fishing with topwater plugs, metal jigs, or even simple chunks of fresh bait. Blues aren't picky eaters, but they've got razor-sharp teeth that'll slice through light leader in a heartbeat.
Summer flounder, or fluke as most Long Island anglers call them, are the bread and butter of the inshore scene from late spring through early fall. These flatfish are masters of camouflage, lying buried in sand and mud waiting to ambush passing baitfish. A legal keeper needs to measure at least 19 inches, and the bigger ones - we're talking 4-6 pound "doormat" fluke - provide some of the best eating you'll find in these waters. They're structure-oriented fish, so you'll typically find them around drop-offs, channel edges, and anywhere current brings food their way. The bite can be subtle, so learning to feel the difference between a fluke pickup and your sinker dragging bottom is a skill that comes with experience.
Striped bass are the crown jewel of Long Island fishing, and these waters hold both schoolie-sized fish and legitimate trophy bass depending on the season. Spring and fall see the largest concentrations as they migrate along the coast, but resident fish provide action throughout the warmer months. Schoolies in the 20-28 inch range are perfect for learning proper catch-and-release techniques, while the larger fish that move through during migration periods can top 30-40 inches and provide the kind of fight that keeps you coming back. Stripers are opportunistic feeders that'll hit everything from live eels to umbrella rigs to simple chunk baits, making them accessible to anglers of all skill levels.
White weakfish, also known as sea trout, are making a comeback in Long Island waters after years of limited numbers. These silvery fighters are most active during the warmer months and have a distinctive spotted pattern along their sides. They typically run between 1-3 pounds in the inshore areas, with occasional larger specimens. Weakfish have relatively soft mouths, so steady pressure rather than aggressive hooksets is the key to landing them successfully. They're excellent table fare with white, flaky meat that's perfect for grilling or frying.
Scup, or porgy as they're commonly called, might not be the most glamorous fish on the list, but they're abundant, willing biters that make for great action when other species are being finicky. These bottom dwellers typically run 8-14 inches and are excellent for beginners learning to feel bites and set hooks properly. They're structure-oriented fish that school up around rocks, wrecks, and hard bottom areas. Scup are also fantastic eating - their firm, white meat has a mild flavor that works well with various cooking methods.
A 4-hour inshore trip gives you enough time to really get into the fishing without feeling rushed, and working these three different water bodies means your captain can adapt to conditions and put you on the most productive bite of the day. The personalized instruction
Your fishing platform for this 4-hour Long Island adventure is a well-equipped motorboat designed to handle the varied waters of Peconic Bay, Great South Bay, and Long Island Sound. With space for up to 4 anglers, this boat gives you plenty of room to cast lines and fight fish without getting tangled up with your buddies. The fish finder will help locate schools of stripers, fluke, and other popular inshore species hiding in the depths, while the GPS keeps you on the most productive fishing spots. When visibility drops or weather rolls in, the radar system ensures safe navigation back to port. An onboard ice box keeps your catch fresh for the trip home, and the head means you won't have to cut your fishing short. Whether you're working jigs along the bottom for fluke or casting topwater for breaking fish, this boat handles the shallow bays and open sound waters with ease.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive feeders that put up a solid fight when hooked. These blue-green fish typically run 3-8 pounds around Long Island, though bigger ones show up. They're voracious predators with razor-sharp teeth, so handle with care. You'll find them in schools throughout our bays and sound from late spring through fall, especially when water temps hit the 60s and 70s. They love chasing baitfish like bunker and weakfish near the surface. Bluefish make great table fare when fresh - firm, flaky meat with a mild flavor. The key is getting your bait moving; they rarely pass up a fast-retrieved spoon or chunk bait. When you see birds working over baitfish, cast into the chaos - there's usually blues underneath causing all the commotion.
Stenotomus ChrysopsScup, or porgies, are the perfect fish for getting kids hooked on fishing. These silver, deep-bodied fish typically run 8-12 inches and are abundant in our local waters from May through October. They school up around rocky bottoms, wrecks, and pilings in 15-40 feet of water. Scup are bottom feeders with strong jaws built for crushing shells and crabs. While they're not big fighters, they're excellent eating with sweet, firm meat similar to snapper. They bite readily on small pieces of squid, clam, or worms on a simple bottom rig. The trick with scup is using small hooks - size 4 or 6 - and keeping your bait right on bottom. They often show up when targeting other species, making them a nice bonus fish that ensures nobody goes home empty-handed.
Morone SaxatilisStriped bass are the crown jewel of our local waters. These silver fish with distinctive black stripes typically range 20-35 inches around Long Island, though 40+ inch cows cruise our waters. They're strong fighters that make powerful runs and love structure like rocky points, bridges, and drop-offs. Spring through fall offers the best action, especially during their migration periods. Stripers are found anywhere from shallow flats to 50+ feet, often following baitfish. They're excellent table fare with firm, sweet meat. What makes them special is their intelligence - they can be finicky one day and aggressive the next. My go-to tip: fish the tide changes around structure using live eels or bunker. Early morning and late evening are prime time when they move shallow to feed.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder, or fluke, are masters of disguise that lie flat on sandy and muddy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 16-20 inches, but doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds are always possible. These flatfish are perfect for beginners since they're not picky eaters and put up a decent scrap. You'll find them in 10-40 feet of water around structure like reefs, wrecks, and channel edges throughout our local bays. Best fishing runs May through October when they move inshore. Both eyes sit on the dark side of their head - pretty wild to see up close. They make excellent eating with sweet, white meat. Pro tip: use a slow drift with squid and spearing on a bucktail jig. Let it bounce bottom and pause frequently - fluke like to study their meal before committing.
Atractoscion NobilisWhite weakfish, also called sea trout, are silver-sided fish with a distinctive soft mouth that gives them their name. They average 12-16 inches but can reach over 20 inches. These fish have tender mouths, so steady pressure without jerking is key - they'll throw the hook easily. You'll find them in grass beds and around structure in 6-25 feet throughout our bays, especially during spring and fall runs. They're schooling fish that make great table fare with sweet, flaky white meat. Weakfish are fun because they hit soft baits aggressively but require finesse to land. Best bet is using soft plastics or small jigs around grass edges during moving water. Keep your drag light and use a steady retrieve - once you feel the bite, just keep reeling smoothly instead of setting hard.
Long Island