Hampton Bays Fishing | 8 Hour Trip - Inshore
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Eight-hour inshore fishing adventure targeting multiple speciesAll equipment, licenses, and catch cleaning includedSmall group experience with maximum four guests
Picture this: sun barely cracking the horizon, your coffee still steaming, and you're already heading out into some of the best inshore fishing waters Long Island has to offer. That's what you get with White Water Charters' full-day Hampton Bays fishing adventure. This isn't your typical half-day rush job – we're talking eight solid hours of prime fishing time in waters that consistently produce striped bass, bluefish, fluke, and black sea bass. With everything from rods to licenses covered, plus professional catch cleaning included, all you need to bring is your appetite for some serious fishing action.
Hampton Bays sits right in the sweet spot where Shinnecock Bay meets the Atlantic, giving us access to diverse inshore structures that fish absolutely love. We're not locked into rigid departure times here – your captain works around tides, weather, and what's biting best that day. Some mornings we'll hit the water at first light to catch the bass feeding in shallow flats, other days we might time it for an incoming tide that pushes baitfish into our favorite spots. The beauty of an eight-hour charter is flexibility. We can chase whatever's hot, whether that's drifting over structure for sea bass, working the surf line for blues, or slow-trolling bucktails for those trophy fluke. With just four anglers max, there's plenty of elbow room and personalized attention from your captain. No crowded party boat chaos – just quality fishing with folks who actually want to be there.
Inshore fishing around Hampton Bays means adapting to what Mother Nature serves up, and that's where experience really pays off. We're running light to medium tackle most days – think spinning reels loaded with 20-30 pound braid, paired with 7-foot rods that have enough backbone for bigger bass but won't tire you out fighting smaller fish. Depending on conditions, we might be drift fishing with live bunker for stripers, jigging bucktails and Gulp baits for fluke, or even throwing topwater plugs when the blues are busting bait on the surface. The captain reads the water and adjusts techniques throughout the day. Maybe we start bucktailing in 15 feet of water for fluke at first light, then shift to live lining peanut bunker around structure as the tide changes. Bottom fishing with fresh clams and squid often produces steady sea bass action, especially around wrecks and rocky areas. All gear, bait, and tackle are provided, but feel free to bring your lucky lures if you've got favorites.
Striped bass are the crown jewel of our inshore waters, and Hampton Bays consistently delivers both schoolies for action and keeper-sized fish for the dinner table. These fish show up in May as water temperatures climb into the 50s, following massive schools of bunker, sand eels, and spearing. Bass here are aggressive feeders, especially during moving tides around dawn and dusk. What makes catching stripers so addictive is their fight – they'll make long runs, jump, and use every trick in the book to throw your hook. Plus, a fresh striper fillet cooked properly is about as good as eating gets. We typically see the best bass action from May through June, then again in fall as they migrate south.
Bluefish bring the fireworks to any fishing trip. These toothy predators hunt in schools and when you find them, it's game on. Blues hit hard, fight dirty, and never give up until they're in the net. Around Hampton Bays, we see blues ranging from "snapper" size in late summer up to hefty 10-15 pounders that'll test your drag system. They're not picky eaters – metals, plugs, live bait, even bare hooks bounced near feeding schools will get crushed. The key with blues is having sharp hooks and a good leader, because those razor teeth will slice through light line in seconds. Fresh bluefish, especially the smaller ones, make excellent table fare when cleaned and cooked quickly.
Summer flounder, or fluke as locals call them, are the masters of camouflage and the reason many anglers become obsessed with bottom fishing. These flatfish bury themselves in sand waiting to ambush prey, and catching them requires patience and technique. Fluke fishing is all about presentation – your bait needs to look natural drifting just above bottom. The bite is often subtle, just a slight tick on your rod tip, but the fight is pure fun as they use their flat profile to plane through the water. Door-mat fluke over five pounds are real trophies, and the smaller ones make some of the finest eating fish in our waters. Peak fluke season runs May through September, with the biggest fish often caught early and late in the season.
Eight hours on the water with everything included is tough to beat, especially when you're fishing some of the most productive inshore waters on Long Island. Whether you're looking to put fish in the cooler, chase that personal best, or just spend a day doing what you love with good people, this Hampton Bays charter delivers. The season runs from May through November 13th, covering prime fishing from spring bass runs right through fall migration madness. With only four spots available, these trips book up fast during peak times. Don't wait until the fish reports are red hot – by then, everyone else will be calling too. Secure your dates now and get ready for the kind of fishing day that keeps you planning the next trip before this one's even over.
Get ready to hit the waters of Hampton Bays aboard our custom 2022 27-foot Conch center console - a proven fish-fighting machine originally designed for the demanding waters of the Florida Keys and Northeast coast. This isn't your average charter boat; we built her specifically for serious anglers with top-shelf gear including a gyro stabilizer to keep you steady when the fish are biting. You'll have everything you need for a successful day on the water: GPS to find the hot spots, radar for those foggy mornings, VHF radio for safety, and fish finder technology to locate your targets. Keep your catch fresh in the onboard icebox along with cold drinks for the crew. Our 8-hour inshore adventures run May through November, targeting striped bass, blues, fluke, sea bass and whatever else is running. With space for up to 4 anglers, you'll have plenty of room to work the rods without getting tangled up. All fishing gear, licenses, and catch cleaning are included - just bring yourself and get ready to bend some rods in Hampton Bays' productive inshore waters.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBlues are aggressive fighters that'll give you a real battle once hooked. These silvery-blue predators typically run 2-10 pounds around Hampton Bays, though we see some pushing 15+ during peak season. They're voracious feeders that travel in schools, often creating feeding frenzies near the surface when chasing baitfish. You'll find them in 10-40 feet of water around structure and drop-offs, especially active during moving tides. Peak action runs June through October when they're fattening up. Blues have razor-sharp teeth, so bring wire leaders and handle with care. They're excellent table fare when fresh - the smaller "snappers" are particularly sweet. Pro tip: when you hook one, there's usually more around, so get multiple lines in the water quickly.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the crown jewel of our local fishing - powerful, smart, and absolutely delicious. These silver beauties with their distinctive dark stripes typically range 20-40 pounds in our waters, with some real cows pushing 50+. They're structure-oriented fish, hanging around rocks, drop-offs, and tide lines where baitfish get pushed around. Peak season runs May through November, but fall migration fishing from September to November is pure magic when they're feeding heavily. What guests love most is their incredible fight - long runs and head-shaking battles that'll get your heart pumping. The meat is firm, flaky, and sweet too. Local secret: focus on the tide changes around dawn and dusk near the inlet mouth. Live eels work great, but don't overlook fresh bunker chunks during the fall run.
Paralichthys DentatusFluke are the ultimate flatfish challenge - masters of camouflage that lie buried in sand waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches, but we regularly see "doormat" fluke over 5 pounds that'll test your drag. They hang out on sandy bottoms in 15-50 feet, particularly around structure transitions and drop-offs where current brings food. Best fishing runs May through October, with September and October producing the biggest fish as they fatten up before moving offshore. What makes fluke special is their unique fight - they pull hard and flat, using their body like a sail. Plus, they're one of the finest eating fish in our waters. My go-to tip: use a slow drift with bucktails tipped with squid or spearing, and always give them time to fully take the bait before setting the hook.
Montauk