We had very limited fishing experience previously — really only squid fishing in HaLong Bay and bass fishing at Lake Conroe — until Summer 2021 when we finally went out on a boat to catch some fish on the Long Island Sound!

 

A friend of ours was an avid fisherman and invited us to join him on a chartered fishing boat on the Long Island Sound between Long Island, Queens and the southern shore of Connecticut. The company provided the boat and all equipment — including rods and reels, lines and accessories, bait — and even cleaned the fish for us at the end of the trip!

 

We boarded the boat early in the morning and were whisked out for about a 90 minute drive out onto the Long Island Sound before the boat set down it’s anchor. Then, everyone took his/her place at one of the fishing rods set in place around the perimeter of the boat, hooked some worms, and cast their lines.

 

Almost immediately, people began cheering and calling out left and right that they had hooked a fish. It was invigorating and exhilarating and such great fun! We caught fish after fish and the boat crew were great about helping us capture photos. Each fish caught was deftly unhooked and placed in a bucket for safekeeping. Each person or group was given its own bucket to keep track of the fish caught. It didn’t seem like there was a maximum number of fish you could catch, but the crew made sure all fish caught were within size regulations and safe to keep.

 

Our trip was a half-day fishing trip. We actively fished for about 2 hours and to be honest the sun was getting a bit too strong for comfort near the end of the excursion. The boat did have a sheltered indoor area where we were able to keep our bags clean and dry, as well as where we ate our packed lunches in the shade.

 

After the fishing was completed, the fishing boat set off back west down the Long Island Sound to take us home. The ride back was actually one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. We sat on the boat’s upper deck and enjoyed the wind on our faces while watching the show of fish cleaning happening below us on the lower deck. The boat crew spent the ride back to shore frenetically cleaning fish after fish. Depending on the style of fish preparation requested, a two-man team masterfully gutted, rinsed, skinned, filleted, de-scaled, and/or de-headed about 300+ fish on the ride back. Fish guts and carcasses were tossed into the water at the rear of the boat, attracting a handful of seagulls looking for an easy meal. It was such fun watching the gulls chasing our boat. The gulls with better aim and a bit more bravery came close enough to the boat to catch the fish carcasses in the air as they were tossed overboard, while others had to go for a swim to catch the fish that landed in the water.

 

As our fishing boat approached the docks at the end of our journey, we were all pretty tired out from the sun and activity. It was a wonderful way to spend a day and we had lots of yummy fish to cook for days to come.

Long Island Chartered Fishing Trip FAQ: 

Where is the Long Island Sound?

The Long Island Sound catches the tides of the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south.

How do you get to the Long Island Sound?

While the New York City MTA 6 line extends up to Pelham Bay, you’ll still have to find a way to get all the way out to the actual shore for your fishing ventures. I’d recommend driving, as you’ll also need ample room for all of your fishing gear if you’re fishing on your own. Even though we didn’t need to bring any gear for our trip on the fishing charter, I’m glad we drove our own car to haul our fish catch home!

What kind of fish can you catch in the Long Island Sound?

Long Island Sounds’ brackish water provides excellent fishing year-round! Check out Connecticut’s official guide to fishing in this area, as well as this Long Island fishing guide to see what is out there for you to catch!

On our trip in June, we caught mostly bluegill. Someone caught a striped bass, but it was too small to keep. Someone even caught a small shark, which was also returned to its watery home.

Do I need a boat to fish the Long Island Sound?

Per this excellent resource on fishing, the Long Island Sound has hundreds of lakes and ponds which are great shore-fishing grounds for trout and bass! I do believe fishing from a boat will be more lucrative in terms of number of fish caught per unit time, but shore-fishing offers the obvious advantages of being less of an all-day commitment and is significantly cheaper.

What to bring and wear on a chartered fishing trip?

Sunscreen! Sunglasses! Maybe wear a sleeved shirt. You’re out on the water under direct sunlight from above and exposed to the reflected sunlight from below you for several hours in mid-day. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty, maybe sandals if you don’t mind getting fish guts on your feet. Be sure to choose comfortable shoes, as you’ll be standing for a few hours while fishing.

I brought wet wipes as well. Touching the bait and fish make for some grimey fingers.

Fishing charter boat crews usually provide water, which we supplemented with our own alcoholic beverages to add to the fun. Depending on your fishing trip’s itinerary and duration, bring a picnic lunch as well.

For the aftermath: bring a large cooler or icebox (and ice) for your fish. You want to chill the fresh fish immediately to optimize the taste and texture. Don’t let your hard work go to waste!

How many fish will I catch?

Each person in group caught around 6-8 fish over the course of approximately 90 minutes of active fishing. We did take several breaks to relax, eat lunch, drink, and take time out of the sun. More continuous fishing time will usually translate into more fish caught, but make your day how you want it and just make sure you have fun!

Can you choose how they clean the fish?

Yes! Make sure to tell the crew before they start cleaning your bucket of fish on the ride back to shore. Most groups chose to have skinless and boneless filets, but the cleaning guys go so fast that you lose a lot of meat during the process. We chose to remove scales but keep the skin, and gut/clean the fish but otherwise keep it whole. I recommend this method if you’re planning on pan-frying or steaming the fish. Fried fish tastes so much better with the skin left on, and steamed fish retains the most moisture and texture when left whole.

How much does a Long Island Sound chartered fishing trip cost?

There are countless fishing charter options to choose from when planning your Long Island fishing trip. We tagged along with a friend with a well-established fishing hobby, and the fishing trip was already arranged for us. However, this site for booking fishing trips offers lots of options with a wide range of boat sizes, trip durations, and trip locations. Prices vary widely and obviously depend on the size of the group, but the cost for a 6-person trip seems to run in the few- to several-hundred dollar range per boat (not per person). The boat we were on took around 30+ people out on the water, but there are lots of options for smaller trips as well.

Is a chartered fishing trip a family-friendly activity?

Definitely yes! There were multiple families with elementary-school-aged kids aboard and everyone had a great time. Kiddos around 4-feet tall and higher had no trouble holding the rods and adults helped even littler ones get involved as well.

Do you have to know how to fish before going on a chartered fishing trip?

No, you do not need to know how to fish beforehand. The boat crew are obviously well versed in fishing and will help you do everything from putting the bait on your hook to helping you reel in your hooked fish onto the boat. No need to stress about your technique or ability— they focus on making sure you catch fish and have a good time doing so.