I f you think that party and charter boat fishing is only for those poor souls who don’t own boats, think again. Heading out on Long Island’s ‘pay-to-play’ vessels is both entertaining and challenging. Open and charter boat fishing offers the chance to learn new tricks, try different tackle, and fish in waters you’ve never cruised. It’s also a great way to fish in areas that are too rough or too far offshore to reach with smaller crafts. Best of all, there are boats sailing at every point in the day – all across Long Island – to accommodate even the toughest schedules.
What’s the difference
What’s the difference between a party boat and a charter boat? Actually, there are several. Party boats, also known locally as “open boats” or “head boats,” tend to be larger vessels that accommodate from six to as many as two-hundred anglers on each trip. With the exception of special trips (i.e., far-offshore wreck fishing, overnight runs for tuna, and drift-fishing for striped bass) reservations are not generally necessary for these excusions (although you might want to call ahead on weekends just to be sure.) All you need to do is to show up at the dock prior to the advertised sailing time, get aboard and pay the fare.
“We really try hard to cover all the bases in terms of sailing schedules,” said Capt. Mike Wasserman of the Captain Lou Fishing Fleet (www.captloufleet. com) in Freeport. “We sail half-day trips for fluke everyday through the summer, sea bass trips out the local reefs, and we’ll add special trips to the schedule if something else starts to bite like stripers or even offshore tuna. The point is, you’ve always got something to sail for and it doesn’t have to be the same target or same time slot every time you head out.”
The Laura Lee Fishing Fleet (www.captree.com) out of Captree, Long Island’s largest open boat port, follows the same basic logic. “There’s just so much going on in our waters that you can try something different – or keep heading out for the same thing if you prefer – any day of the week, said Capt. Neil Delanoy. “We run daily trips for ocean sea bass and mixed-bag action, local fluke, and stripers and blues. Earlier this year, we even ran combo trips for blues and squid. We sail mornings, afternoons, evenings and nights so there is always a boat heading out somewhere for something.”
Charter boats, in contrast, generally cater to groups of fewer (up to six) passengers and reservations are always necessary. The big plus here is that you get to choose your rail mates because the boat is booked exclusively. Charter boating affords the opportunity to fish with a specific type of tackle, such as fly-fishing or spinning gear for stripers and blues, or to target less sought after species such as false albacore. It also provides informative and enjoyable one-on-one interaction with a mate and skipper who can teach you a few neat tricks to improve your overall fishing success.
“Both open boats and charter boats are good options,” said Capt. Herb Hahn of Cold Spring Charters (www.fishingchartercoldspringharbor.com) “but there are some extra amenities if you go the charter route. For starters, charter boats can target several different species on the same trip, switching from fluke to stripers or porgies or blues if the original game plan doesn’t work out – or if limits get filled quickly. Then there’s the luxury of having just your own friends aboard and fewer people so there are fewer tangles and less crowding. It never hurts to have your own personal mate, too, looking out for just the anglers in your small party of six or less. Sure, it costs more, but most would agree charter fishing is a pretty sweet deal.”
THE PARTY BOAT GAME
Generally speaking, party boats sail for species that are in high abundance at a particular port or time of year. Since the skipper hopes to produce a solid haul for many anglers, fish that are easy to catch including summer flounder, bluefish, porgy and black sea bass are the usual targets.
Most party boats sail on a full or halfday schedule, but there are exceptions to this rule. Many charter boats offer evening or night trips and a few feature offshore overnight specials. Operators may schedule extra trips for striped bass or weakfish on relatively short notice to take advantage of late evening tides. Bait is available free of charge on most vessels and they also carry suitable rods, reels, hooks and tackle for free or at a nominal charge.
Party boat fares are usually based on how far the vessel cruises and the fish being sought, and these factors may vary from port to port or even by vessel. Most party boats sail seven days for most weeks in summer as long as the weather is good. A full day of party boat fishing will range between $55 and $90, and half-day trips generally run $40 to $50. Special trips to offshore wrecks or canyon tuna hot spots can cost more than $200 per angler. Contact the boat that you would like to fish on to obtain these details.
Two expenses that are not included in party boat fares that you should keep in mind are a tip for the mates (15% to 20% of the fare is customary and it will be shared by the crew) and entry in the pool. The ‘pool’ is a specified fee, usually $5 to $10 which each angler contributes to a kitty. The angler that lands the biggest fish at the end of the day, for the species that have been included in the pool, wins the purse. The pool can range
between $50 and $100 on most rips, but it may be higher. My dad once won a $2,000 pool on a special wreck fishing trip and I’ve scored on several pools over the years that have topped $300.
CHARTER OPTIONS
While party boat anglers may decide to fish on the spur of the moment, charter fishing requires advanced planning. For one thing, many captains have regular customers that book trips weeks in advance. This is especially true for the weekends, peak tuna season and full moon striped bass trips. Charter boat fares are higher, ranging from as little as $300 for a half-day inshore trip to more than $1,500 dollars for an extended trip to the offshore canyons. A tip for the mates is extra. Most charter boats can accommodate up to six passengers for a flat rate fee. However, you can offset the cost by bringing along a few friends or family members. Ask the captain how many passengers are allowed to fish on the trip that you intend to book. Having more anglers onboard may mean less time on the rod (i.e., trolling for tuna), so consider the cost versus fishing time trade-off.
Visit the dock before you make a decision if you are considering a charter boat or party boat. Speak with disembarking anglers to find out if they had a good time, and ask if the crew was helpful and knowledgeable. Take note of the vessel’s condition and look at the onboard tackle. Top-notch skippers take pride in their business and keep a clean boat and high quality gear.
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