Family Fishing Charter in the Hamptons
The measure of a good family fishing charter in the Hamptons isn't the size of the fish. It's whether the seven-year-old is still interested forty-five minutes in. That's a completely different problem from catching a trophy, and it's the one we plan around.
We're Charters in The Hamptons, a family-run operation based on Shelter Island. Family trips stay inside the protected water of Peconic Bay, the ride out is short, and the captain spends as much time baiting hooks as running the boat. Call (631) 251-1777 to set a date.
Why Kids Catch Fish on These Trips
Porgies are the reason family trips work out here. They're abundant through the summer, they hold in big schools around structure, and they bite hard enough that a child feels it immediately. Black sea bass do the same job on harder bottom.
That's the difference between a kid who's hooked for life and a kid who's asking to go home. Steady bites beat big fish every time at that age.
We're not going to run you an hour offshore looking for something rare. We'll find the fish that are actually there and keep the rods bent.
Calm Water Is the Whole Point
Peconic Bay is protected on three sides. When the ocean is rough, the bay is often flat. That matters enormously with children aboard.
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We fish inside the bay on family trips, close to shore and out of the traffic. The back creeks along Mashomack Preserve on the east side of Shelter Island are about as still as water gets on the East End. Coecles Harbor is another calm option.
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Short ride, flat water, land in sight. That combination handles most of what makes kids uneasy on a boat.
Life Jackets and the Rule That Applies
Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket while aboard a moving recreational vessel unless they're below deck or in an enclosed cabin. We carry properly sized jackets for kids, and we'd rather your child wear one all trip than argue about the technicality.
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Bring a jacket you know fits if your child has a favorite. Ours work fine, but a familiar one gets less resistance.
What to Expect Hour by Hour
Family trips usually run about four hours, and shorter options are available if you've got very young kids.
A typical trip looks like this. Twenty minutes running out. Two to three hours anchored or drifting on fish. Then a slow ride back, usually with a stop to look at something on the way.
Attention spans are the real constraint. If the kids are done at two hours, tell the captain and we'll head in. Nobody wins by stretching it.
What's Included
Every fishing charter comes with rods, reels, tackle, live and cut bait, ice, a USCG-licensed captain, fish cleaning at the dock, and required safety gear.
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You bring snacks, drinks, sunscreen, hats, and layers. Pack more snacks than you think. It's the single most useful thing you can put in the bag.
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Passengers on a licensed charter boat in New York's marine district don't need a fishing registration, and anglers under 16 aren't required to register anyway. Nobody in your family needs a license.
What You Can Keep
Bag and size limits apply to everyone, including kids. Porgy has an 11 inch minimum for anglers fishing from a vessel. Black sea bass is 16 inches. Fluke is 19 inches through August 1 and 19.5 inches after that.
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Your captain measures at the rail and will explain to your kids why a fish goes back. Most of them find that part genuinely interesting. Current rules are posted by the New York State DEC.
What to Pack for Kids
Keep it simple and pack more than you'd think:
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Snacks, then more snacks. Something salty and something sweet.
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Water for everyone, separate from the adults' cooler.
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A hat that stays on, and sunscreen you'll reapply.
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A long-sleeve layer even on a warm day. Wind on the water is deceptive.
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A change of clothes in a dry bag. Someone will get wet.
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A towel each.
Leave the good sneakers at home. Boat shoes, old sneakers, or bare feet are all fine.
First Trip Nerves
Some kids get on a boat and never look back. Others need a minute.
A few things that help. Let them stand where they can see the horizon. Feed them before you leave the dock. Skip the early alarm if you can, because a tired kid on a boat is a hard afternoon. And tell the captain what you're working with when you board, because he's seen it before.
If someone's genuinely miserable, we'll go in. That's not a failure, it's just Tuesday.
Why Families Book With Us
We're cousins who grew up on Shelter Island. We worked the docks at our family's marina as kids, which is roughly the age your children are now. We earned USCG licenses in 2019 and have run more than 200 charters since.
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Every captain holds a USCG license.
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Private charters only, so it's just your family aboard.
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Pickup at Greenport and Sag Harbor.
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Patient captains who are genuinely fine with untangling the same line four times.
If the group would rather swim than fish, our family charters do sandbars and calm anchorages instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good age to start? Most kids do well from about five or six on a short bay trip. Younger than that, keep it under two hours and expect a lot of looking at the water rather than fishing.
Do the kids need fishing licenses? No. Passengers on a licensed charter boat are covered, and anglers under 16 aren't required to register in New York regardless.
Are life jackets provided? Yes, in kid sizes. Federal law requires children under 13 to wear one aboard a moving vessel unless they're in an enclosed cabin.
What if my kid gets seasick? Peconic Bay is protected and usually flat, which is why we fish inside it on family trips. If someone is struggling anyway, tell the captain and we'll head back in.
How long should we book? Four hours suits most families. Shorter trips are available for younger kids. Tell us the ages when you call and we'll advise.
Will we actually catch something? In summer, almost always. Porgies and sea bass bite steadily inside the bay, which is exactly why we target them on family trips.
Can grandparents come along? Yes. Calm water and a short ride suit older passengers too. Let us know if anyone needs a hand getting aboard and we'll pick the right dock.
How big can the family group be? Most private charter vessels are limited to six passengers under federal law. For a bigger family gathering we can run two boats together. Give us the head count when you call.
Do you go out if it's cloudy? Often yes. Overcast days can fish better than bright ones, and light rain doesn't usually stop a bay trip. Your captain makes the call on wind and sea state, not sunshine.
Book a Family Trip
Tell us the ages and the date. We'll pick the boat, the spot, and the length of the day around your kids.
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Call or text (631) 251-1777, or email captain@chartersinthehamptons.com. We're at 63 S Menantic Rd, Shelter Island, NY 11964. See our boats or contact us.
