Offshore Fishing Charter in the Hamptons
An offshore fishing charter in the Hamptons is a different animal from a day in the bay. You're running to the canyons south of Montauk, the trip can go twelve hours or longer, and the weather decides whether it happens at all. There are also more rules out there than anywhere else we fish, and most charter websites don't mention a single one.
We're Charters in The Hamptons, a family-run operation on Shelter Island. Call (631) 251-1777 and we'll tell you honestly whether your date is realistic.
What You're Fishing For
Bigeye tuna, mahi-mahi, and shark feed in the canyon water from late summer into early fall. That's the window. July through October is when it comes together, and the best stretch is usually late August into September.
These are long-day or overnight runs. Thirty miles offshore is a different ocean from Peconic Bay, and the ride home in a building sea is the part people underestimate.
The Shark Rules Nobody Publishes
Shark fishing out of New York is heavily regulated, and it's changed a lot. Here's what actually applies.
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You need a federal permit. Anglers fishing for shark or tuna must hold a NOAA Fisheries Highly Migratory Species permit in addition to any state requirements. We'll walk you through what applies to your trip.
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One shark per vessel per trip. Not one per angler. One for the whole boat, with a narrow exception for Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead.
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Shortfin mako is closed. The classic Montauk mako shark is on New York's prohibited list, along with longfin mako, dusky, sand tiger, sandbar, white, bigeye thresher, and about fifteen others. Prohibited species must stay in the water and be released immediately. Targeting them at all is a violation.
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Allowed species have size floors. Tiger, blacktip, bull, lemon, nurse, spinner, blue, porbeagle, and common thresher all carry a 54 inch fork length minimum. Hammerheads are 78 inches.
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Circle hooks are mandatory. Non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks are required for shark fishing by hook and bait.
The full list is on the DEC's saltwater regulations page, and it does change.
What That Means for Your Trip
A shark trip today is mostly catch and release, and that's the honest way to sell it. If you're picturing a boat full of fish on the dock, offshore isn't the trip. If you want to fight something big and put it back, it absolutely is.
Tuna Is Its Own Fishery
Bigeye tuna work the canyon edges from midsummer into fall, often at night or in the first light of morning. That's part of why offshore trips run so long and sometimes go overnight.
Tuna fishing also requires the same NOAA Highly Migratory Species permit as shark. Mahi-mahi tend to show up around floating debris and weed lines on the way out and back, and they're often the most fun fish of the day.
We can't promise a canyon trip produces. Nobody honest can. What we can promise is that we'll run when the conditions are right and tell you when they aren't.
Weather Windows Are Tight
This is the part that separates offshore from every other charter on this site. The canyons are only fishable when the forecast cooperates, and late summer weather on the East End turns fast.
Book early and build flexibility into your plans. Groups that give us a two or three day window get out far more often than groups locked to one Saturday. Your captain makes the final call, and he'll cancel a marginal day rather than take you thirty miles out into something ugly.
Seasickness Is Real Out Here
Nobody wants to talk about this and everyone should. The protected water of Peconic Bay stays flat when the ocean doesn't. Offshore has no such protection.
If anyone in your group is unsure, talk to a pharmacist about motion sickness options well before the trip, not the morning of. Eat something before you leave. Stay on deck where you can see the horizon. And be honest with us when you book, because a twelve-hour run is a long time to be miserable.
Who Should Book This
Offshore suits experienced anglers, groups who've fished big water before, and people who want the trip more than the cooler. It's a serious day.
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If that's not your group, we run plenty of alternatives. Inshore half-days inside the bay are calmer, shorter, and produce far more fish in the box.
What's Included
Rods, reels, and heavy tackle suited to the target, bait, ice, a USCG-licensed captain, fish cleaning at the dock, and required safety gear. You bring food, plenty of water, layers, foul weather gear, and sunscreen.
Why Book With Us
We're cousins who grew up on Shelter Island, working the docks at our family's marina before earning USCG licenses in 2019. More than 200 charters since.
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Every captain holds a USCG license.
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We'll tell you when a date isn't going to work instead of taking the booking.
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Private charters only.
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Pickup on both forks, so the group doesn't have to split the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an offshore trip? Twelve hours or more, and some runs go overnight. Plan on giving up the whole day and part of the next.
Can we keep a shark? Possibly one for the entire boat, if it's an allowed species and meets the size minimum. Many species, including shortfin mako, are prohibited and must be released in the water.
Do we need a special permit? Anglers fishing for shark or tuna need a NOAA Highly Migratory Species permit. Call us and we'll go over what applies to your trip before you book.
What's the best time of year? Late August through September is the strongest window. July and October can both produce, but the weather is less cooperative.
What if the weather cancels us? Your captain makes the call, and offshore gets called off more than any other trip we run. Book with a flexible window and talk to us about rescheduling before you commit.
Is this a good trip for kids? No. Twelve hours in open water is too much for most children. A family trip inside the bay is a much better day for them.
How far out do you go? The canyon fishing south of Montauk sits roughly thirty miles offshore, sometimes further depending on where the fish are holding.
Can we fish overnight? Some canyon trips run overnight, which is often when the tuna bite is best. Ask when you call and we'll tell you what's available for your date.
How many anglers can come? Federal rules cap most private charter vessels at six paying passengers. Tell us the head count first, because it determines which boat we can run.
Cost and What Drives It
Offshore is the most expensive trip we run, and it's worth understanding why. You're burning a full day of fuel at range, running heavier tackle, and often carrying an extra crew member. Trip length and distance both move the number more than boat size does.
Call (631) 251-1777 with your date and group and we'll quote the specific trip you have in mind.
Talk to Us Before You Book
Offshore is the one trip where a phone call matters more than a form. Tell us who's coming, what you want to catch, and how much flexibility you have on dates.
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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 get in touch.
