Sportfishing Charter in the Hamptons
A private sportfishing charter in the Hamptons means you build the day instead of picking from a menu. You choose the target species, the run time, and the pickup point, and the captain builds the route around it. That's a different proposition from booking a seat on somebody else's schedule.
We're Charters in The Hamptons, a family-run operation based on Shelter Island, and we'd rather plan your trip on the phone than have you guess from a list. Call (631) 251-1777.
What "Private" Actually Changes
Three things, and they all matter more than they sound.
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The Schedule is Yours. We leave when the tide and the target say to leave, not when a booking calendar says. For bass at Plum Gut that might be dawn. For fluke inside the bay it might be mid-morning.
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The Target is Yours. Tell us what you want to catch and we'll tell you honestly whether it's realistic for your date. If it isn't, we'll say what is.
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The Boat is Yours. No strangers, no shared rail, no waiting your turn on a good drift.
Chasing the Peconic Slam
The East End holds an unusual mix of species in a small area, and a good private day can put several in the boat.
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Striped Bass. One fish per angler within a 28 to 31 inch slot, April 15 to December 15. Inline circle hooks required with bait.
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Bluefish. No size limit, seven per angler on a licensed charter boat.
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Fluke. May 4 to October 15, three fish, 19 inches through August 1 and 19.5 inches after.
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Black Sea Bass. From May 16, 16 inch minimum, three fish through August and six from September.
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Porgy. Eleven inches for vessel anglers, 30 fish per person through August.
Getting all five in one day is a genuinely good outing. Current limits are published by the New York State DEC.
Where We Can Run
Our Shelter Island base sits between the North Fork and the South Fork, which means a private charter isn't locked to one body of water.
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Inside is Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay, protected and productive. East is Plum Gut and Block Island Sound, where the current does the work. Further out is the canyon water south of Montauk. Pickup is available in Greenport and Sag Harbor, so nobody in the group drives past the boat to get to the boat.
Building the Trip Around the Month
The right target changes constantly, which is exactly why a fixed trip menu doesn't serve serious anglers well.
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May and June. Striped bass on the bunker schools in the bay. Early fluke.
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July and August. Peak fluke on the sand south of Shelter Island. Sea bass and porgy filling in everywhere. Bluefish blitzes.
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September and October. The best month of the year. Bass migration, bigger fish, blackfish season opening, and the water to yourself.
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Winter. Limited trips by request. Cod and tautog in deeper holes.
Tell us the month you want to fish and we'll tell you what to aim at.
What Makes a Private Day Work
The anglers who get the most out of a private charter tend to do three things.
They tell us the real goal. "I want my son to catch his first keeper" and "I want to put a slot bass in the boat" produce completely different days. Both are fine. We just need to know which one it is.
They stay flexible on the target. The fish don't read the booking form. If the bass aren't cooperating and the fluke are, the day goes better if we can pivot.
They give us a window on dates. Tide and weather both matter, and a two-day window nearly always beats a single locked-in Saturday.
Group Size Before Anything Else
Federal law limits most private charter vessels to six paying passengers unless the boat carries a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection. Corporate groups and bachelor parties run into this constantly.
Give us the head count on the first call. If your group is larger than one boat holds, we can run two together with a captain on each.
What's Included
Rods, reels, and tackle matched to the target, live and cut bait, ice, a USCG-licensed captain, fish cleaning at the dock, and required safety gear come with every fishing charter. Passengers don't need their own New York registration.
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Bring your own gear if you prefer it. Plenty of people do.
Why Serious Anglers Book With Us
We're cousins who grew up in the marina business on Shelter Island, working the docks before we earned USCG licenses in 2019. More than 200 charters since.
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Every captain holds a USCG license.
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Central location, so both forks and the deeper water east are all short runs.
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Private charters only.
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Members get priority access to the booking calendar, which is worth asking about if you fish more than a couple of times a season.
What It Costs
Private sportfishing pricing depends on the vessel, the trip length, and how far you're running. A half day inside Peconic Bay and a ten-hour run to the canyon edge are not remotely the same number.
Tell us the target, the date, and the head count, and we'll quote the actual trip rather than a range. Call (631) 251-1777.
Build Your Trip
One phone call and we'll have a target, a departure time, and a boat.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pick the species we target? Yes. Tell us what you want and your date, and we'll tell you honestly whether it lines up. If it doesn't, we'll suggest what's actually biting then.
How long can a private charter run? Anything from a four-hour half day to a full ten-hour run or an overnight offshore trip. You set the length.
Can I bring my own rods? Yes. We supply everything if you'd rather travel light, but plenty of anglers bring their own.
How many people can come? Most private charter vessels are limited to six passengers under federal law. Give us the head count when you call and we'll tell you what fits or whether you need a second boat.
Do you fish year round? Season runs spring through fall for most species. Winter trips run by request for cod and tautog in deeper water.
Where do you pick up? Greenport on the North Fork and Sag Harbor on the South Fork. Your captain confirms the dock when you book.
Can you run a tournament prep or scouting day? Call and tell us what you're working toward. We'll build the day around it.
What's the best single day of the year to book? Early October, if you have the flexibility. Bass are moving, blackfish opens, sea bass limits are up, and most of the summer traffic is gone.
Can you accommodate an angler with limited mobility? Often yes, depending on the vessel and the dock. Tell us what's needed when you call and we'll pick the setup that works.
Do you offer multi-day bookings? Yes. Anglers fishing several days in a row usually see better results because we can follow the bite instead of guessing on day one.
