On the Water
There’s a certain point on a hot Long Island summer day when being anywhere near the water starts to sound like a very good idea.
By 6 p.m., the heat begins to break. The breeze picks up across the Great South Bay. And while most people are deciding where to go for dinner, boats are heading out of Captree State Park as the sun begins to set.
Bluefish and weakfish have kept anglers busy aboard the Island Princess evening trips in recent weeks, as the boat moves around the Great South Bay.
But unlike daytime fluke trips, where anglers generally drift bait along the bottom, fishing at night is a little more active.
Light tackle, active fishing
Sailing daily from 6 to 10 p.m., the trips target bluefish and weakfish using light spinning tackle as the sun begins to set.
Bluefish have provided much of the recent action, according to the Island Princess crew, while weakfish also remain in the mix throughout the summer. As fall approaches, striped bass begin moving into the bay, giving the crew another species to target.
Where the boat fishes each night depends on conditions and where the bite is strongest.
No experience necessary
The Island Princess has operated from Captree for more than 40 years and welcomes anglers of all experience levels.
Rods, tackle and bait are available aboard the boat, and crew members help passengers with everything from casting and working a lure to recognizing a strike and landing a fish.
The evening trips are well suited for experienced anglers looking for an active bite, as well as families with older children, groups of friends and anyone interested in trying fishing for the first time.
More than just fishing
These four-hour evening trips can be a particularly fun option for groups of friends and families with tweens, teenagers and older kids.
There’s more casting and action involved, you get the novelty of being out on the bay after dark, and catching a hard-fighting bluefish on a light spinning rod tends to get everyone’s attention.
Pack a sweatshirt for after sunset, and bring some snacks and drinks.
As the boat moves across the bay, passengers also get an unobstructed view of the Fire Island shoreline and the changing colors of the evening sky. The cooler air and breeze off the water make the trips as much about spending time on the bay as they are about fishing.
Current fishing reports, schedules, ticket information and nightly catch updates are available at IslandPrincessCaptree.com and on the Island Princess’ Facebook and Instagram pages.
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