Beginners to old salts can’t
resist this fun, easy fishing
Whether or not spring shows its softer side, there will be plenty of fishing enthusiasts drowning sandworms on April 1st in pursuit of winter flounder. The two-month-long flounder season opens in April and is Long Island Sound’s harbinger of spring, offering what many consider the most delicious fish in our waters.
The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington sails for flounder daily, offering the unique feeling you get as the big fishing boat settles over a quiet bay sandflat early on a frigid morning. With minimal boat traffic this early in the season, the silence is overwhelming, and the morning sun gives the scenery a crisp clarity.
The chilly air is offset by the warming sun as well as the boat’s heated cabin and offerings of soup, hot chocolate and coffee in the galley. Flounder fishing is mostly done in the bays, so rough water is rarely an issue.
Everything you need is onboard, from rods and reels to bait. And the mates offer instruction to make every guest into an angler.
The Angler Fleet sails open boat by reservation daily with full-day 7 a.m.-3 p.m. trips aboard the Angler III and two half-day trips, 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. aboard the Angler II. Walk-on fishermen are accepted, but only reservations guarantee you a spot at the rail. There is also the 26-foot Angler Express available for six-person charters. All boats depart promptly from Inspiration Wharf at 405 Main St. in Port Washington. The phone number is 718-659-8181, and the website is www.theangler.com.
