Fishing for me is like zen yoga but without the need to try to stretch your body into a pretzel. It calms the mind and the nerves. It taught me to unplug long before people became glued to their phones. It shows you nature in all its glory…..and some things that are not so glorious. It’s my go-to happy place without the psychobabble connotations. It’s not for everybody, though. It helps big time if you’re a morning person. Don’t get me wrong. Early morning isn’t the only time to fish. Some of my favorite childhood memories involve fishing for carp in the twilight hours using wet cereal balls for bait. “Carp, don’t eat ‘em, but they sure fight like hell” was what we used to say.
It’s not just the modern world with its social media and WiFi addiction. There’s also something about the East Coast itself that seems like fishing can serve as a natural outlet and release for the congestion and harried way of life that is too common, imo, in this part of the country. Of course, as a long-time resident myself, I’m not trying to insult anyone, either. Far from it, I’m a big fan. It’s just if there’s one thing I could change it would be a stronger vibe of yoga-less zen. These aren’t the only spots, of course, but from New England down to southern Florida, for freshwater or saltwater, here are some of the best places that I’ve been fishing on the East Coast.
Fishing in Massachusetts
Larry’s Tackle Shop | Edgartown, MA | 258 Upper Main St, Edgartown, MA 02539 | 1 508-627-5088 | https://www.larrystackle.com/ |
Done Deal Charters | Vineyard Haven, MA | 223 Lake St, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 | 1 508-737-5717 | http://www.donedealcharters.com/ |
Menemsha Blues Charters | Chilmark, MA | Menemsha Charter Fishing Row, Basin Road, Chilmark, MA 02535 | 1 508-645-3778 | http://www.menemshabluescharters.com/ |
Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby, Inc. | Edgartown, MA | Weigh Station, Main Street, Edgartown, MA 02539, | 1 303-249-2083 | http://www.mvderby.com/ |
The Skipper – Fishing Charters and Party Boat | Oak Bluffs, MA | 2 Circuit Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 | 1 508-693-1238 | http://www.mvskipper.com/ |
Martha’s Vineyard Leisure Boat Charters | Vineyard Haven, MA | 52 Pondview Dr, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 | 1 508-696-5252 | http://www.mvboat.com/ |
Red Tail Offshore Charter Fishing | Menemsha, MA | Basin Rd, Menemsha, MA 02552 | 1 508-645-6131 | http://www.redtailfishing.com/ |
Roberts Lures Inc | Vineyard Haven, MA | 126 Franklin Ave, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 | 1 508-696-8925 | http://www.robertslures.com/ |
Fishing in New York
1000 Islands Fishing Charters | Clayton, NY | 335 Riverside Dr, Clayton, NY 13624 | 1 315-686-2381 | http://www.1000-islands.com/ |
Thousand Island Bait Store | Alexandria Bay, NY | 42980 New York RT 12, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 | 1 315-482-9903 | http://www.tibait.com/ |
1000 Islands – Sign Man Fishing Charters | Clayton, NY | 720 State St, Clayton, NY 13624 | 1 315-686-3041 | http://1000islandsfishing.com/ |
1000 Islands-Seaway Charters | Alexandria Bay, NY | 69 Anthony St, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 | 1 315-408-6798 | http://www.seawaycharters.com/ |
Ferguson Fishing Charters | Clayton, NY | 519 Theresa St, Clayton, NY 13624 | 1 315-686-3100 | http://www.fergusonfishingcharters.com/ |
Viking Fleet | Montauk, NY | 462 W Lake Dr, Montauk, NY 11954 | 1 631-668-5700 | https://vikingfleet.com/ |
Susie E Montauk Fishing Charter | Montauk, NY | 352 W Lake Dr, Montauk, NY 11954 | 1 631-523-8862 | http://susiee.com/ |
Miss Montauk | Montauk, NY | 426 W Lake Dr, Montauk, NY 11954 | 1 631-668-1545 | http://www.missmontauk.com/ |
Montauk Fishing Charter CUJO | Montauk, NY | 59 Star Island Rd, Montauk, NY 11954 | 1 631-678-2127 | https://www.facebook.com/Montauk-Fishing-Charter-CUJO-409406802405708/ |
Four C’s Montauk Charter Boat | Montauk, NY | 467 E Lake Dr, Montauk, NY 11954 | 1 516-639-6767 | http://four-cs-montauk-charter-boat.business.site/ |
Fishing in Florida
Bud N’ Mary’s Marina | Islamorada, FL | 79851 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 | 1 305-664-2461 | http://budnmarys.com/ |
Main Attraction | Key Colony Beach, FL | 400 Sadowski Causeway, Key Colony Beach, FL 33051 | 1 305-289-0071 | http://www.mainattraction.org/ |
Florida Keys Fun Fishing | Islamorada, FL | 80500 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 | 1 305-393-0900 | http://floridakeysfunfishing.com/ |
Rodeo Charters | Key Largo, FL | 1313 Ocean Bay Dr, Key Largo, FL 33037 | 1 305-852-3829 | http://rodeocharters.com/ |
Boneafide Fishing Charters Lower Keys Fishing Charters | Little Torch Key, FL | 565 Barry Ave, Little Torch Key, FL 33042 | 1 305-986-3211 | http://boneafidecharters.com/ |
Islamorada Fishing Guides and Charters | Islamorada, FL | 81576 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036 | 1 305-394-7484 | http://www.islamoradafishingguidesandcharters.com/ |
Sight Fish Charters | Summerland Key, FL | 28530 Overseas Hwy, Summerland Key, FL 33042 | 1 305-304-6132 | http://www.sightfishfloridakeys.com/ |
Fishing Florida Keys | Key West, FL | 5555 College Rd, Key West, FL 33040 | 1 305-292-7279 | http://www.fishingfloridakeys.com/ |
Angling Adventures | Marathon, FL | 12648 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050 | 1 786-508-2483 | http://www.captainrichsmith.com/ |
Jig’s Bait and Tackle | Big Pine Key, FL | 30321 Overseas Hwy, Big Pine Key, FL 33043 | 1 305-872-1040 | https://www.jigsbaitandtackle.com/ |
Key West Fly Fishing with Capt. Dexter Simmons | Sugarloaf Key, FL | 17240 Oleander Ln, Sugarloaf Key, FL 33042 | 1 305-745-3304 | http://www.keywestflyfishing.com/ |
Cudjoe Sales Fishermen’s Warehouse | Summerland Key, FL | 22536 Overseas Hwy, Summerland Key, FL 33042 | 1 305-745-3667 | http://cudjoesales.com/ |
Key West Fly Fishing | Summerland Key, FL | 1008 Buttonwood Dr E, Summerland Key, FL 33042 | 1 305-744-8291 | http://keywestflatsfishing.com/ |
Ye Olde English Fly Shop | Summerland Key, FL | 24570 Overseas Hwy, Summerland Key, FL 33042 | 1 305-509-1113 | http://yeoldeenglishflyshop.com/ |
Sailors Choice Party Fishing Boat | Key Largo, FL | 99701 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037 | 1 305-451-1802 | http://sailorschoicefishingboat.com/ |