Some of the Best Salt Water Fishing in New England on the CT Shore
With over 100 species of fish in Long Island Sound,
boat club membership can get you and your buddies out casting some lines!
From striped bass, fluke and blackfish to summer flounder, hickory shad and blues, Connecticut is home to some of the best fishing around. And the best way to fish the Sound is by boat!
If you don’t own a boat, you and the guys may be looking to charter. That’s a pretty good option, and charter captains claim they know the best fishing spots. However, chartering a fishing boat may still have its drawbacks.
Here’s a few things to think about before laying down the credit card:
First off
Let’s talk about price. Fishing charters range from big boats with a whole bunch of fishing poles cast in every direction to private boat charters. The first type tend to be a little less expensive per person. We found Blackhawk Sport Fishing in Stonington, CT to be a good deal at $105 per person. If you and five friends were going, that would be around $600 for the day.
In comparison, Carefree Boat Club of Eastern Connecticut has a low monthly fee of around $300/month. Take the guys out twice a month and it will be less than one day on a big boat.
Now, let’s talk private charters. It’s a little more per person if you and 6 guys are all onboard. You pay by the boat trip (whether you have 6 or not). For great inshore fishing, check out places like Osprey Sport Fishing out of Groton, CT.
For a 5-hour half day, it’s $690. If you wanted an extended day with different morning and afternoon locations for possibly two different species, and a lunch stop say at Orient Point, that would be $1,000.
In comparison, part of Carefree’s price structure is an annual cost of around $3,000. But, it looks like 3 monthly trips on reasonable privately charted boats would quickly add up to the cost of Carefree, who lets you go as many times as you want in a month! And on top of that you get 9 more months!!
Second
You can’t control the weather or the waves – don’t let a boat captain tell you he can either. When you have to pinpoint a specific day or week to reserve your time on the water, you’re at the mercy of mother nature. Hang on, it could be a soggy trip.
Third
When you charter a fishing boat for a day, what if the fish aren’t biting? You don’t get your money back. And obviously, you’ll have to pay to go out and try again.
In either scenario, you’re going to spend money and risk not getting favorable results. When you’re a Carefree Boat Club Member, you can call or reserve a boat online anytime you want. If the weather doesn’t look good, wait a week before you head out for fun in the sun.
Take control of your time on the water. If the fish aren’t biting, try-try again. Carefree gives you unlimited access to its entire fleet.
Charter boat captains may have restrictions on where their vessels can go. As a Carefree member, you’ll have complete control over your destination. And if you’re ever not comfortable with piloting a boat, our experienced staff offers unlimited training and instruction on all of our boats so you feel comfortable and confident handling every vessel in our fleet.
Fourth
You may be thinking you and the guys want an exotic destination for your fishing trip, like chartering a boat in the Florida Keys or Northern California – well Carefree is still worth a look. With more than 60 locations across the U.S. and North America, we have many clubs to visit and choose from.
You will enjoy full access to their marina amenities even though your home port is Cedar Island Marina in Clinton, CT.
Benefits of Membership
When you charter a fishing trip, your experience ends when you return to the docks. But with Carefree, members become part of a boating community. You will have the opportunity to meet and network with other fishermen (and women). Carefree is a club, not a boat rental company.
The joys of boating extend beyond simply being on the water – meet other boaters, make new friends, and check out Carefree before you charter your next fishing trip.
