Charter Fishing Boat Could Be Sailing Downtown

Anglers could soon be lining up for a new ride in downtown Riverhead.

Riverhead Town Councilman George Gabrielsen said on Thursday the board had received a proposal to bring a charter fishing boat downtown.

The vessel, the Shinnecock Star, has been docked in Hampton Bays for 15 years, Gabrielsen said. Captain John Capuano has expressed interest in bringing the 47' boat to Riverhead, he said.

"It's an established boat -- it's perfect, spotless," he said. "It's a win win."

According to the Shinnecock Star's website, those aboard can experience open boat fishing with a maximum of 24 people per trip.  Charters and group outings can be arranged for up to 24 people with rod, reel, bait and tackle included.

The $7000 per year would go to the Riverhead Business Improvement District, said Supervisor Sean Walter; the idea would be to sign on for a two-year lease.

Councilman John Dunleavy said his concern was whether the idea would mesh with plans pitched by Bryan DeLuca of the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center for transient docking downtwn.

"We're going to marry this whole concept," Gabrielsen said.

DeLuca said he thought the charter boat was a "great idea," and said he could offer packages and fishing trips to guests staying at the Hyatt.

The charter boat would take up two slips out of the 50 located downtown, Gabrielsen said. Day trips would be offered, with hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., he added.

Walter said he'd like to see a vote on the proposal at Tuesday's town board meeting. "I'd like to move quickly when we have a good idea," he said.

Whether hauling in the record catch-of-the-day or just taking in sea spray and sunshine off the stern, Hampton Bays' fishermen have enjoyed spending a day boating on the vessel.

“In the spring, we are catching fluke and soon stripped bass,” said the 20-year sailing veteran, Captain John Capuano. “But in the warmer weather, we also offer family charters, which just cruise around the bay. If you’re not into fishing, it’s a relaxing way for families to enjoy boating too.”

As a student at Southampton College, Capuano initially majored in marine biology, only to soon realize he wanted to be on the water, not study it. He later graduated with a business degree, but stayed true to his love of all things nautical, eventually finding work at the now defunct Good Ground Bait and Tackle during the 1980s. It was during his time his career as a fishing boat captain took root.

“Customers would ask me where to go fishing and I started taking them out,” said the Yonkers native. “And it just evolved into a business. “