Frequently asked questions
The questions everyone asks before they book.
Quick answers before you book with Captain Travis McDonald. If anything here doesn't match what Travis or your booking page tells you, go with them.
Photo · @anna_maria_charters ↗A quick note
When in doubt, call
Timing, storage, weather, accessibility: if it matters to your group, get it from Travis before you book.
Plan with confidence
Before you leave the dock.
Tap a question to open it.
01Where do trips leave from?
Shagwong Marina at 6 Tepee St in Hampton Bays. Ask for the exact dock and parking details when you book, so you're not wandering the marina at 6am.
02How long are trips?
Three hours up to a full eight-hour day. Three hours is plenty for young kids. The long days are for offshore runs and serious fishing. Not sure? Ask Travis what he'd run for your dates.
03What does it cost?
Trips run from $550 depending on length (as of August 2026). Booking is direct with Travis — call or text him for the rate on your dates and how to hold them. No platform, no middleman.
04Is this a good trip for kids and first-timers?
Yes. His FishingBooker reviews keep saying the same thing: patient with kids and first-timers, quick to find fish, great with families. Give him the ages when you book and he'll keep the day at their speed.
05What's included?
Rods, reels, tackle, bait, and fishing licenses for everyone aboard. Your catch gets cleaned and filleted back at the dock. The boat has an enclosed head and an ice box for the fish.
06What should we bring?
Layers (it's cooler on the water), sunscreen, sunglasses, soft-soled shoes, and your own drinks and snacks. Skip the glass bottles. Storage is tight on any charter boat, so ask before hauling a big cooler aboard.
07What if the weather's bad?
Travis makes the call, and he won't take your crew out in junk conditions. If he cancels for weather, he'll sort out another date or the money with you directly. Keep your phone handy the day before.
08What will we fish for?
Depends on the month. Stripers in spring and fall, fluke and sea bass and porgies all summer, sharks and tuna offshore once the water warms. The plan is whatever's biting hardest on your dates.
09Can we keep what we catch?
Whatever's legal goes home with you, cleaned and filleted. Seasons and size limits change every year, so Travis will tell you what's fair game on your dates rather than us printing rules that go stale.
10How do I book?
Call or text Travis at (631) 987-3218. Tell him your dates and who's coming, and he'll lock it in. He's quick to get back to people.
11Why's the boat called Anna Maria?
She's named for Travis's grandmother, Anna Maria — 102 years old and still going strong.
Check the source
See for yourself
The reviews and recent catches are public. Dates and rates come from Travis himself.
Ready when you are
Still got a question? Ask Travis.
Two minutes on the phone usually sorts it out.