Captain Long is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced captains you will ever encounter. You will learn something new about Little River and marine life every time you sail with captain Long. His staff is also a joy to go fishing with. They are a helpful and personable team. Captain Long and his team provide unique experiences that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in any charter up the east coast. Once you sail with the team, you will quickly want to make them a favorite. One of the most significant benefits of fishing with Captain Long and his team is that they know where to find the type of fish that you want in large numbers. This ensures that you do not waste time aimlessly drifting on Little River, looking for fish in places with a low fish population. Captain Long and his team ensure that your rigs always have bait, and help you with your catch so that you catch as much quality fish as possible. After returning to the dock, the staff will help you clean your catch. Captain Long has one person waiting at the pier, who promptly cleans up the boat every time it returns from a fishing expedition.
There are various species of fish you can catch when you go fishing with Captain Long and his team. About 3 miles off of Cherry Grove, you can find some lovely Spanish Mackerel. The Mackerel is a pelagic fish that is about 6 inches (40 cm) long. It is a delicious fish, but it is perishable and is best consumed fresh. During the night, the Mackerel can be identified by their distinctive glow that they project on the surface of the water. They are usually caught using purse seines or seine nets. During busy Mackerel seasons, you can find them in large shoals close to the water’s surface. If you go a little further into the Little River, you will start to catch some Atlantic long nose shark and black sea bass. These fish have a mild flavor and are best served breaded and deep-fried. Catching Atlantic long nose shark is one of the reasons that makes the Longways Fishing Charters a favorite among many. When Captain Long takes you fishing for sharks, you can easily catch around 10 of them before lunchtime. Other species of fish you can find on Little River include blue Marlin, Sailfish, Sheepshead, and Yellowfin Tuna.
The type of fish that you will catch with Longway Fishing Charters and where you’ll catch it depends on various factors. During early spring, Bluefish and Flounder dominate the tidal creeks before migrating to Little River’s inlets and sounds. Redfish dominate the neighboring rivers and inlets during the fall season. During winter, you can catch massive stripers and speckled trout at creek mouths. The waters are usually clear during this time, and this gives you the chance to practice offshore casting. The use of live shrimps and topwater plugs is ideal for catching Trouts and Big Reds. Little River’s inlets offer the best fishing spots available. The nearshore reefs, live rock bottoms, and sunken wrecks provide excellent habitat for various rod-bending bruisers such as Amberjack, Spanish Mackerel, Kingfish, Cobia, and Barracuda. If offshore sport fishing is what you’re looking for, the Longway Fishing Charter is the ideal partner. The charter can take you near the Gulf Stream honey holes where you can catch various popular pelagic species such as Yellowfin Tuna, Sailfish, Marlin, Wahoo, Dorado, and much more.
Post written by Kurt Burke. Kurt is a freelance writer who has appeared in Bustle, Well+Good, and Credit Glory.