Ben Savercool, 24-year-old captain, is taking the Long Island waterways by storm. The reel deal, his charter fishing business Fish the Fork offers anglers a unique way to cast around the East End. The Reel BEN SAVERCOOL
Deal
Based out of Mattituck, Fish the Fork began as a side job when Ben graduated from high school, with his 100-ton master license. Young and hungry, Ben pursued his dream of a full- fledged boating business while simultaneously working full-time as captain on private yachts, from a Hinckley to a 55-foot Zeelander. “This is where I really learned to interact with all different types of people and personalities and have used these skills in my everyday life guiding,” Ben explained. But Ben had a few years of experience under his belt by then, having worked at Strongs Marina starting at just 14 years old. “The best thing I did for my career was working at Strongs Marina. I got to dock so many different styles and sizes of boats and was put in many different situations. The experiences and lessons I learned working at this marina were very beneficial when I started captaining.” At 21, Ben launched Fish the Fork as a full-time business. There were only about 10 charters in the first season, but Fish the Fork made waves as Ben’s name and
reputation spread throughout the community. Today, Ben may be one of the younger charter boat captains out there, but it’s his distinctive fishing technique that sets him apart. While Fish the Fork conducts charters for all ages and skill levels—fly fishing, light tackle—during the spring and summer months, the more experienced anglers will be enticed by the sight fishing trips that seek out striped bass and bluefish in roughly one to three feet of water, where you can see the fish before you catch them, a common type of fishing trip in tropical destinations. Another special charter option is bottom-fishing, where sailors of all skill levels catch a variety of fish—porgies, Black Sea bass, blowfish, weakfish, kingfish—perfect for the novice angler. “Not many people know you can catch striped bass and bluefish like this. It is my favorite style of fishing!” Meanwhile, in the fall season, Ben uses a bigger boat in the Long Island Sound for
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker