Second Choice Charters is all about getting groups on fish. Lots of big, tasty fish. They’re not a tour company, they don’t do cruises, and they don’t have the fanciest boat out there. It’s an old, loud, diesel engine. What they do have is the skills, the experience, and the determination to put you on some real monsters!

Captain Jeff Nichols has been running charters for over a decade and was mating boats for many years before that. He’s passionate about the sport and about getting anglers-to-be into it. He does not use a mate for the inshore trips. He also loves to work with seasoned sportfishers and will pull out all the stops to get you on a trophy if that’s what you’re after.

Capt. Jeff runs his trips aboard a 26’ Shamrock. A reliable cuddy cabin, the boat will take you to the fishing grounds quickly thanks to its 250 HP Yanmar engine. She has a full range of marine electronics to put you on the fish and a livewell full of bait to make sure you catch them.

Second Choice Charters specializes in bringing in limits of Seabass and cow Stripers worthy of the name. Depending on when and where you fish, you could also encounter Flounder, Shark, and even Tuna. Capt. Jeff stocks nothing but top quality tackle to make sure you bring in whatever comes your way. There’s also no wire trolling, each customer will get a rod to feel the bite and fight the fish!

Heading out on a night fishing trip is an unforgettable experience. You’ll be hitting the fish off-guard to bring in some incredible catches before returning home with a trunk packed full of delicious fish. If this sounds like fun to you, jump aboard, and let Capt. Jeff put you on Montauk’s world-famous Bass bite.



Select date to see available trips and rates:

  • Private trip
    Striped Bass Fishing
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 4:00 PM
    Seasonal trip May 1 - Nov 30
    US $600
    Head out as the sun goes down to fish the local waters for big, tasty Striped Bass.
  • Private trip
    Night Bass Fishing - Block Island
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    7 Hour Trip, starts at 6:00 PM
    Seasonal trip May 1 - Nov 30
    US $650
    Speed out to Block Island to spend the night bringing in Cow Stripers under cover of darkness!
  • Private trip
    Day trip full day
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    8 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    US $800
    Bass fluke shark tuna
There are 2 people looking at this charter.

FAQs about Second Choice Charters

Second Choice Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $600 per group - Striped Bass Fishing (5 hours)
  • US $650 per group - Night Bass Fishing - Block Island (7 hours)
  • US $800 per group - Day trip full day (8 hours)

When you book a trip with Second Choice Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Toilet Bucket
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Bed
  • Live Bait Well
  • Radar

Trips booked with Second Choice Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Fishing License

Second Choice Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Offshore Fishing
  • Wreck Fishing

Second Choice Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Trolling
  • Jigging
  • Popping
  • Drift Fishing
  • Deep Sea Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Second Choice Charters include:
  • Bass (Striped)
  • Cod
  • Flounder
  • Shark (Mako)
  • Tuna (Albacore)

Meet the Captain

Jeffrey Nichols
Montauk, New York, United States
5 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since February 2017
Captain Jeffrey Nichols is a local guide who has been running trips out to Block Island for the last 20 years. He is a serious sportfisherman who is absolutely not here to take you on a cruise. His mission on every trip is to put you

About this listing

Targeted species

Bass (Striped) Striped Bass
Cod Cod
Flounder Flounder
Shark (Mako) Mako Shark

Boat specs

Shamrock (Cuddy cabin) originally built in 1993. Powered by a 250HP Yanmar NEw! engine, with a maximum cruising speed of 18 knots.

Length
26 ft
Capacity
4 persons

Types of fishing

Inshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing
Wreck Fishing

Fishing techniques

Trolling
Jigging
Popping
Drift Fishing
Deep Sea Fishing

Amenities

Toilet
Bucket
GPS
Fishfinder
Bed
Live Bait Well
Radar

Trip includes

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Fishing License

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

Listing policies

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child Friendly
No Alcohol
You Keep Catch
Catch and Release Allowed

Payment

Book with 15% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 15% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
PayPal
Checks
Bank Transfer

Montauk Fishing Calendar

Loading Fish Calendar!
Please Wait...

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.4 / 5
out of 5 stars from 5 reviews
Boat
Very good
4.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.6 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (6)
August fishing trip
August fishing trip
August fishing trip
+3
Angler rating
2
3
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
50%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
100%
Appropriate for children
50%
Satisfied with the boat
75%
Caught fish
50%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 5 reviews
Brian F.
North Babylon, NY
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

June fishing trip

VERIFIED   Day trip full day on June 25, 2022
Caught a bunch of fish. Stripers, porgie, sea bass ans a few blue fish. Captain had us on fish almost immediately and we caught...
Brian F. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Brian F. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

Donald F.
Great River, NY
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

August fishing trip

VERIFIED   Striped Bass Fishing on August 10, 2022
Donald F. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Donald F. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

Fred S.
Nesconset, NY
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Very good
4.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Full day trip

VERIFIED   Day trip full day on June 11, 2022
Fred S. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Fred S. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

Donald S.
Bridgewater, CT
Very good
3.7 / 5
Experience:
Good
3.0 / 5
Boat
Very good
4.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

Review Second Choice Charters

VERIFIED   Striped Bass Fishing on July 23, 2022
Knowns where and how to catch fish
Donald S. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Donald S. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful

Mark R.
Shirley, New York
Excellent
4.3 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Very good
4.0 / 5
Overall

6-hr afternoon trip.

VERIFIED   Striped Bass Fishing on October 28, 2017
Though the boat was a little too small for 5 anglers but the captain was the most experienced and very pleasant. We caught...
Mark R. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful
Mark R. recommends Second Choice Charters
Mark review as helpful
You found this review helpful