East Setauket, NY Outdoor Activities

The man's smile stretches almost as wide as the giant striped bass in his right hand. A novice fisherman, he's snagged his very first catch aboard one of Celtic Quest Fishing's group boats. A crew member snaps a photograph of the triumphant moment. Although it depicts only a moment in time, that photo recounts a much larger story. The man can point to it when he tells friends how he grabbed hold of rod and reel, cast a line, and wrestled with a resilient foe—ultimately pulling the fish up onto the dock.

This sort of experience happens frequently aboard Celtic Quest Fishing's group-fishing boats, which can carry 70–100 people at a time. The company, founded by Port Jefferson native Captain Des O’Sullivan, maintains two of the giant vessels. They carry groups out in search of black fish, fluke, porgies, or any other species Poseidon sends out to defend his honor. Regardless of the targeted catch, Celtic Quest Fishing's expert crew members supply all necessary gear, and they happily teach newbies fishing basics.

Practice is the foundation of golf. Without it, the game can be frustrating, eventually sending golfers' into a fragile state of agitation. Knowing how important practice is, Indian Head Golf Park's instructors and staff focus their efforts on helping golfers improve their game. At the park's well-lit driving range, staff members keep golfers well stocked with buckets of range balls to blow off steam as they aim for the ball-retriever cart. Instructor Bob Greenstein works with students during private lessons to fine-tune their swings, and he hosts junior golf camps during summer to introduce youngsters to the game.

St. James 1st Tee Fitness & Performance guides golfers through a complete golf fitness and performance program that focuses on injury prevention and swing consistency. Titleist Performance Institute-certified fitness instructors teach the principles of mobility and stability, ideals that help a player generate swing speed while correcting bad posture or a tendency to sneeze out lunch during a backswing. The instructors begin by assessing a golfer's physical health and limitations as well as their swing style, then design a fitness program to address these issues. Golf-specific stretches and exercises focus on improving balance, endurance, and pre-tap-in ribbon dances, ultimately increasing the consistency of the swing plane and improving the ability to hit the sweet spot. Rehabilitated golfers can practice their new swings on the in-house golf simulator, which provides a respite from bad weather and the expensive greens fees associated with the real versions of famous courses, such as Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and Bethpage Black.

The instructors at Long Island Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Co. give visitors a lesson in Hawaiian athletic history, introducing them to one of the islands' oldest sports during standup-paddleboarding lessons. Guiding students of all fitness levels onto oversize surfboards that span 32–34 inches in width for enhanced stability, instructors unveil the thrill of gliding across the open water and low-fiving your own reflection.

Standup paddleboarding also imparts further health benefits to its enthusiasts, creating a steady, full-body workout that conditions the core and develops coordination. Beyond paddleboarding, the company's class offerings range from kayaking to windsurfing, beckoning beginner-level sportsmen to venture into the water. Long Island Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Co.'s team also leads tours, including sunset outings and eco tours.