Our Satisfied Customers!

Both you and your first mate did a extraordinary job with our party. Starting from the push off all the way to filleting the catch. Although the sea was talking back a bit and the fog dimmed our view, the measure of professionalism that the both of you exhibited made me feel extremely comfortable, that we were in GOOD HANDS!

At 50 years old I have spent many an hour with a wet line at the "Canyon," off "Montauk," and the "Race" I got to tell you guys straight up; that the day spent with you at Block Island is definitely in the top ten fishing days of my entire life....GREAT JOB.....!

It was really interesting to see the other charter Capt’s boats staying close …brother I mean close …and following your every move. They were like children following the “Pied Piper”!

As I gazed into their eyes…(yes they were that close) they were clearly stunned at the size and number of fish we were boating.

Why would anyone want to go fishing with a student when they could go with the Sensei?  Capt. Matt if anyone out there doubts your capabilities.... or my word, I would be happy to speak to them personally, and wow, I almost forgot to thank you for our 43 + pound Trophy Striped Bass!

Folks make no mistake about it ..... When a charter is wanted on Block there is only one place to go- HULA GIRL, Capt. Matt!!!

Thanks Again Guys and Aloha

Sal Santangelo

“Family Ties”

S. Windsor, Connecticut

Hey Matt,
Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our fishing trip with you.
It was the highlite of our trip to Block Island. We cooked the fish that
night and had a fine meal.
What was really great was how you sincerely cared about us having a good
time. Looking forward to fishing with you again on our next trip!
Take care,
Carol, Justin, and Shannon

Nice one Matt,

Luci has seen the pictures on your website and is over the moon, shee still hasn't stopped telling people how she caught a bigger fish than me, even managed to get her out on a bass trip over here, though not as big she managed a couple around the 8lb mark.
Cheers for getting her into fishing, makes my life easier when I want to go now.

Hope the fishings still good, best wishes ,
Gareth

What's up Guys:
Katie and I wanted to thank you for the charter last week, we really had an
awesome time and it was definitely a highlight of our honeymoon. I was
pleased at how professional you guys were, your knowledge of the local
spots, and most importantly the fish that we caught were all outstanding.
Not many charter boats are able to boast that they can fill the boat limit
of keeper bass within an hour and a half of leaving the dock. Especially in
mid August! I was especially pleased that you were willing to adapt to the
type method that was working (live eels) and your light tackle gear. It
really made for a great morning.
Sincerely,
Jared and Katie Kelly

Cap,
Just a great day. We keep living for those great days, the Cullina family fishing on the hula girl with Captain Matt. Our great day will go down in family lore.
thanks!

Joe Cullina

The fishing trip was the highlight of my sons’ vacation on the island. Thank you for
a great trip!  See you next year!

Tim Robenhymer

Captain Matt,

Cant' wait for Fish Tacos again at the Block Island Music Fest,  you make 'em the best!

Phebe Wheeler

Click Here to Tell Us about Your Fishing Trip

What a catch!  There's fun to be had on a charter fishing trip

Article from the Block Island Summer Times August Extra, 2003 by Pippa Jack

     When I was a little kid, my uncle took me fishing for blue fish in the open sea outside the Great Salt Pond.  I caught one, and it was great. 
       When Matt King was a little kid, his dad took him fishing for all kinds of fish in all kinds of waters around Rhode Island.  He caught lots, and as anyone around the docks at Champlain's Marina can tell you, he's still catching them now.
     These days its how he makes a living.
     One sunny July day, I boarded King's charter boat to see if I could catch another fish.  I did, and it was great - some of the best of what Block Island has to offer.  And in the process I was reminded that if, like King, you've found a job you really love, you get to be a kid every day.

Give a man a fish 

     The satisfactions of fishing need no introduction: the sea, the long vistas, the excuse to do nothing.  Then, if you're lucky, the fish; the excitement, the fight, and later on, of course, the feasting.  Bragging rights are a given.
     If, like me, you don't have a clue what you're doing with a rod and a reel, booking a charter fishing trip can give you a window into this salty world.
     There are about 10 charter boats operating out of New and Old harbors.  Some of the more established companies include Bill Gould's G. Willie Makit, Mitch Chagnon on Sakarak, Steve Miller's Storm Petrel, and Paul Caval's Kahuna.  For a list of who's available and how many people they can accommodate, Chris Willi at Block Island Fishworks (466-5392) is a dependable source, or try Oceans and Ponds (466-5131).
     What you fish for depends on the time of year and, to a large extent, what your interested in, Willi says.  A family with small children might prefer to stick to the calmer confines of the Great Salt Pond and channel, where there's bottom fishing for fluke, tautog and scup.  All three are good eating.  Inshore fishing - within a mile or two of the shore line - offers a chance at bluefish, bonito, false albacore and the glory fish for many here, the striped bass.  Further out, serious sports anglers can go for tuna, shark and white marlin.
     Fishing restrictions mean striped bass, rare a few years ago, have made a spectacular come back, and reports of 40-plus-pound fish have become almost routine.

What floats his boat

     Determined to net ourselves one of these beauties, myself and a friend head to sea on the Hula Girl, in her first season this year.  Willie recommends the boat, both for fishing and for the atmosphere on board: "They always come back happy," he says of customers he sends the way of Captain Matt King.  "It's a fun trip."
     A native Rhode Islander, King is no stranger to the waters around Block Island; he's been fishing here since he was 3.  Twelve years ago the warm waters of the Pacific lured him to Hawaii, where he worked as a chef before a call from a friend brought him back north, to the kitchen of Eli's on Chapel Street.
     After two years, King was restless and toying with the idea of leaving the island and returning to Hawaii.  But a conversation with charter captain Steve Miller made him wonder if it wasn't so much that he was on the wrong island as that he should reconsider his career.
     King decided to follow his heart and turn a lifelong hobby into a job.  Hula Girl, a 22-foot Shamrock, is the result.
     Captained by King and with Lindsay Kane, fresh from Hawaii, as first mate, the boat is a happy convergence of high-tech equipment, laid-back music, a water-obsessed dog and plenty of luck.
     That's right, luck.  "I'd rather have luck than skill," King says, as we motor to a favorite fishing spot, a hollow in the ocean floor where big stripers congregate.  "You can do everything right, know everything you need to, and still sometimes the fish don't bite.  With a bit of luck, even if you're not doing what you're supposed to, you come home with a fish."

Shooting fish in a barrel

     Lately it seems, local anglers have had plenty of luck to go around.  But fishing is never a sure thing.
     King says one of the few stresses of his job is that he wants to make sure his customers experience the thrill of reeling in a fish.  "There can be a lot of pressure to get the first one in the boat," says King.  "Once we get the first one, we can have fun."
     It's fun out here anyway, the boat gently rocking as we troll offshore.  We sunbathe and demand translations for the Hawaiian words the two occasionally use.  The boat is stocked with beer and Gatorade (open the wrong cooler and you'll get a shock; there's bait on ice too) and for snacks - what else? - there are Goldfish crackers.
     For the two man crew, however, there's little doubt what Hula Girl is here for.  They are all business, watching the instruments that show them the sea floor, scanning for diving birds and other signs of activity below.  King is looking for the right depth and angle at which to present the bait.  He knows the fish are down there, he's had luck before with the worm-and-lure combo we're using; he just needs to tempt them into taking a bite.
     All eyes are on the tips of the two rods at the rear of the boat.  There's barely time to wonder if we'll get lucky before a tip dips violently and wire starts stripping off the reel.  Something has taken the bait.
     Hanapa is Hawaiian for "On the hook!"  Over the next couple of hours, that's the theme, as we hook fish after fish, sometimes two at a time.  They are stripers and blues; King knows which are which with a quick glance a t the rod as soon as they strike.
     The pressure is off and the music is turned up.  After hauling in a 20-pound bass, my arms feel shaky and I volunteer for the smaller bluefish - my favorite fish to eat, and still a spirited fighter.  But it's mostly stripers that keep hitting, five in all.  King lets slip that Kane - an experienced Hawaiian captain who's caught 14-foot marlin - has never caught a striped bass, so he reels in the last one, making it look like child's play.
     The big cooler quakes with flopping fish.  It's time to head home.

Hook, line and sinker

     We didn't catch a 40-pounder, but nonetheless, we have a surfeit of fish - too much for us to use, even though we're planning a cookout for 18.  King happily agrees to take the rest for the barbecues he regularly holds on the docks.
     Heading back into the pond, shore anglers watch us.  There's something about their eyes, and those of the passengers on the Hi-speed ferry that's cruising past: We all dive for the cooler: In a gesture that's almost tribal, two of us display the largest fish, one in each hand, giggling to the claps and calls of onlookers.  It's fun to act like a kid.
     "I love coming to work every day," King says.  "It's a great day out on the water - catching fish is kind of like a bonus."
     Back at Champlain's the pair gets ready for an afternoon trip, hosing blood and scales off the inside of the boat while the dog, Zazen, happily snaps at the spray.
     Then, an unexpected treat; the Hula Girl, no stranger to a good time, carries soy sauce and wasabi on board.  Kane slices up the choicest meat and we eat sashimi then and there on the docks, the best lunch I've had all summer.

Fish to fry

     Colder that average water temperatures mean that the striped bass, which appear from early spring to late fall but get less plentiful if the water's warm, appear likely to stick around in large numbers this summer.
     Hula Girl will continue to go for stripers as long as they're biting, King says, although he's also looking forward to running offshore trips for tuna and other sportfish if there's a demand.
     King says his philosophy of fishing isn't so different from that of his old job: "It takes a lot to get a customer to walk into a restaurant," he said.  "once we've got you, we might as well send you home happy."
     That he did, with a final gift: tips on how to cook the fish.  With a little help from the former chef, we managed a barbecue that one guest - hey, I believe him - said was the best he'd ever tasted.
     If your thinking about going out on a charter, King recommends setting aside half a day for the trip.  Four hours on the Hula Charter, which can accommodate up to four for a fishing trip, costs $350.  King can also take up to six for a shorter sightseeing cruise; he says sunsets are a good time to go.  He can be reached at 263-3474 (COD-FISH).