"It’s 3:50 a.m., your sipping hot coffee while your bleary eyes scan the dark oceanfront. Your body curses you for its lack of sleep. The waves are pounding the open beach as the northeast wind is howling at your back.  You put on your heavy equipment, grab your rod and head into the rushing ocean.  A quick cast of your lure into the suds, and you smile for just a moment as your rod suddenly jerks downward.  You're in, the fight begins, you realize you're now a Long Island surfcaster, and life is good".    Steve Knapik, 2002

Fish the early morning open beaches of Long Island's South Shore

Steve Knapik Licensed Surf Fishing Guide NYSDEC # 4321

With over 50 years experience as a surfcaster, Since 2003, Steve Knapik, a Licensed & Insured New York State D.E.C. Fishing Guide (# 4321) will provide a safe, professional and courteous trip. Learn how to toss plugs, bucktails and eels or sling a few bunker chunks for a night of bait fishing.  Bucktailing South Shore Inlets and Jetties is one of his specialties. Most trips are fished on the tides during the pre-dawn or post dusk hours!   Casting lessons provided for Novice Surfcasters included.  If required tackle includes (Flashlight, Rod, Reel, Korkers, Lures & Bait).   In addition Steve has been a NYS Licensed R.N. since 1981, has American Red Cross certifications in CPR, First Aid, Basic Water Rescue, prior training in (ACLS)Advanced Cardiac Life Support as well as other advanced Medical, Surgical and healthcare training. 

Steve is a member of the New York State Outdoor Guides Association, the Striper Surf Club (President 2005 & 2006), the American Littoral Society Fish Tagging Program, the N.Y.S.D.E.C. Striped Bass Cooperative Anglers Program, Long Island Beach Buggy Association, past member of the Seaford Lions Club, and the New York Coalition for Recreational Fishing, Inc. Steve competes in the season long New York State Surf Fishing Contest, sponsored by NYS & the Fisherman magazine he finished in 8th place out of 183 anglers during 2004 season. In 2012 Steve won 1st place for the largest Striped Bass (32.26 pounds) in the Ken Karwick Memorial Long Island Beach Buggy Association year long fishing contest. In 2014 Steve won 3rd place for Striped Bass (30.76 pounds) out of 125 anglers in the "Surf Rats Ball" surf fishing contest hosted by fishing guide Bill Wetzel. In 2016 Steve won 2nd place for Striped Bass (33.0 pounds) in the Long Island Beach Buggy Association (LIBBA) Ken Karwick Memorial Fishing Contest. In 2017 Steve won 3rd place for Bluefish (17.0 pounds) in the Long Island Beach Buggy Association (LIBBA) Ken Karwick Memorial Fishing Contest. In 2021 Steve won 3rd place for third largest Striped Bass(35 pounds)in the Ken Karwick Memorial Long Island Beach Buggy Association year long fishing contest. Again, in 2023 Steve won 3rd place for third largest Striped Bass(35 pounds)in the Ken Karwick Memorial Long Island Beach Buggy Association year long fishing contest.

Steve's guide service is part-time in nature, his real full-time job is the Transplant Senior Specialist - Living Kidney Donor Program at Stony Brook University Medical Center  (now Retired)and past Executive Director of the Lions Eye Bank for Long Island @ Northwell Health. When he is not working or fishing he enjoys spending his time with his wife Lorraine and visiting his 2 stepsons and the 4 grandkids.

Steve is the author of "Long Island Jetty Fishing 101" pdf format (Click Here for Adobe PDF reader) "Long Island Jetty Fishing 101" ms word format article that appeared in the summer 2005 issue of the "New York Outdoor Quarterly" magazine. Click Here pdf format to download article.

2004 Lamiglas Tri Flex CSB1201M Field Test     2008 Lamiglas Super Surf Series 1201MHS Field Test  

Taping Your Reel to Your Rod    Keeping Pork Rinds Fresh 

"Repair your Broken Surf Rod" (Video)

"How to Repair your Kokatat Dry Top Neck and Wrist Gaskets"

"Save those Korkers"

The Fisherman Magazine March 2015: "Fishing and Sleep Deprivation" PDF file

2022 Rates* (May - November )

South Shore - Beaches, Back Bay's, Bridges, Inlets & Jetties (1 Angler) Minimum 3hrs. ($125.00), (4 Hrs. $160.00)

South Shore - Beaches, Back Bay's, Bridges, Inlets & Jetties 2 Anglers $150.00 for 3 hours, (4hrs. $ 180.00)

Montauk Point (1Angler) Minimum 3 hrs, ($175.00) ( 4 hrs. $220.00)

Montauk Point (2 Anglers) Minimum 3 hrs, ($190.00) (4 hrs. $255.00)

 * Must be willing and able to walk long distances of 1 mile or more with equipment, have good balanced footing in areas of rocky shorelines or jetties and be willing to wade out into thigh high water at night.   Metal Cleated soles (Korkers) are a must for any charter fishing rocky shorelines or jetties.  All charters are expected to wear their own chest high waterproof waders with secure wading belt around their waist.

Member in Good Standing Since 2004

Insured by

Your Safety is My Number One Priority 

Insurance Liability Waiver click here

For more information: Call Steve Knapik at 516-721-7595 or by email:  SteveKnapik@verizon.net

"Windy Fall Day on the Jetty"

Steve Knapik with a decent jetty caught Striped Bass

One Striped Bass for the dinner table (caught on bucktails)

Can't beat the view

Jim from Fayetteville, Georgia with his first Striped Bass and Bluefish while fishing Tobay Beach, NY 2005 (All fish released)

Waders, Belt, Flashlight, Custom Lamiglas Rod, Lures and Van Staal 250B Reel was provided by Tiderunner.Com LLC Guide Service

A couple of charters Surf Fishing Montauk for the first time (2005)

Learn how to fish with Darters, Eels, Bucktails and Needlefish

Enjoy the solitude and the challenge of fishing at night in waist high water while catching Bluefish and Striped Bass

Night Surf Fishing Montauk Point for Bluefish and Striped Bass!

(First Time Surf Fishing)

West Point Cadet Lieutenants Jed Nowak & Matt Heid taking a break from the U.S.M.A. to fish Montauk Point, 2007

Wader Belts, Jackets, Flashlights, Korkers, Custom Lamiglas Rods, Lures and Penn Spinfisher 706Z Reel was provided by Tiderunner.Com LLC Guide Service

(First Time Surf Fishing)

Jason Vittore catches his first keeper bass on a yellow SS Darter while fishing Montauk Point, 2007 for the first time.

Waders, Belt, Jacket, Flashlight, Korkers, Custom Lamiglas Rod, Lures and Penn 706Z Reel was provided by Tiderunner.Com LLC Guide Service

(First Time Surf Fishing) & Standing Guard

Brothers, Matt & Mike Magne Surf Fishing Montauk Point, October 2007

Waders, Belt, Jacket, Flashlight, Korkers, Custom Lamiglas Rod, Lures and Penn 706Z Reel was provided by Tiderunner.Com LLC Guide Service

(First Time Surf Fishing)

Mike Magne with a 14# Striped Bass (released) while fishing Montauk Point, NY October 2007 for the first time. 

Licensed Fishing Guides Steve Knapik & Jim Coucoulas with a pair of jetty caught Striped Bass, May 2008

Surf Fisher David Herzka hits the Long Island South Shore beaches learning to use the Gibbs Canal Pencil Popper! June 25, 2009

Wader Belt, Jacket, Flashlight, Custom made Lamiglas Rod, Lures and Van Staal 250B Reel was provided by Tiderunner.Com LLC Guide Service

Knapik handles a small striper on a bucktail while bridge fishing May 2010

Practice conservation by releasing a small striper, May 2010

Fishing Guides (wetsuits)Steve Knapik and Jim Coucoulas with Joe Brendel who took 2nd place in the 2010 Montauk Surf Classic with a 10.86# Bluefish

(L) First time out jetty fishing Joe Brendel nails a 15# Striped Bass

(R) Mark Vittore with a Jetty caught Striped Bass

Steve cleans & filet's a Striped Bass for his client's dinner! (Montauk 2007)

 First time out surf fishing the South Shore Mark Vittore (L) nails his first Striped Bass @ 14#'s on a bucktail with Steve Knapik (r)

Waders, Wader Belt, Jacket, Flashlight, Korkers, Custom Lamiglas Rod, Lures and Penn Spinfisher 706Z Reel was provided by Tiderunner.Com LLC Guide Service

Mark Vittore with Steve Knapik surf fishing Montauk Point's sandy/gravel beach @ Turtle Cove

"The Back Bay Grand Slam" 

  Striped Bass 16#'s, Tiderunner Weakfish 9#'s and  Bluefish 8 #'s

Joe Brendel and Dr. George Tung fishing Montauk Point

Montauk Point White Water

"Fall Run" @ Montauk Point, NY

Jetty white water with a hard southwest wind

HUGE South Shore ground swells