One of Long Island’s most beloved party boat operations has officially sailed into the sunset. After more than four decades on the water, Peconic Star Fleet has gone out of business, citing the loss of its dock lease at Greenport’s Railroad Dock.
Founded in 1982, the Peconic Star Fleet offered generations of anglers full- and half-day excursions on the Peconic Bay, Long Island Sound, and surrounding waters, chasing everything from porgies and sea bass to striped bass and weakfish. The company was a fixture on the North Fork’s maritime scene — until now.
In a statement posted on the company’s website and echoed across social media, the message was simple and final:
“OUT OF BUSINESS. LOST OUR LEASE. From Capt. Dave Brennen to Capt. Arnold ‘Speedy’ Heubert, it was a great run. Thanks to all our great and loyal customers.”
A Quiet Ending for a Storied Fleet
Peconic Star owner Capt. Arnold “Speedy” Heubert has already sold off the company’s two vessels — the Peconic Star III and Peconic Star IV — according to longtime captain Paul Ripperger, who shared the news in a series of emotional Facebook posts. The final fishing trips took place over the weekend of September 13–14, marked by perfect weather, strong fishing, and tearful goodbyes.
“Well, that’s it. The party is over,” wrote Capt. Paul. “After more than 45 years of serving the North Fork and Long Island fishing communities, the Peconic Star Boats have sailed our last trip. It was a bit of a somber day spent with lifelong friends.”
Ripperger and the rest of the crew — Capt. Rachel, Capt. Matt, Tommy, Peter, Akio, and more — extended their gratitude to the generations of anglers who supported them.
Conflicting Accounts Over Dock Lease
While the company claims that it was forced to shut down due to losing its lease, Greenport Mayor Kevin Stuessi offered a different take.
“The village absolutely would have liked to renew their leases,” Stuessi told The Suffolk Times. “We’ve not heard anything from them, and we’ve heard rumors that they were selling.”
The Suffolk Times previously reported that the Village of Greenport took over management of the Railroad Dock leases from Suffolk County in 2014. As of now, Capt. Heubert has not publicly commented on the mayor’s statement.
An End of an Era for Greenport’s Working Waterfront
For many on Long Island, the closure isn’t just about the loss of a fishing boat — it’s about the continued erosion of the region’s working waterfront.
“Sad day for Greenport,” wrote former Mayor Dave Kapell in the Residents for Greenport Facebook group on September 16. “One more nail in the coffin of the working waterfront. What are we going to lose next?”
Kapell expressed further frustration in a follow-up post in the same group on September 17.
“It gets worse. Had the administration made good on its campaign promise 3 years ago to update the Local Waterfront Revitalitization Plan, it would have included fresh research and outreach to all users of the working waterfront. Had this been done, the Peconic Star fleet would have been engaged in the process and village board members would not now be caught clueless that we have lost a critical and historic village business.”
With the Peconic Star Fleet gone, a major chapter in the maritime heritage of the North Fork closes. The Railroad Dock, once bustling with early-morning anglers and late-day catches, now sits noticeably quieter.
A Lasting Legacy
Though the boats are sold and the business shuttered, the legacy of the Peconic Star Fleet endures in the memories of those who fished aboard her decks.
From sunrise departures to fish-filled coolers, from shared sandwiches on the rail to sunset rides back to the dock — the Peconic Star wasn’t just a business. It was a part of life on the water for thousands of locals and visitors alike.
Fair winds and following seas to the Peconic Star Fleet.
