Meet the Captains: Patrick Gillen and Charlie Buser

Except for the occasional gust of wind and tightening of dock ropes, the mornings at Captree State Park are relatively quiet. There's an occasional "hello" between captains at the docks, but the silence is only broken by a small wave or two.

"It's really peaceful out here," said Captain Patrick Gillen, a Babylon Village resident who owns and operates the Captain Gillen II, an open fishing boat.

The captain quickly checks his 75-foot boat over and waves to his "next-door" neighbor, brother-in-law Captain Charlie Buser, a Babylon Village native who operates the private charter boat Captree Star III.

"Man, have I got stories," said Buser. "I got into this as a kid, digging clams way back in 1970. I worked on that throughout high school, went to college, but eventually came back to full-time clamming." He said he always went fishing around the area, from an old-seaplane port on the village's shores to Southards Pond.

Buser said he ran into a friend of his along the way who set him up on a date with Patricia, who turned out to be Gillen's sister. The two eventually married and Buser said he went to work on the Captain Gillen I, captained by Patrick's father.

"We saved up and had enough money for a party boat," Buser explained, and the couple bought the Captree Star I. "During the summer, we'd boat out on private charters and during the winter, I'd clam. It worked really well."

So well, in fact, Buser also spent time as a New York City firefighter for many years.

Surrounded by the business his whole life, Patrick, too, heard the sea calling to him. 

"I fished off the stern all the time... this is all I've ever done," said Gillen. "It's what I like to do."

Gillen has had his captain's license since he graduated high school and has been running the Captain Gillen III since 1991. 

"I run the boat, Patricia runs the business, and she hasn't missed a beat," said Gillen.

He added: "Our family, growing up, was always into fishing... I guess I just picked up the love by osmosis. I can't put a finger on it."

"You can't [put your finger on it]," added Buser. "The saltwater just gets in your veins. I would always have to do something on the water."

While the brothers-in-laws are so similar, the two boats' business is completely different. While Gillen runs a daily public "open" boat that visitors out to go fishing around the island from April to November, Buser runs a "charter," which runs only when contracted, usually by clients such as organizations or businesses.

"Family-friendly is what we strive for," noted Gillen. "We love beginners and taking them out for their first fishing trip. They go nuts when they catch even the smallest fish and their photo goes on our Facebook. It's great."

Buser's business format came from their original dock position, which placed them far at the end. A friend suggested going private, and the model has allowed Buser to pursue other adventures in his life.

"It gives us a lot of ways to arrange our time here," he said. "We love to cater to anyone, but I really enjoy those educational tours for classes. They always work out so well and its fun."

The brothers-in-law, who knew each other growing up, are now two of the veterans of the Captree boat fleet, docked in a prime position near the middle of the docks.

"It's funny how things work out – now we're docked next to each other," said Buser. "[Patrick] is the best friend I have and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Information on the two boats – Captain Patrick Gillen's Captain Gillen II and Captain Charlie Buser's Captree Star III – can be found by clicking the respective boat. Their websites include history, schedules and contact information.