Rods and rigs can be rented on the party boats. All of these fish are great for the table. Make sure you get them on ice quickly and keep moist. Ling do not freeze very well, so plan to eat them quickly. They are a soft fish that can be very good when cooked the same day they are caught.
Fresh parsley can make all the difference, as can a salsa or a tomato-based sauce for baking.
Do not keep any fish you do not plan to eat. By putting them back, they will be there for next year's and will be a bit bigger. Although there are cabins on the party boats, the cool, clean air of early spring can chill you quickly. The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area with Marsha Fowle.