About Veteran Angler Charters

Veteran Angler Charters, based in West Haven, CT., was formed for the purpose of providing therapeutic and recreational fishing excursions to veterans of all branches of the armed forces. The program idea was conceived by the founder, Captain Kathy Granfield, and began as a charitable venture during the spring and summer of 2009. During that first season Captain Kathy and her crew ran eight fishing trips in Long Island Sound for the New Haven Vet Center in West Haven, CT, and the New England branch of The Wounded Warrior Project. The trips were conducted at no cost to the veterans. 

A very successful first season left Captain Kathy with the desire to be able to offer these trips to more veterans in more places. To that end, Veteran Angler Charters was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in December of 2009. The mission: to provide no-cost charter fishing trips to service members who have sustained a service-connected physical or psychological injury (veterans may be asked to verify their discharge status). Capt. Kathy was joined in 2012 by Capt. Mark Petitt (MA), Capt. Mike Pirri (CT) in 2017, Capt. Shawn Tibbetts (ME) in 2018, Captain Chris Gergely (CT) in 2021, Captain Mike Littlefield (RI) in 2025, and Captain Dave Tyrrell (RI) in 2025. Connecticut trips take place in central and eastern Long Island Sound; Rhode Island trips in Narragansett Bay and Block Island Sound; Massachusetts trips in Cape Cod Bay, and Maine trips in the Gulf of Maine. Species targeted include striped bass, bluefish, fluke, porgy (scup), black sea bass, tautog, tuna, and occasionally shark. We strictly honor all fisheries regulations.

It is expensive to run a charter fishing boat; we recognized that though many captains might be willing to donate a trip or two per season, running a dozen or more free trips per season would not be financially feasible for most. We therefore rely on the generosity of individual donors, corporate sponsorship, fundraising events and the support of other service organizations to help us cover our expenses. Our board is composed entirely of volunteers. All captains donate their time; the funds raised are used to cover the direct costs of our trips.