In East Moriches, the Little Fishing Shack That Could

FINDING DORIES Silly Lily owner Jay Scott remembers fishing the waters of Moriches Bay as a kid. When he bought the property in 2015, he set about restoring the fishing station to its former glory. (Photo: Zach Stovall)
FINDING DORIES Silly Lily owner Jay Scott remembers fishing the waters of Moriches Bay as a kid. When he bought the property in 2015, he set about restoring the fishing station to its former glory. (Photo: Zach Stovall)

Opened in 1932, the Silly Lily Fishing Station had seen its share of hard times and hurricanes. When owner Jay Scott took the deed in 2015, the old shack was looking pretty rough. But Scott had fond memories of the Silly Lily — he used to fish there himself as a kid — so he ditched his button-down advertising career in the city and set about breathing new life into the Lily, a place that, like many that once lined the southern shore of Long Island, drew day boaters seeking flounder, crabs, and clams in the tidal flats of Moriches Bay. Scott rebuilt the original wooden cottage and loaded it with vintage oars, buoys, traps, hand-painted signs, and other nautical ephemera, and scattered in a kitschy selection of branded goodies. He shares the space with jewelry maker Rebecca Dolber, whose line of casual, water-inspired pieces aligns perfectly with the Lily’s easygoing vibe.

Jay Scott rents the vintage 16-foot dories he acquired with the property, with or without their antique Tohatsu outboards, along with Sunfish and Flying Scot sailboats, stand-up paddleboards, and kayaks. Last year, he partnered with East Quogue’s Stone Creek Inn to open Silly Eats, a seafood-centric food truck made from a ’50s Chevrolet Grumman Olson van.

The Silly Lilly sits on the south shore of Moriches Bay, at 99 Adelaide Avenue in East Moriches. For hours and information, call (631) 878-0247 or visit sillylily.com.

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