My family and I are going to be in Shandaken New York for the next two weeks and I want to get my kids in on some new kinds of fish, porgy, fluke, eel, herring, maybe even a striper if we’re lucky. I just need some direction on where to go and a few tips. I’m not asking to get your secret best spots, just a good public spot where a shorebound guy stands a good chance of getting some bites with his kids.

Your in the center of some great fresh water fishing and beaver trapping too. Why look for salt water fish. The new York reservoirs are close than salt water fish. I visit just below you several times a year, bass gills perch stocked trout.........jk

I know there's a lot of fishing charters in Brooklyn. We along with a few families from the Ronald McDonald House went fishing from one of the charters in Brooklyn. The trip was donated by one of the charters, I'll see if I can find out which one. That was our first time deep sea fishing. Caught a Fluke and my oldest son caught one too. He was about 10 months old and it was his second cast

Oh I fully intend to investigate the freshwater as well, but living on the Eastern border of Montana we don’t get the chance to fish saltwater much, and I try to catch a new fish species every time we go somewhere. Seeing as we’ve all caught lots of rainbows, Browns, Brookies, bass, gills and perch we are excited to get in on some saltwater and pull out a fish we’ve never seen before in person. We are planning to charter a boat but I’m lookin for some shore fishing spots too, explore some beaches and put some blue crab in a boiling pot as well

I should add this is vacation. The only thing I HAVE to do is attend my cousins wedding next weekend so the whole two weeks is open for fishing and goofing off

The St Lwarance sea way ruined a lot of our lakes and rivers here by those ships dumping their balast water.We use to have great fishing now with the Zebra mussels things have changed.

Looking at Shandaken New York
You’re quite a way from salt water, if you’re interested in some ocean fishing NJ is a great option.
I can recommend a charter boat (6 person) out of Belmar NJ
If you do decide to fish NJ or NY be sure and get your saltwater registration (it’s free) you can pm me for my cell if interested...

You don't need to hire a charter boat. On Long Island, Staten Island, and New Jersey there are numerous "party" boats that take you off shore for deep sea fishing. Most fish the bottom, unless the bluefish have arrived. Most will rent you a rod and reel. You just pay a fee and walk on. Don't know distance from Shandaken, but it is a long way. The boats go out early AM. You might consider driving down night before , get a motel, get a wake up call. Most of this stuff can be googled for more info. Take seasick pills, or the behind the ear patch, sunscreen, ans ice cooler for your fish.Not sure if salt water license is needed, check on google.Some boats run two trips a day, and even night runs when the bluefish arrive. Just google Party Boats, Staten Island,for example
Don't overlook those Catskill trout streams.

Good luck

P.S.
Watch your weather. If the wind is onshore (coming from the ocean), the sea will be rough.
if the wind is (offshore) from the west the sea will be calm.There always will be gentle swells.
This ius a trip that you can take your kids and wife.