OK well, there isnt really a reason to drive 4-5 hours there is a fleet of party boats out of rhode island called the frances fleet
Welcome To Frances Fleet-New England's Premier Fishing Fleet i sail with them on everything from cod,fluke,seabass, stripped and blues, to offshore tuna and georges bank cod. they are a really nice operation and are very good to sail with i know most of them very well. they sail from point judith and its only about a 2 1/2 hour drive from hartford. check the site.