Marilyn Jean IV Brooklyn Fishing Boat — Local services in New York

My dad and I went out on Sunday night from 7pm-12am and had a great time. We picked the Marilyn Jean IV largely because they had a web presence and we could reserve our spots online.

We left out of Sheepshead Bay around 7:30, and got back around 12:30. Basically the captain would bring us to the fish, a couple people would get hits, and we'd move on. The crew was solid and helped us with our tangles/rigs and some other anglers helped us with our technique. There are separate men's and women's heads (bathrooms) as well as an indoor area with a small food bar. You'd be surprised at how good a burger from that little galley smells after a couple hours on the water. It was a good time with a solid crew and I'd do it again.

That being said, there are some things you should know before you get on.

Bring a cooler. Use it for your food/drink when you're fishing, and use it for your fish when you're done.

It can get packed. We had less than 20 folks on the boat, and it was great. It meant that it was possible to have all of us fish on one side of the boat easily. This helps when the boat is trolling so your bait doesn't end up under the boat. However, that morning they had 66 people on the boat, and you're dealing with a lot of tangles with that many folks.

If you think you might get seasick, you will get seasick. It's not a very large boat, so it really rocks at times. Take something before you get on or consider a larger boat.

People smoke. It's not really a big deal considering we're out on the water and it doesn't get in your face, but it's something to keep in mind if you're very sensitive or don't want to expose your children to that. One of the anglers was smoking weed, and I assume that's a random occurrence.

Rigs cost $3 each. Your bait and tackle are included, but you will have to pay for at least one rig. Personally I went through 3 rigs. As you bounce your sinker along the bottom, it gets stuck, the line breaks, and you'll have to pony up another $3. If you lose one of the large lures when you're out there, that will cost $5. Remember to bring cash above what you will tip the crew.

It costs $5 to join the "largest fish pool", and while anyone can win, the regulars with their own equipment have a much better shot. If you see a black dude with braids named "Joe", keep your $5 in your wallet, that cat knows how to fish.

The bait (sand worms) will bite you, and if you don't feel like getting bit, make sure you hold them close to the head and put that hook through their mouth.

There are a lot of fishing party boats out of Sheepshead Bay, and on a slow night you can get a better deal than what it costs to reserve ahead of...

We do several trips a year and try to give everyone equal business. We did a trip with Midnight earlier in the season and had a good time. First time I booked with MJ, I brought (7) people with me. Everyone had a great time. Mates were extra friendly and everyone caught their limit. Decided to book again with (5) total for a 2pm-6pm. Left the dock around 2:20ish and we did'nt start fishing till 2:40. The bait appeared to be old and soft (clam belly w/no strips), almost as if it was left out over night. When I voiced my displeasure about it, I was told "you fish with what we got" by one of the deck hands. We had words but I held back because I know they have nothing to do with the bait supplied but his reply wasn't acceptable either way. Mind you, it's Mid July and I myself caught (1) keeper porgy. I repeat...(1) keeper Porgy! Alot of Dogfish and Sea Robins. I know it goes like that sometimes but I could have had the same results fishing from the beach by Coney Island inlet. Anyway, we started heading in (lines-up) at 5:30. We made the best of it but none in my party had a great time. I think the bait provided was unacceptable and the treatment by one of the mates wasn't called for. Regardless of this, we still collected a tip for the crew and took care of them because it's the right thing to do! I'll probably give them another shot because of the good time we had on the first trip but I'm really hoping they read this and step their game up. It was the complete opposite of our first trip!

UPDATE: 7/17/2025 Booked with 3 others and I must say, what a turnaround. First thing we noticed was how clean the boat was. We were greeted by Kevin (not sure of his title) and this gentleman took care of us from jump. He greeted us on the dock, welcomed us aboard and set the whole crew up in a blink. Action could have been better but that's how it goes sometimes. The Captain was great and did all he could. My crew all left the boat with an acceptable amount of fish and we had a great time. I can't stress enough how great this mate Kevin was and how he took care of us. In return we definitely took care of him. All fish were cleaned and packaged to go. I 100% recommend this boat and hopefully Kevin is aboard. Can't wait to book the next trip. Tight...

⭐☆☆☆☆ July 5 Evening Trip — A Disappointing and Concerning Experience

I’ve been on the Marilyn Jean a few times before and have always had a great time—whether or not I caught any fish. However, the evening trip on July 5 made me seriously reconsider ever going on this charter again.

First off, the boat was extremely overcrowded. It was a weekend, and there were well over 45 people on board (excluding the crew), which created a very cramped and uncomfortable environment.

Once we got out to the ocean, the conditions were frightening. The waves were intense—at times it felt like a scene out of The Perfect Storm. There was no actual storm, but the swells and currents were aggressive, and the boat felt like it could tip over more than once. Several people got seasick. What alarmed me most was that there was no mention of life jackets at any point. That is a huge safety concern.

Eventually, the captain made the decision to bring us back near the inlets due to the conditions, which made sense, but by then it was clear that the trip wasn’t going to be viable for fishing. With the boat so overcrowded, people spent more time untangling fishing lines from each other than actually fishing.

To make matters worse, there were no fish in the calmer area we were brought to. Some passengers later spoke with one of the crew and learned that they knew in advance it was going to be a rough night due to the current. So the question is: why go out at all—and with such a large group—knowing the conditions were both unsafe and unfishable?

I understand that this is a business and that profitability matters, but safety and the integrity of the fishing experience should always come first. July 5 was a miserable experience for many onboard, and unfortunately, I will not...