Last weekend, I took my first trip aboard the Captree Princess with my grandpa. Upon stepping aboard in the early hours of the morning for the first time, several things struck me about this particular vessel: the high levels of cleanliness, roominess, and overall comfort. For a boat that runs non-stop day in and day out taking people fishing, it was very clean and well-maintained. The amount of space on the main deck was also more than adequate, with wide areas to walk and fish. And for comfort, the galley was about as comfortable as a party boat galley could be.

It was quite a boat ride out to the fishing grounds, with a trip duration of about three hours each way. One of the mates informed us that we were offshore just over 30 miles. However, it was well worth the trip as the action was non-stop once we got there. I can count the number of times I dropped down and came up empty-handed on one hand; it was that good. Within seconds of hitting the bottom, something showed interest with a few tugs.

The mates were all very friendly and extremely helpful, making sure everyone was untangled, re-rigged, and fishing. If you do journey out on the Captree Princess or any party boat for that matter, always remember to tip the mates at the end of the trip. The captain was also excellent in keeping us anchored right on the spot, and he came down to the main deck many times throughout the day to see firsthand the fruits of his labor working to get us out there and precisely position the boat right atop of the structure.

Our totals for today were nine sea bass, 13 porgies, and two cod–my first cod ever. Everything about the trip was great, and I will be sure to return to the Captree Princess.