Party boats over the years:

[AndyS]

We are pretty lucky to have so many party boats and charter boats near by. I sat and starting thinking of the party boats I patronized over the years:

Big Marie S
Piper
Queen Mary
Dauntless
Jamaica
Jamaica II
Paramount
Cock Robin
Capt'n Bill Van
Miss Belmar
Gambler
Viking Starship
Voyager
Miss Barnegat Light
Doris Mae
Holiday
Norma K II
Norma K III
Sea Devil


And 2 more out of Belmar I can't remember, 1 was a tuna trip the other a bonito trip long ago. Also a charter out of Highlands with Gerry, can't remember name of the boat, and 2 party boats in California, Long Beach and Dana Point.

So around 24, not bad. Oh wait, did a party boat trip in my teens in Massachusetts for cod where you sat on stools, make it 25 !

[Gumada]

More of the Belmar boats...

Capt Cal
Bandit
Tampa
Capt. Slaughter
American Eagle
Big Mohawk
Outlaw
Sea King
Sand Tiger
Night Hawk
Skipper
Catherine
Skipper
Optimist Star
Capt Joe

There is a great website to research headboats from way back. It’s fun to see how many you know or fished on.

Honorable mention for the Sea Pigeon...

http://www.mels-place.com/mmm/index.html

[AndyS]

I forgot the Royal Flush (knew I would forget some)
My dad used to go on the Shamrock all the time but don't ever remember going on that one.
I think it was the Bandit out of Belmar I did the tuna trip on and couldn't remember the name, and I'm pretty sure it was the Capt'n Slaughter I did the bonito trip on, thanx for jogging my memory.

[june181901]

Viking out of Princess Bay on Staten Island. Captain Andy Kondracki, easy trip from Bayonne when the bridge was only a half a buck toll.

[Ol Pedro]

Lets see off the top of my head,
Old Gambler
New Gambler
Jamaica
Norma K II
Tuna Wahoo
Processer
Qualifier 105
Holiday
Pacifica
New Loann
Daily Double
La Jollan
Dolphin
El Dorado
Seaforth
New Seaforth
San Diego
Mission Bell
Channel Clipper
Enterprise
Coral Sea
Cherokee Geisha
Dauntles
Snow White
and my Gregor. Most of these boats are still fishing.

[Foul Hook]

Piper! Went on that boat with my dad when i was a kid, probably mid 70s.

[MattMal88]

White Star
Miss Barnegat Light
Doris Mae
Carolyn Ann and another boat in LBI i cant remember, my uncle had a house down there.
Norma K
Dauntless
Gambler
Voyager
Queen Mary
Capt Cal
Miss Belmar and Royal
Big Jamaica
Jamaica 2
Paramount
Big Mohawk
Golden Eagle
Fisherman
Prowler 5
Angler
Miss Chris
Miss Cape May
Porgy V
Starlight

Theres definitely some I cant think of the names of in NJ, plus ive done party boat trips in FL, MD, CA, HI, NC, and even Ohio on lake Erie. Not too bad for only 34 yrs old. Hope to be on many more!

[NJ219bands]

Miss Point Pleasant and Wanderer.

[Duffman]

I actually had to write it down to see how many boats I’ve been on.

Counted 39. Cut my teeth with my father on the Palace II outta Hoboken early 70’s. Best times ever on that boat!

Sad to see how many are gone. AHMH is a shell of its former self.

[frugalfisherman]

Unfortunately the government is putting them out of business one at a time.

[reelfitter]

Don't forget:
Atlantis
Jamaica star

Had some good Canyon fishing on it!

[Tuna Tales]

My 1st Party Boat trip was around 1984 or so. Spray III out of Belmar NJ. Whiting & Ling. Kerosene heater in the cabin. 3 pm - 9 pm trips. Capt. John DeRose. Great times.

Others include:

Fishermen (most if not all of the Atlantic Highlands fleet). Sea Fox with Captains George and Don Sr. - to this day I can see them wearing the classic white Captain's Shirt and Captain's Hat. This was before Capt Chad, Mike and Dave (Tuna.com) ran the boat.
Optimist Shooting Star
Miss Belmar Princess (all boats)
Golden Eagle (I was on one of the first trips with Capt Chris Hueth) -- Spring of 1987.
Big Mohawk (all boats)
Lenny
Skipper
Big Marie S
Gambler (all boats)
Big Jamaica
Miss Chris
Viking Starship (so many stories here I could write a short book)
Voyager
Queen Mary
Freddy C
Night Hawk
Catherine
Super Shy Poke
Last Lady (some of my best trips offshore)
Bounty Hunter
Skylarker
Doris Mae
Norma K
Sea Devil
Bandit
Rosie R.
Ocean Explorer
Paramount
Miss Take II


Great times --


Joe T.

[Tackle guy]

Been on slot of the boats mentionedhere. Couple more I been on. Capt. Al n.y. Helen h. Mass. Sea pigeon Perth Amboy deep adventure. Pt.pleasant. bounty hunter pt.pl. Atlantis princess. Staten island. North star ocean city n.j.

[Duffman]

Morning Star Ocean City MD
Royal Flush Wildwood Crest NJ
Starlight Wildwood Crest NJ
Twilight Wildwood Crest NJ
Royal Flush Wildwood Crest NJ (epic gator blues in the 80's)
Miss Barnegat Light Barnegat NJ
Doris May Barnegat NJ
Porgy V Cape May NJ
Miss Chris Cape May NJ (crazy boston macks in the 80'S)
Golden Eagle Belmar NJ
Miss Belmar Princess Belmar NJ
Big Mohawk Belmar NJ
Gambler Point Pleasant NJ
Sea Devil Point Pleasant NJ
Cock Robin Point Pleasant NJ
Queen Mary Pont Pleasant NJ
Voyager Point Pleasant NJ
Paramount Brielle NJ
Big Jamaica Brielle NJ
Atlantis Brielle NJ
Teal AHMH NJ
Sea Fox AHMH NJ
Fishermen AHMH NJ
Emerald Tide AHMH NJ
Sea Hunter AHMH NJ
Oasis AHMH NJ
Happy AHMH NJ
Atlantic Star AHMH NJ
Sea Horse AHMH NJ
Prowler AHMH NJ (miss the tuna trips they used to run)
Sea Tiger AHMH NJ
MI-JO AHMH NJ
Sea Hawk AHMH/Perth Amboy NJ
Dorothy B AHMH/Sheepshead Bay NJ NY
FreddyC Leonardo NJ (worming stripers....lost art)
Elaine B II Highlands NJ (Killer tog boat)
Miss Take II Highlands NJ (Whitey jigging bass before that became a thing)
Palace II Hoboken NJ (best poker games ever played!!!)
Pioneer Jersey City NJ
Celtic Quest Port Jefferson NY
Vikinng Starship Montauk NY
Sea Star II Hyannis MA
Helen H Hyannis MA

[NoLimit]

Miss Take
Satellite
Atomic

[dales529]

Come on old timers. How is the Ideal left off the list LOL.
Winter Flounder on the Manasquan River on the Ideal!

Also fished many of the boats listed and yes the green PIPER! Cap't Jack used to captain my grandfathers 44 Bertram boat back in the 1960's. I think I was 7 ouch

[Pokerman1]

First party boat I sailed on was the Paramount with my grandfather Henry Schaefer, in 1979. Yes, that Henry Schaefer.

[seazu]

CAPT.RONS FISHERMEN
can I get a hell yea

[hh52]

Does anybody remember the miss manasquan with capt blacky Walsh

[Billfish715]

http://www.mels-place.com/mmm/Party-Boats/index.html

[NJ219bands]

Does anybody remember the miss manasquan with capt blacky Walsh

I fished with Captain Blacky Walsh on the Piper for afternoon half day fluke. He always fished south of Manasquan Inlet. He found black drum a few times. Fare was $5.

[AndyS]

My first PB trip was on the Piper when I was knee high to a grasshopper with captain Blackie Walsh at the helm. One of my first trips the ocean was incredibly rough, I was feeling horrible. Sitting in the cabin trying not to get sick the older mate comes in and sits down next to me and starts eating raw smelt, needless to say I started heaving, I'll never forget it !
Also remember my father catching big fluke and weakfish on those trips, I don't think there were any limits of any kind back then.

[Capt. Lou]

I’ve been on many of these couple missing ;
Rambler
Stardust
BelBouy

[bulletbob]

Surprised no one has mentioned the Bulwark.. A great blackfish boat back when most NJ fishermen cared nothing about blackfish.
They sailed out of I think Forked River, maybe Waretown.
There were guys from Lyndhurst going right around the AH, Belmar, Brielle, PP bottom boats to fish on the Bulwark.. Lots of really big blackfish caught on that boat.. In those days, he probably fished wrecks he knew by compass,speed and run time, triangulation etc, and they didn't get hit hard all year like they do today.

I fished on the Super Cat with Captain Charlie Fossanni several times.. he was a character with a personality that was off putting to some, and I even recall his mate cursing him out one day.. Great boat, big, fast, roomy, stable etc.. Lots of guys didn't like it said it was too high, too big, too something or other,.. Either that or they just didn't like Capt. Charlie, but I remember he often didn't get enough fares to sail, when all the smaller boats in AH were full.. I will say, I personally didn't do too good on that boat, compared to others.. can't say why that is...
Still, my favorite boat was the tiny, old, crude, ,slow, unstable Skipper w/ Capt Dom Vitolo.. 40 footer, narrow. He later got a bigger, nicer, faster boat, but by then the tog fishing had already started to deteriorate..
Still, we had great days of blackfishing on that original little 40 foot boat when he was about the only boat chasing Blackfish, and he was very good at it. He took it personally when it was a slow bite day.
All the other boats in those days in November were finishing up the last of Blues, or were fishing Ling, Whiting. No fall Stripers to speak of in those days, and most of us never missed them.. Late fall was Ling, Whiting, big chopper blues, maybe a stray late Weakfish or two, on local party boats,Flounder if you had a small skiff, Blackfish for the few of us in the know at that time on a couple boats, and Cod and Pollack if you went on the Brielle or PP boats that ventured further off shore... Most all the boats were good back then... Mostly because there were just so many fish around.. lots and Lots of them,, Always.. They were just always there... Until one day, they just weren't... bob

[pddmd]

I guess I am an older guy
when some of the boats I worked on are no longer around.
Miss Regnilles
Big 2
Piper
Holiday
Cock Robin

[Duffman]

Anyone remember fares from back in the day?

I recall cutting coupons out of the star ledger and daily news for party boats when I was a kid.

If I remember right a full day trip for fluke was $13. Forget the size limit if there was one.

[RAMMFISH66]

I kinda remember the Sand Shark, outa Belmar. She was real low to the water. Was always afraid of falling in. Those were the good ole days.

[Dclark2]

I remember going out of Point Plesant with my father for whiting and the mates were lighting the lights for fishing with a match. That was a looooong time ago
when all boats were wooden.

[Skolmann]

-Sea Pigeon
-Misty Morn
-Captain John
-Freddy C
-Sea Hunter
-The Fisherman
-Atlantic Star
-Sea Tiger
-Oasis
-Sea Horse
-Prowler
-Sea Fox
-Elaine B
-Miss Take II
-Night Hawk
-Golden Eagle
-Ocean Explorer
-Cock Robin
-Queen Mary
-Gambler
-Black Whale
-Carolyn Ann III
-Miss Barnegat Light
-Doris Mae

Are just some of the party boats I’ve fished on in NJ.

[TBONENJ]

Mid 70's to mid 80's Bahrs Pier 7 in Highlands had quite a few I haven't seen yet; The Devito's had the Capt. Louie, Rita B and Denise Marie others were,
Lazy Bones, Miss Highlands, Champion, Falcon, Tone B and T-Bone. You could have an early breakfast at the Lucky 7 on the corner or a screwdriver at the Sand Bar, later the Bootlegger, now Chubby Pickle. Whitey would park his green VW rabbit and pull the Full Day jigging sign out of the trunk, the hawking started in the parking lot. Good times.

[Solemate]

Delmar 111. Jo Ann IV

[jakesdad]

Now I am dating myself, growing up in Belmar in the 50’s and 60’s
Spray II
Spray3
Lenny
Gertrude H
Ranger
Chief
Rambler
Sea Swan and Sea Swan 2
Capt, Joe and Captain Joe 2
Black Hawk
Sea Hawk
Miss Belmar
Capt. Bill Van
Optimist
Optimist 2
Optimist Queen
Sea Jet
Marie S
Big Marie S
Orig. Skipper
Sea King

Belmar had a ton of boats, but as they started to get bigger and carry more fishermen the fleet got smaller. The charter boat fleet also florished

[catsmeow]

Just want to see if there are any old timers here. Does anyone here remember the "Happy" out of Atlantic Highlands. Hint I'm 78 and fished it as a kid.

[Bluefish]

move a little north : Janet C, FisherBoy, Bucky. Palace, Palace 11, Palace 111, SeaStar. , more North over the state line: , SeaQueen, Seaqueen 11, Seaqueen 111, SeaQueenIV, Claire, Claire 11, Claire 111, Super Claire, Bronx Queen: then of course there was sheepshead bay but thats a list by itself.

[Solemate]

Just want to see if there are any old timers here. Does anyone here remember the "Happy" out of Atlantic Highlands. Hint I'm 78 and fished it as a kid.

I remember the Happy. It was a half day boat. I worked as a kid on the Delmar111 back in the mid 60’s and the JoAnn IV

[AndyS]

Now I am dating myself, growing up in Belmar in the 50’s and 60’s
Spray II
Spray3
Lenny
Gertrude H
Ranger
Chief
Rambler
Sea Swan and Sea Swan 2
Capt, Joe and Captain Joe 2
Black Hawk
Sea Hawk
Miss Belmar
Capt. Bill Van
Optimist
Optimist 2
Optimist Queen
Sea Jet
Marie S
Big Marie S
Orig. Skipper
Sea King

Belmar had a ton of boats, but as they started to get bigger and carry more fishermen the fleet got smaller. The charter boat fleet also florished

I remember the Lenny, not sure if I fished on it, I just may have.

[tjd24]

Palace II former 110' WWII Subchaser sailed from Hoboken, NJ

[baseballman]

This thread makes me nostalgic...so many have come/gone over the years. One of my favorite fishing trips growing up was night blues...you'd get out to the grounds and it would be like a literal city of lit up party boats out there. And most nights, you'd sleep like a baby on the way in with a sore arm from lifting bruisers over the rail.

Not going to count every six pack/charter unless they're truly a big party boat but here it goes:
- Carolyn Ann
- Miss Barnegat Light
- Norma K II
- Norma K III
- Dauntless
- Gambler (old)
- Mimi
- Cock Robin
- Queen Mary (both old and new)
- Jamaica
- Jamaica II (old)
- Paramount
- Miss Belmar Princess
- Golden Eagle
- Big Mohawk
- Ocean Explorer
- Capt. Cal + Capt. Cal II
- Fisherman
- Prowler
- Sea Tiger II
- Sea Fox
- Teal
- Bingo
- Freddie C

[nanseaj]

Super Spray, Belmar

[Gerry Zagorski]

Miss Take II
Cock Robin
Sea Devil
Deep Adventures
Freddy C
Pioneer III
Angler

[Gerry Zagorski]

Photos of party boats from 1960 on http://www.mels-place.com/mmm/Party-Boats/Party-Boats-Page-15/index.html

[CaptMarc]

Dolphin out of Keyport mid 70s and 80s.

[blindalfred]

Everyone on the Freddy C moving to the bow so that his props would clear the bottom at low tide in Leonardo. Also Fred's words of wisdom, "you never leave fish to look for fish".

[Duffman]

Everyone on the Freddy C moving to the bow so that his props would clear the bottom at low tide in Leonardo. Also Fred's words of wisdom, "you never leave fish to look for fish".

YES YES YES!!!!!! Damn miss the old stuff.

[Pennsy Guy]

Just a novice with PB's...Queen Mary, Jamacia, Atlantis, K-3(Norma K), old/new Gambler, and my first, back in 1944(I was 7) out of Atlantic City (hometown) with my father.

[Pennsy Guy]

Darn, forgot one, West Coast, the Excel!

[stevebfishing]

THE MISS MOORE AND THE TEAL OUT OF SHOULS/STATEN ISLAND

[Gerry Zagorski]

Forgot about the Teal. Rich was a high school buddy of mine.

[Ol Pedro]

Darn, forgot one, West Coast, the Excel!

Chuckie, what a nice boat! Everyone should do a 5 to 12 day trip out of San Diego. Most of the boats that I fished were out of San Diego. I forgot the Islandia , Speed Twin, and the Scat that ran out of the Islandia dock.

[bulletbob]

Everyone on the Freddy C moving to the bow so that his props would clear the bottom at low tide in Leonardo. Also Fred's words of wisdom, "you never leave fish to look for fish".

went out with Freddie for blues weaks... He was looking at a Playboy centerfold one of the fares brought on the boat and declared,, "I gotta check my charts"..Wonderful captain..

[Broad Bill]

Andy thanks for starting the thread, great list to look at and at the same time a very disturbing list considering how many boats and Captains have come and gone. Like many, these names bring back many fond memories of trips throughout my life but the fondest memories are the friends and family those trips were with and the friends met along the way.

Does anyone remember the Searcher out of Barnegat run by the Eble family. Had some great blackfish trips on that boat. Believe they actually had the state record at one time and maybe still do. Sister boat I believe was the Doris Mae IV which I believe became the Voyager.

Quote from Charlie Eble JR. in the APP from 2015. Family run charter business for 70 years. Two quotes from the article. "I really wanted to stay in the business another five to 10 years but National Marine Fishery Service's rules and regulations are killing us. They're putting us out of business," said Capt. Charlie Eble and "We're shut down on sea bass. What am I going to fish for from now until spring?" said Eble. Once a year round industry, the black sea bass fishery has become more regulated by regional management bodies overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) beginning in October of 2009 when the government abruptly closed the fishery for the first time.

If this thread doesn't encapsulate why the recreational fishing community needs to unify, nothing will.

[CODCHALY]

#51, B B , another good Post. The SEARCHER still steams out of Belmar.
What a great fishing Platform

[captainrich]

You guys are forgetting a few Belmar boats

Miss Lynn
Blue Dolphin
Bobby II (it became the Sea Jet after it go hit by a ship)
Capt Walt
Gulf Coast
Ranger

[SanibelFisher]

How about some love for the southern boats, Miss Townsands Inlet. My first night Bluefish boat in the late 70's. I still remember the Weakfish were just as big as the choppers.

[RU fan]

My 1st offshore tuna trip was on the Atlantis back in the early 80's. It was docked in Pt-Pleasant and captained by Francis Bogan. Back then it was more of a day fishery. But what a thrill to hook up Shortly thereafter bought myself a tuna outfit (Penn 6/0 reel and a Fenwick pacificglass standup rod) which I still have today. Some great memories over the years with that outfit.

[chrislars]

Mike Maritime on Facebook used to post a ton of history on local boats. All kinds of vintage photos. He's been inactive awhile though. If you dig through the profile you can find some good stuff!

https://www.facebook.com/mikes.maritimememorabilia

[132parker]

Shoals Dock, S.I. the Sea King.

[RedBank16]

Some new pictures were posted on Mel’s/Mike’s website last week

[BCinerie]

Shamrock
Old shamrock

[NJ219bands]

Shamrock
Old shamrock

Captains Jack and John Bogan.

[captbogan]

What is sad is to see how many of these are gone and not replaced.