Lyla Rose Fishing Charters carries the deepest review record in Gloucester by a wide margin, a 4.9 across hundreds of FishingBooker trips under Captain Matt Cooney, a sea hardened captain who also runs the larger Meredith Jean. It fishes the full range, from a short inshore trip to striped bass, deep sea groundfish, and a 12 hour giant bluefin day, with fully posted prices and free cancellation. The catch, and it is a real one, is the boat: the Lyla Rose is a 28 foot hull that takes only four anglers, so it is built for a couple or a small family, not a group.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 8.2 Lyla Rose is a strong choice and third in the port, on the strength of a review record no other Gloucester boat comes close to: a 4.9 across hundreds of trips, where the next deepest trail runs to a bit over a hundred. That volume of consistent praise is real evidence, and it points to a captain who reliably puts a small group on fish. The limitation that holds it out of the top tier is the boat. At 28 feet and four anglers it is the smallest hull in the ranked fleet, a wetter, tighter ride on a rough offshore day and no good for a larger party. For more boat at a similar price, the Coastal and 10 Point boats take six; for the top ranked all rounder, see Tuna Tail. Compare the field on the Gloucester ranking.
The boat
The Lyla Rose is a 28 foot BHM Downeast cabin cruiser, built in 1987 and restored in 2018, on a single 200 horsepower Volvo diesel, and it takes up to four anglers. It is a tidy, well kept small boat, but small is the operative word: four anglers is the cap, the deck is tight for working a big fish, and a 28 footer rides harder and wetter than the 35 to 75 foot boats in the rest of the fleet when the Gulf of Maine kicks up. For a couple or two anglers it is plenty of boat; for four it is full; for more it is the wrong boat, and the captain’s larger Meredith Jean is the answer.
The fishing and what you target
Lyla Rose fishes the whole Cape Ann calendar at a small group scale. The deep sea trips work the offshore grounds for cod and haddock, with haddock the steady keeper and cod on a short one fish season. Striped bass and bluefish fish close in through the summer, the shark trip runs the warmer months, and the 12 hour giant bluefin day chases the tuna that built Gloucester’s name. The short inshore trip is a gentle introduction for a first timer or a child. Confirm the cod and haddock dates with NOAA Fisheries and the bluefin retention with NOAA’s HMS division before a season specific trip.
Trips and prices
Lyla Rose posts a full grid of per boat prices on its FishingBooker listing, for up to four anglers, and they are the lowest deep sea rates in the port because the boat is small. A 3 hour inshore trip is $400, a 5 hour striped bass trip $600, a 5 hour deep sea trip $650, an 8 hour full day deep sea trip $850, a 7 hour shark trip $900, and a 12 hour giant bluefin trip $1,200. Free cancellation applies up to three days out, which is a fair policy in a place where the weather makes the call. Split between two anglers the short trips are among the most affordable private fishing on Cape Ann. Our cost guide and the private versus head boat guide put the small boat private day in context.
The crew
Captain Matt Cooney runs both the Lyla Rose and the larger Meredith Jean, and the review record is the headline: a 4.9 across hundreds of FishingBooker trips on the Lyla Rose alone, with the Meredith Jean carrying its own deep trail. Reviewers describe a knowledgeable, hardworking captain who gives a small group a proper taste of New England fishing and keeps them on fish, trip after trip. In a port where most boats carry a handful to a few dozen reviews, that depth of consistent feedback is the strongest signal of reliability here, and it is why the boat ranks as high as it does despite its size.
Booking and what to know
Book through the FishingBooker listing, and ask about the Meredith Jean if your group is larger than four. The small boat fishes best in settled weather, so a flexible date helps, and the free three day cancellation makes that easier. Bring food, warm and waterproof layers, sunscreen, and a small cooler; confirm what tackle and bait are included when you book. For four anglers the deck is full, so pack light.
How we scored it
Lyla Rose earns its 8.2 on a review record that leads the entire port and a captain who clearly delivers for a small group, held out of the top tier by a 28 foot boat that takes only four anglers and rides hard offshore. Track record is its standout factor; boat and equipment is its weakest. See how we scored this boat and the Gloucester ranking for the field.