Moondance Charters is a dedicated tuna specialist with one of the deeper review records among the Montauk private boats. Captain Sal Trapani has fished the inshore and offshore waters here for over 35 years and runs a 32 foot SeaVee and a 35 foot Bruno sportfisherman after bluefin and yellowfin tuna, switching to striped bass and the bottom the rest of the season. For a small group serious about tuna who want a veteran captain who knows where and when to run, Moondance is a strong call.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.8 Moondance is a strong choice and ranks fourth in Montauk, just ahead of Tailwrapped on the strength of its captain and crew score, and behind the bigger boats, Susie E II, Crunch Time, and the Viking Fleet. Its strength is the captain: 35 years and a tuna focus, with a deep 4.9 record behind it. The honest limits are the boat and the price. A 32 or 35 foot boat is smaller than the 48 footers above it, better for a small group than a large one, and the offshore tuna days run toward the top of the port on price. For an owner run six pack at a lower rate look at Push the Limit; for a cheap half day, Lazybones. The full field is on the Montauk ranking.
The boats
Moondance runs two boats and picks the one that fits the day: a 32 foot SeaVee center console and a 35 foot Bruno sportfisherman. Both are capable mid size offshore boats, quick enough to run to the tuna grounds and comfortable for up to six anglers, with the Bruno the better ride when the seas build. They are smaller than the 48 foot sportfishers higher in the ranking, which is the honest trade: better suited to a small, serious group than a large party, and a wetter, tighter day than a big boat in a chop. For a focused tuna trip with a handful of anglers, the size is well judged.
The fishing and what you target
The specialty is tuna. Captain Sal runs offshore for bluefin and yellowfin in the summer and fall, when the warm water and the bait push in, and the reviews and the operation both center on that fishery. Outside the tuna season the boats fish inshore for striped bass on the rips and sea bass, bluefish, and porgies on the bottom, with sharks in season. Shortfin mako are catch and release only under federal and state rules, so any mako is released. Striped bass run a one fish slot of 28 to less than 31 inches in New York. Confirm the current seasons with New York DEC and NOAA Fisheries before you book.
Trips and prices
Moondance runs whole boat private charters, from around $900 depending on the trip and the season, booked direct or through FishingBooker. The inshore striped bass and bottom trips are priced below the offshore tuna runs, which are the longer, costlier days and the heart of what the boat does. The crew cleans and fillets your catch. The rates are in line with the other private boats, with the offshore tuna day toward the top of the port, so a small group should weigh filling the boat to bring the per head cost down. Confirm the current rate, the boat, and the target when you book. Our cost guide sets the tiers side by side.
The crew
Captain Sal Trapani is the reason to book Moondance. With over 35 years fishing Montauk inshore and offshore and a focus on tuna, he is described across the reviews as an experienced captain who knows the water and his spots, and the record is strong and consistent at 4.9 from 62 reviews. The crew cleans and fillets the catch, a recurring positive in the feedback. As an owner run operation, the captain you book is the captain you fish with, which is the advantage a small specialist holds over a big party boat, and it is why captain and crew is the standout factor here.
Booking and what to know
Book direct or through FishingBooker, and be clear whether you want the offshore tuna trip or an inshore day, since the two are planned and priced differently. Confirm the boat, the rate, and the target for the season. The boats run from Marlena’s Yacht Club on West Lake Drive. Bring food, drinks, and warm layers for the offshore run; the crew handles the gear and cleans your catch.
How we scored it
Moondance scores 7.8: a veteran tuna specialist with 35 years on the water and a deep 4.9 record, held below the bigger boats by a mid size hull better for a small group than a large one and an offshore price toward the top of the port. Captain and crew is its standout factor. See how we scored this boat and the Montauk ranking for the field.