TailWrapped Sportfishing runs the widest fishing menu of the Montauk private boats, a custom Topaz sportfisherman that fishes everything from inshore fluke and blackfish to offshore tuna, billfish, and tilefish. The captain, who goes by Sean, has over 35 years of experience across inshore, offshore, and tournament fishing, and the boat carries a strong 4.9 review record. For an angler who wants one boat that can do almost any Montauk trip, TailWrapped covers more ground than most.
The verdict and where it ranks
At 7.8 TailWrapped is a strong choice and ranks fifth in Montauk, level on overall with Moondance but a step behind it on the captain and crew tie break. It sits behind the bigger boats, Susie E II, Crunch Time, and the Viking Fleet, and ahead of Push the Limit and Lazybones. Its strength is range: trip access is its standout factor, since few boats here cover as many species and trip types. The honest limits are a mid size boat and a review record that, while strong, is not the deepest in the port, so it is a versatile, well reviewed boat rather than the proven volume leader. The full field is on the Montauk ranking.
The boat
TailWrapped is a custom Topaz sportfisherman running twin Caterpillar engines, fishing up to six anglers, out of Sam’s Star Island Yacht Club. A Topaz is a solid mid size offshore hull, capable on the tuna and shark grounds and steady enough for a long day, with quality Penn and Avet reels and custom rods aboard. At its size it is well suited to a small group across the full range of day trips, short of the overnight canyon runs the big party boats make. The boat and the gear are a real strength; the honest note is that it is a mid size boat rather than one of the 48 footers, so a large group is tight.
The fishing and what you target
The menu is the widest of the private boats here, and the target list follows it. Inshore, striped bass, bluefish, fluke, black sea bass, porgies, blackfish, cod, and ling through their seasons. Offshore, shark, tuna, billfish, tilefish, and mahi mahi on the longer runs. Shortfin mako are catch and release only under federal and state rules, so any mako is released, and the boat fishes the other sharks within HMS limits. Striped bass run a one fish slot of 28 to less than 31 inches in New York. The breadth is the appeal, but it means you should be clear which trip you want, so confirm the target and the season with New York DEC and NOAA Fisheries.
Trips and prices
TailWrapped runs whole boat private charters from around $750, booked direct or through FishingBooker, with half day, full day, and custom overnight trips on the schedule. The rate is set by the trip and the run, so the offshore and overnight days cost more than a half day inshore. Quality reels and rods, bait, and ice are provided, and the catch is filleted. The pricing is competitive for the private boats, and the wide menu is the appeal, but it asks you to confirm exactly which trip you are booking so the boat, the gear, and the price line up. Our cost guide sets the tiers side by side.
The crew
The captain, who goes by Sean, runs the boat with over 35 years of inshore, offshore, and tournament experience, and the sentiment is strong and consistent at 4.9 from 47 reviews, describing an experienced captain, good gear, and a productive day across a range of trips. As an owner run six pack, the captain you book is the captain you fish with. The record is strong and clean, held a step below the busiest boats only by volume: with a strong but moderate number of reviews it is a solid record rather than the deepest in the port, which is what keeps the track record score where it is.
Booking and what to know
Book direct or through FishingBooker, and tell the captain which trip you want, since the menu runs from a half day inshore to an overnight offshore and each needs a different plan. Confirm the rate, the trip length, and the target for the season. The boat runs from Sam’s Star Island Yacht Club on Star Island Road. Bring food, drinks, and warm layers for the offshore and night trips; the boat covers the gear and fillets your catch.
How we scored it
TailWrapped scores 7.8: the widest trip and species menu among the Montauk private boats under a captain with 35 years of experience and a strong 4.9 record, held below the leaders by a mid size boat and a review pool that is solid rather than the deepest. Trip access is its standout factor. See how we scored this boat and the Montauk ranking for the field.