A day on the water out of Sheepshead Bay doesn’t require much preparation, but showing up without the right things can turn a great trip into an uncomfortable one. Most of the fishing logistics are handled before you step aboard — bait, tackle, rod rentals, fish cleaning, and instruction are all part of the experience on the Marilyn Jean. What you’re preparing for is comfort, not equipment.
Here’s a practical rundown of what to think about before you arrive at Pier 6.
What the Boat Already Covers
Before building a packing list, it helps to know what’s already on the boat. Bait and tackle are included with every ticket on the Marilyn Jean IV. Rod and reel rentals are available for $5 if you don’t own gear. The crew provides instruction, sets up bait for beginners, and handles fish cleaning so you take home fillets rather than whole fish. The cabin is heated and has a microwave. The boat is BYOB, so a cooler with food and drinks is welcome.
In practical terms, you’re not outfitting an expedition. You’re packing for a few hours on the water with most of the logistics already handled. What you bring is about being comfortable from the dock to the drive home.
What to Wear
Weather on open water runs cooler than the forecast on your phone suggests. Wind across the deck creates a chill that doesn’t register until the boat is moving, and a morning that looks like a t-shirt day from shore can feel significantly different once you’re out in the harbor. Layering consistently outperforms any single clothing choice regardless of the season.
The clothing approach that works for most trips out of Sheepshead Bay includes:
- A Base Layer and a Mid Layer — Even in warmer months, having a light jacket or sweatshirt available for the early morning departure and the ride back prevents an uncomfortable stretch at each end of the day.
- A Water-Resistant Outer Layer — Spray comes over the rail on choppy days, and wet clothes make a long trip genuinely miserable. Having something that sheds water is worth the bag space.
- Closed-Toe Shoes with Grip — Flip flops on a wet deck are a bad idea for obvious reasons. Sneakers work fine. Rubber-soled boat shoes or anything with traction works better.
- A Hat — Useful for sun protection on day trips and warmth on early morning and night departures. Either way, you want one.
- Polarized Sunglasses — Glare off the water is significant over the course of a full day trip. Polarized lenses cut through it in a way that standard sunglasses don’t, and your eyes will feel the difference by the afternoon.
One thing that applies regardless of what you wear: fishing clothes smell like fish. Whatever you bring is going to come home with that reality attached to it, so dress accordingly and don’t bring anything you’d be upset about.
Food and Drinks
The boat has a galley and a microwave, and day trips cover enough time that bringing real food is worth doing. There are no restaurants between Pier 6 and Sandy Hook. A cooler with lunch, snacks, and drinks for the duration of the trip covers the day without any issues, and ice is available on board to keep drinks cold.
A few things worth making sure you have regardless of trip length:
- More Water Than You Think You Need — Sun and wind on open water accelerate dehydration in ways that aren’t obvious until you’re already behind on fluids. Staying ahead of it makes the whole day feel better.
- Motion Sickness Medication If There’s Any Chance You Need It — Taken before boarding, not after the fact. Once you’re feeling the effects of the water, medication has limited impact. If there’s any doubt at all, take something at the dock before the boat leaves.
- Sunscreen Applied Before Departure — A full day on the water with no overhead shade delivers more sun exposure than most people expect. Bringing it along for reapplication during the trip is worth the pocket space.
- Snacks Beyond Lunch — Fishing, fresh air, and physical activity work up an appetite, and the trip tends to feel longer when you’re running low on food.
The BYOB policy means whatever you want to drink beyond water is welcome as long as it comes in your cooler. The boat takes care of the ice.
What to Bring for Your Catch
One of the best parts of a trip on the Marilyn Jean is what you bring home. Fish cleaning is included, so your catch comes off the boat ready to cook rather than requiring work at home. What you need is something to get it there in good condition.
A dedicated cooler packed with ice is the most practical option — kept separate from the food cooler if you’re bringing one. The goal is to keep the fish cold from the moment cleaning is done through the entire drive home. A cooler that holds temperature well is worth more than its size would suggest when you’re an hour from home in summer heat.
A few additional items worth having for the catch:
- Extra Bags — For fish that don’t fit cleanly, for wet gear on the way out, or for anything else that ends up needing containment by the end of the trip.
- A Small Towel or Two — Fish, bait, and salt water combine into a fairly slippery situation, and having a towel available makes the whole experience cleaner and easier to manage throughout the day.
Most people who come back without a dedicated fish cooler regret it. Most people who bring one are glad they did.
A Few Practical Notes on Logistics
Parking on Emmons Avenue and Shore Parkway is free. There’s a paid lot at Macys Backstage directly across from the boat on Emmons Avenue if street parking is full. Arriving 15 to 20 minutes before departure gives you time to get settled, get your gear sorted, and find a good spot on the rail before the boat leaves — which matters more on busy departures than people realize.
Beyond what’s listed here, the simplest packing principle is that less is more. A small bag for personal items — phone, wallet, keys — and a portable phone charger for a long day on the water round out what most people find they actually use. Everything else tends to stay in the cooler or at the bottom of a bag the entire trip.
Day trips, half-day fluke trips, and night striped bass trips all depart from Pier 6 at Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn. To book your spot, visit mj2fishing.com or call Captain Tony at 347-952-1442.