Captain Matthew Cooney was knowledgeable and personable! I purchased the 3 hour inshore trip for my son and nephew’s 13th birthdays and they expressed it was an unforgettable experience! Captain took is to catch bait first and the boys quickly filled the bucket with 20+ mackerel (3-5 per cast)! They both reeled keeper strippers while I enjoyed the ocean breeze, sunshine and picturesque landscapes. This was my first ocean fishing trip and I found it safe, fun and educational! I would highly recommend and hope to return for a longer trip in the near future.

We had a wonderful experience with Captain Matt and the Lyda Rose crew! We booked a shorter 3 hour charter early in the season to see how our 9 year old would do, and it was the perfect trip for our family. Captain Matt was experienced, personable, and very positive throughout the entire trip.

First mate Hayden was also great and very helpful with baiting hooks, casting lines, and making the experience easy and enjoyable for everyone. The boat was spacious, comfortable, and had a nice warm area inside while moving from spot to spot.

We had a great time and can’t wait to come back for a longer trip. Highly recommend!

We booked this trip for our 10 year old to do some saltwater fishing. we had done the bigger boats where there is 50 or so people on it and you all go for haddock which is fun but we wanted something where he could see different types of fish and fishing. while on the boat with captain Matt we were able to go to 4 different spots and our 10 year old son was ecstatic to catch 4 different species. unfortunately only 1 was one we were allowed to keep worth eating but it was about the catching experience for him. we have already decided to book 1 or 2 more longer trips with captain Matt as our son thought we needed more time fishing to find more fish.

We began our day with a delicious breakfast at Mom’s Kitchen—highly recommended for its cozy atmosphere and great food. Shortly afterward, we met Captain Matt at the dock and set off on our adventure. Within just 20 minutes, we were already reeling in fish!

My daughter was thrilled, catching mackerel three at a time and having an absolute blast. Even my wife managed to land two fish on a single hook! Captain Matt was exceptional—friendly, patient, and wonderful with children. His enthusiasm and expertise made the entire outing unforgettable.

This was a truly special experience for our family, and one we’ll cherish for years to come. I wholeheartedly recommend this excursion to anyone, especially families looking to create lasting memories on the water.

I wish I could give Captain Matthew more than 5 stars! This was my first time offshore fishing and I have been traveling New England for the last 2 weeks.  I believe this was my favorite day of vacation! The weather was beautiful. The water was calm. Parking was free and easy to find. I drove from my hotel which was about 25 minutes away and I was totally unfamiliar with the area. My son (age 12) and myself (middle aged mom) booked this trip online. My husband was supposed to join us but had a last minute work thing to do and had to cancel. I am not going to lie, I was a little apprehensive about going out to sea with an unfamiliar man on my own, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! Captain Matthew was respectful and professional. I was immediately at ease. He is really personable and he explained things well. First, we caught our own bait (mackerel and pollock) and then went after the striped bass. We didn’t have a lot of luck at the first spot, so he drove us over to another area. We immediately starting catching fish. Some big ones! We each caught one that fit the parameters of keeping. He took care of everything for us including putting me in touch with someone who could ship our fish home. (We live several hundred miles away). We had such a great time! I cannot wait to do it again! If you are a group of girls or a mom with kids, do not hesitate to book this trip!