2025 marks a remarkable milestone for one of Captree State Park’s most enduring families of the sea. It was back in 1955 that the late Captain Jim Gillen first brought the Truant to Captree, beginning what would become a seven-decade legacy. Just four years later, in 1959, the demand for a larger vessel led to the launch of the original Captain Gillen, a boat that quickly became a fixture among the Captree fleet. From that point forward, the Gillen name has been synonymous with fishing at Captree, maintaining an unbroken presence for 70 years.
Today, Captain Patrick Gillen continues to honor that tradition at the helm of the Captain Gillen open boat, carrying anglers into the Great South Bay and beyond just as his father did before him. To mark the anniversary, the children of the late Vera and Captain Jim — Jim, Maureen, Kathleen, Sharon, Tom, Patty, and Patrick — reunited this spring for a celebratory fishing trip of their own. At one time or another, each of them worked the deck of the Captain Gillen, gaining firsthand experience in the family trade. Now, with the next generation of Gillens cheering them on, the family’s connection to Captree remains strong.
All seven siblings still call Long Island home, and their collective presence speaks to the deep roots the Gillens have planted in the local fishing community. Seventy years after Captain Jim first tied up at Captree, the Captain Gillen continues to sail, carrying not only anglers but also the weight of a proud family tradition that shows no signs of slowing down.
