Triumph, Tragedy Part Of
Offshore Fishing Scene
BY JAMIE MILLIKEN
I truly do not know where to begin. There have been three or four stories
cycling through my brain during the past 24 hours. I don't know where this
will end up, but let's get started.
Once again, 3 a.m. comes early, but
we've been through that before. I had
lined up a Gulf Strcan trip this past
Friday. The whether in^ been absolute
ly perfect for five consecutive days, and
Friday's forecast was no different.
Three-thirty found myself, the famous
"Grouperman" himself, David Rourk,
and a newcomer to our sport, 17-year
old Charles Fox Jr. leaving our dock. I
was excited about fishing with this
younger, and I am always privileged to have a talent like David onboard.
We found the last set of markers and cleared Shallotte Inlet at 4:05 a.m.
The ocean was flat and I pushed the Caribbean Soul up to 4,000 rpm. We
settled in four our estimated three-hour run to the tuna grounds. We were not
the only angler capitalizing on the beautiful forecast. Joining us offshore
were the Reel Chase, Gil Slick, Shooting Star Hi, Chris T, Tossin' and
Turnin ' and Outlaw.
i nings did not go absolutely smoothly on the run out. A series of thun
derstorms were lined across the water roughly 35 miles offshore. These
storms really split up the fleet, with some running way west, others adjust
ing to the east, and some hanging back inshore to see what was going to
happen. I adjusted the Caribbean Soul's course to the east as I studied the
clouds.
So far so good. With David asleep on a cushion and Charles standing
lookout in the dark, we headed on. Once daybreak came the thunderstorms
quickly dissipated. The fleet was so broken up, though, radio contact was
mostly non-existent among the bests.
Our gamble turned out good, as the fishing was steady for us. The thrill
of the trip came for me as Charles hooked up with a ycllowfin tuna. As you
have heard me say before, these tunas are the Mike Tysons of fish. They will
break you down and wear you out in their relentless battle. Charles had one
on, and I was steady coaching: "Pump up! Reel down! Don't give him any
slack! Don't rest! When you're resting, he's resting! If you're going to beat
him, you've got to out-fight him!"
With the nice yellowfin circling 20 feet below the surface, Charles was
worn down and so was the fish. It was during this part of the battle that
Charles really made my day. I was steadily giving him orders and the sweat
was pouring from his body when he looked at me with cutting eyes and a
broken back and said, "I'm only human. I can only do so much!"
Man, that was great. When you hook up with a nice tuna it is really hard
to say who's caught who. Charles won, as the 40- pound-plus tuna made one
too many circles within gaff reach. Charles Had won, but he went ana sat
down beside his trophy, and I still could not tell who was worn out the most.
What a fight!
Most of the boats that day scored with the tuna and dolphin. I was sur
prised that no one picked up a wahoo, but maybe next time, we'll find one.
? ? ?
This has been a busy week with fishing tournaments. The Atlanta Salt
Wfcter Fishing Club held a club tournament this week at Georgetown, S.C. I
haven't got ail the results, but my fishing buddy Rube McMullan recorded a
bull dolphin catch that topped the scales at 51 pounds!
The tournament story for the week has to be the "Big Rock" Blue Marlin
Tournament. This is the "Big Bey Tournament" for aire. The best of the best
assemble every year in Morehead City for this prestigious event As of this
writing, the unofficial results put local angler Dan Kinliw, along with the
rest of the crew aboard Dr. Cavaness's boat from Fayetteville in the lead.
They successfully landed a blue marlin that was 649 pounds! This is the
fourth largest marlin ever taken in the tournament's history. Guvs, if this fish
holds on to win, it will be a time in ol' Fayetteville! Congratulations on a
great catch. This fish is worth over a quarter of a million dollars!
The tournament was not without tragedy, however, and this is the part
that has laid so heavily on my mind ever since Scott and Valerie Taylor
flagged me down with the news. Crewman Chris Bowie is dead. From what
I've teamed, Chris was the mate aboard the Trophy Box out of Ocean City,
Md. These guys achieved their goal, as is the goal of all tournament fishing
teams ? to hook up with a "nice one." Little did they know as they battled
the big blue marlin that tragedy was just around the comer.
It appears that the fish was brought alongside and Chris, being the mate,
was the "wire man." This is when the excitement turned to horror. Chris
Bowie wired the fish, but something was wrong When the marlin made his
last-ditch effort for freedom, the wrap that Chris had placed up his arm did
not release. Chris was pulled overboard by the fish, and one can only specu
late the outcome. The only thing for sure is that Chris was gone in a matter
of seconds.
I can only hope that his suffering was brief as he was pulled to the
depths of the Atlantic Ocean, so appropriately named the "Graveyard of the
Atlantic" off Morehead.
My hours have been filled with this terrifying story. I have tried to place
myself in his shoes. I've tried to figure just what went wrong. But I have al
so grieved for the crewmembers that were there.
I know from tournament experience what excitement abounds when a
nice "money fish" is hooked up. These poor people nave to live the memory
of backslapping. high-fiving, laughter, hoping that they would land the fish
that they came after. Then, in a matter of seconds, they were left standing
there with their friend and fellow crewman snatched from their lives. God
rest Chris Bowie's soul. 1 promise I'll never forget this man I never knew.
what you're huafiy for, jrouH Had It at
Capt. Willie's!
Order your favorite breax
fast from our menu or
choose something deli
clous from our buffet.
Served 7 am- 1 1 am.
ABC Permit ? ODcn 7 days a week
CAPT. WILLIE'S RESTAURANT
Holden Beach Causeway ? For Take-Outs 842-9383
WE SERVE BBL PRODUCTS
JOHN LANGEVIN of Matthews landed this 20-potuid hog snap
per last Wednesday on the Intimidator.
Coast Guard Auxiliary
Flotilla Helps With Patrols
Coast Guard Auxiliary 10-08,
serving a portion of the area from
Oak Island to the South Carolina
line, is assisting the Coast Guard
and the boating public with regular
poiuris cdch weekend and on busy
weekdays.
The auxiliary is available to help
boaters in distress through radio
contact with the local Coast Guard
stations or the auxiliary vessel.
Auxiliary operators and crew are
trained to the same qualifications
and test as the regular Coast Guard.
Last year the flotilla operated 525
manhours on patrol.
Knott ?s CvuCS' OOOXEBSSr
der of Flotilla 10-08. Stuart South is
Waters Opened
To Shellfishina
Brunswick County coastaiwaters
south of the Intracoastai Waterway
and west of the Odell Williamson
Bridge s! Ocsss !sis Bcsch iisve
been temporarily opened to shell
fishing.
The N.C. Division of Marine
Fisheries authorized the temporary
opening last Wednesday. The cause
way canal at Ocean Isle remain?
closed to shellfish harvesting.
Fishermen's Group
To Elect Officers
The Carolinas Commercial Fis
hermen's Association will elect offi
cers for the coming year at its regular
/?**. a \ -? n
?iiwut>5 i uua; \ ft uuisuaj )uo p.in.
The group meets the sccond and
fourth Thursday of each month at
Oceanway Auto Sales, located on
N.C. 904 at Grissettown.
For more information, call Lloyd
Ward at 579-5536.
Three little
steps toa.
hajperpixi
Make your pool
more fun, less work and
healthier to swim in with
the BioGuard* 3-Step
Program. It's simple as
1-2-3.
1 Sanitize with
BioGuard stabilized
chlorine-the longer
lasting bacteria
fighter.
O Shock with Burn Out*
* or Burn Out 35* to
remove wastes and
clear the water.
Q Prevent Algae with
* BioGuard Back-Up*
algae inhibitor. It
stops algae before it
starts.
Relax. Bring your pool
to BioGuard*.
PROFESSIONAL
POOL MAINTENANCE
Island Wags Spsciafty Shops
(Bahind IGA BMg.) Opan Ifav-Sat
m 579-8828
Daily Martsnanca
Channels, Acoaaaohaa ft Equpmant
vice commander and Ken Roberts is
staff officer in charge of ordering
and conducting patrols.
Seniors Fishina
Trip Is June 29
The Brunswick County Parks and
Recreation Department will sponsor
a seniors' fishing trip Wednesday,
June 29.
Participants will leave from Cap
tain Pete's Seafood on Holden
Beach aboard the Mega Flite at 7
a.m. and will return around 4 p.m.
Ca. m,---, 'nfrinT- - '* H
a vi imviv uuvtuHUIUU) C4U1 J~
4357 or 1-800-222-4790.
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