Big Rock | 65th Annual

BIG ROCK Linda Rike REAL ESTATE

J u s t A d d Wa t e r To Yo u r L i f e s t y l e

T H E 6 5 TH A N N U A L

BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT

Morehead City • North Carolina

PHOTOS: LUKE PEARSON

NEW CONSTRUCTION

WORLD-CLASS PRODUCTS. APPAREL

FURNISHINGS

CAROLINA FLARE. MARINE PARTS

FUEL & SUPPLIES

Since our humble beginnings in 1986, Jarrett Bay has served the Big Rock boating community with unparalleled attention to quality and craftsmanship. Over the years, these principles have allowed us to expand our expertise far beyond boats.

Learning and innovating while building the finest sportfish rigs led Randy Ramsey and team to accommodate service and repair for all types of vessels. This gave rise to the development of the impressive 175-acre Jarrett Bay Marine Park, where our parts, equipment and crew amenities have grown exponentially over the years.

Today, our team specializes not only in construction, refit and repair of the world’s finest boats, but have expanded into home decor and apparel design—bringing our tradition of superior quality and craftsmanship to all who appreciate the Carolina Flare® lifestyle.

REFIT & REPAIR

3 4 ° 4 8 ’ 2 0 ” N / 76 ° 41’ 0 7 ” W

2 52 -7 2 8 -2 6 9 0

J A R R E T T B AY. CO M

Linda Rike REAL ESTATE

J u s t A d d Wa t e r To Yo u r L i f e s t y l e

WAT E R F R ONT

To Your Lifestyle

COA S TAL L I VI NG

Looking

for an Oceanfront Cottage, a home on the waterway with a deep-water dock, a golf course or even a condo at the beach? We have the keys to your dreams. When working with the Linda Rike team you will have access to all the various properties available on the Crystal Coast, as well as the ins and outs of Coastal living.

Buying or selling, the experienced Linda Rike real estate team will help you start the next chapter of your life.

CO M MER C I A L

1410 Arendell Street • Morehead City

252.247.6922 • lindarike.com

REAL LOCALS. REAL SUCCESS.

DIAMOND SPONSOR of the

BIG ROCK TOURNAMENT

PROUD SPONSOR OF

1`

THE GEAR

THAT GETS YOU THERE APPAREL, SUNGLASSES AND MORE AT SALTLIFE.COM

BUILT FOR FISHING PELAGICGEAR.COM

Every Woman Wants a Bailey Box

Family Owned & Operated Since 1948 Raleigh, NC | Cary, NC | Rocky Mount, NC | Greenville, NC | Los Angeles, CA www.baileybox.com

Q E Follow along on social @BaileysFineJewelry to see all of our amazing sparkle!

B I G RO C K B LUE M AR LIN TO U R N AM E N T

The best catch in environmental services

Contents

FEATURES

65 Residential Collection • Commercial Collection • Industrial Collection

50 Big Rock Big Hero

Created to honor service members with an unforgettable fishing experience

65 Back-to-Back Million Dollar Contributions

For the second year in a row, the Big Rock Foundation donated over a million

78 2022 Winner’s Circle

The 64th tournament was another year of record-breaking prizes and participation

94 Meet the Fleet

The directory of boats that participated in the 2022 Big Rock

111 Can Do Too Claims the 2022 KWLA Title Can Do Too won the record-breaking KWLA tournament

138 Big Rock Event Schedule

The ten-day schedule of events at a glance

145 The Great Marlin Race: Big Fish Go Far When you tag a marlin, you can see just how far they go

151 Big Rock History

You might not know exactly how humble Big Rock’s beginnings were

162 In Memory Of…

We honor those in the fishing community who have recently passed

ROCK’N SHOTS

54 58 64 74 76 90

Awards Brunch Captain’s Party Sunday Prayer Breakfast Participant Pig Pickin’ Big Rock Headquarters Weigh Station Action

92 93 120 121 122 161

Sponsor’s Reception Pork Chop Dinner KWLA Weigh-Ins KWLA Best Dressed KWLA Party Big Rock Staff + Volunteers

BIG ROCK TOURNAMENT

30 39 56 66 84 131 133

Big Rock Sponsors Meet the Board of Directors Big Rock Kids Tournament Charities Big Rock Foundation Registration Form Tournament Rules

138 Map 139 Polygraph Requirements 142 T-Shirt Retailers 146 Big Rock By The Numbers 148 Big Rock License Plates 158 Winners Over the Years

KWLA TOURNAMENT

110 112 113 112

Proud sponsors of the Big Rock Tournament.

Help keep our oceans clean for life!

KWLA Winner’s Circle KWLA Fleet KWLA Sponsors KWLA Artist

116 117 126 127

KWLA Charity Mission KWLA By The Numbers KWLA Registration KWLA Rules

EXTRAS

Visit gflenv.com for more information.

24 39 62

Governor’s Letter President’s Message Big Rock Online

168 Index of Sponsors 169 Glossary

Green Today. Green For Life. | 252.223.4176 @bigrock tournament THEBIGROCK.COM »

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@bigrockfishing

THEBIGROCK.COM

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From the Office of North Carolina State

GOVERNOR ROY COOPER 20301 MAIL SERVICE CENTER | RALEIGH, NC 27699-0301

DEAR FRIENDS…

Welcome to the beautiful North Carolina Crystal Coast and to the Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

This is an exciting and much-anticipated event, not only for those fishing, but for everyone who comes to share in the fun.

Over 65 years ago, the idea for the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament was started by Dick Parker and four other avid fishermen to celebrate the area’s passion for fishing. It has evolved into one of the country’s best-known billfish tournaments and has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years to charities across North Carolina. This year will be no exception.

I hope you will have an oportunity to enjoy all that this area of our state has to offer, from beautiful beaches to traditional local seafood and important historical sites. As you do so, please remember to follow health protocols so that we can protect ourselves and our neighbors. My best wishes for a very successful, safe and enjoyable tournament.

Your Residential Elevator Specialist

With kind regards, I am very truly yours,

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GOVERNOR ROY COOPER

AVAILABLE IN TWO STATE-OF-THE-ART MODELS

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143 Industrial Dr. Morehead City, NC 28557

877.720.0075

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Learn More

BIG ROCK

Major Sponsor

BIG ROCK

LINDARIKE.COM

PELAGICGEAR.COM

Bringing you the largest selection of waterfront properties in Carteret County.

Combining technical fishing apparel with casual lifestyle wear, Pelagic is driven by an undying thirst to unite a global community of men and women with a brand name that identifies with a single love for fishing and the ocean.

Just add water to your lifestyle.

Official Real Estate Company Since 1998

J

Made for the water, built for fishing .

J A R R E T T B AY . C O M ICW MM198 | BEAUFORT, NC

ARRETT BAY BOATWORKS, founded in 1986, has delivered more than 100 custom and semiproduction sportfishing boats and services more than one thousand boats per year through their 175-acre Jarrett Bay Marine Park.

Recognized as an ABBRA Boatyard of the Year, named the 2015 North Carolina Manufacturer of the Year, and two-time recipient of Best Power Yacht 50–100 Feet Refit Excellence awards, Jarrett

Diamond Sponsors

Parker

Bay has more than 200 employees and 135,000 square feet of building space, making it one of the East Coast’s largest and most respected allinclusive boating facilities.

Auto Group

MICHELOB ULTRA.COM Michelob ULTRA is the superior light beer.

With just 95 calories and 2.6 carbs, you can enjoy the crisp, refreshing taste of Michelob ULTRA without compromising your active lifestyle.

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PA R K E R H O N D A . C O M 5 3 2 7 H I G H WAY 7 0 MOREHEAD CITY

PA R K E R G M . C O M 4813 ARENDELL STREET MOREHEAD CITY

Carteret County’s most comfortable car buying for over 75 years.

F I R S TC I T I Z E N S.CO M

SPONSOR SALTLIFE.COM Shop Salt Life’s beach clothing shop for boardshorts, decals, and apparel.

Beach-goers wear the Salt Life brand and proudly display our stickers.

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THEBIGROCK.COM »

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First Citizens has been helping people and businesses with their financial decisions for more than a century. As one of the largest familycontrolled banks in the U.S., we have more than 550 branches and an extensive ATM network, as well as telephone and digital banking services—so you can bank the way you want. Our bankers are here to help when what you need is someone to talk to. About your money, your business and your future. First Citizens Bank. Forever First®.

MEMBER FDIC.

OFFICIAL WEIGH STATION SPONSOR

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BIG ROCK

Platinum Sponsors

BIG ROCK

Event Sponsors

COLLINSBOATING.COM

Collins, Inc. is family owned since 1956, we strive to provide the best in service and selection!

Located in Smithfield, we are convenient to all of Eastern North Carolina.

Eastern NC’s Fishing Boat Headquarters

YAMAHAOUTBOARDS.COM

Yamaha Outboards has proudly operated in the U.S. market for nearly 30 years and has become synonymous with innovation, performance and legendary reliability.

CALCUTTAFISHING.COM

EJWOUTDOORS.COM

ELEVATORSC.COM

BAILEYBOX.COM

Calcutta is one of the most widely recognized brands in the recreational fishing industry, with product categories that include fishing tools, tackle bags, sunglasses, rainwear and technical fishing apparel.

EJW Outdoors has everything the sportsman needs, including hunting and fishing licenses.

A full-service bait and tackle shop with Penn, Shimano, and Berkley Gulp. Inhouse reel repairs and spooling. Largest Star Rod dealer in the area.

Southeastern Elevator is the Carolinas’ leader in residential elevator sales, installation and service. We are proud to offer the CoastLine950 residential series to add the value, luxury, and mobility your home needs with the exceptional customer service experience you deserve.

Three generations of our family serving your family.... one Bailey Box at a time.

BLUEWATERYACHTSALES.COM

CUMMINS.COM

MERCURYMARINE.COM

Your dealer for Viking, Jarrett Bay, Valhalla and Everglades, and leader in service and brokerage sales.

Quality performance engines for recreational, sportfishing and light-duty commercial use.

Providing after-sales support worldwide.

The leading manufacturer of recreational marine engines. Easy-to-use products backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world.

WEDNESDAY DINNER CO-SPONSOR

CAPTAIN’S PARTY SPONSOR

PIG PICKIN’ CO-SPONSOR

Celebrating 75 Years In Business

SOUTHEASTERNFOUNDRIES.COM

TOWNCREEKMARINA.COM

GREGORYPOOLE.COM

Established in 1954 to provide the highest quality non-ferrous castings at the most competitive price and deliver that casting in a timely manner.

All the amenities you expect from a full-service marina in an atmosphere of relaxation & Southern hospitality will put you immediately at ease.

High-performance marine engines with local professional service teams.

PRAYER BREAKFAST SPONSOR

WEDNESDAY DINNER CO-SPONSOR

PIG PICKIN’ CO-SPONSOR

BIG ROCK

CROSLEY.COM

ISLANDXPERTEES.COM

NAPAONLINE.COM

GFLENV.COM

SUNBRELLA.COM

Crosley has a longstanding history of innovation and quality. From our beginning in electronics, to today with world-class appliances, we have prided ourselves on our high-quality, value-priced products.

Crosley, means superior service and exceptional value.

Island Xpertees is the only screen printing source you need. From custom T-shirts for your home business to branding your Fortune 500 company, we have you covered.

NAPA is America’s first choice for automotive parts and accessories, specialty and marine parts, and equipment for the collision repair, heavy duty and industrial markets.

GFL Environmental is a leading North American provider of diversified environmental solutions. Recognized by our fleet of wellmaintained, bright green trucks, we offer a robust, sophisticated approach to meeting our customers’ environmental service requirements.

Sunbrella Marine fabrics are designed to perform, look good and last on the water. With proven durability, waterproofing, UV protection and bleach cleanability, Sunbrella Marine fabric gives boaters, OEMs and fabricators what they need to create the extraordinary in marine applications.

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EDCURE.ORG

ALBEMARLEBOATS.COM

PARKERBOATS.COM

WESTERNBRANCHDIESEL.COM

Blissful moments aren’t planned. Visit EDCure.org or call 1-844-4ED-CURE to learn about the most common— and treatable—men’s urological conditions.

We are committed to building the best sportfishing boats in the world and to sportfishing as recreation. We consistently exceed expectations in quality, value, innovation, service and pure enjoyment through a total commitment to excellence throughout our company.

Our boats are overbuilt and quality made, hand-hewn to ensure that the boatbuilding legacy of quality and skill imprinted upon our working hands since the late 1960s is forged into every detail of our boats.

Western Branch Diesel is your authorized distributor and service provider for MTU, Detroit, Allison Transmission and Volvo Penta.

SUPER 20 WINNERTAKE-ALL SPONSOR

WINNER-TAKE-ALL DAILY RELEASE SPONSOR

DOLPHIN WINNERTAKE-ALL-SPONSOR

FABULOUS FISHERMAN’S SPONSOR

BEAUFORTHOTELNC.COM

CONTENDEROFFSHORE.COM STARLINGMARINE.COM

Family owned in Carteret County since 2002, we have built a reputation as a dependable, trustworthy and knowledgeable team of professionals capable of handling any window and door project. We offer a great customer experience, the highest quality products and fair prices. Let us help you make your project one you will love for years to come.

This resort-style hotel is minutes to Beaufort’s historic district, Crystal Coast beaches, Cape Lookout Lighthouse, Shackleford Banks and the Rachel Carson Reserve.

Contender’s boat building philosophy uses the most advanced materials and quality components available.

GAMEFISH SPONSOR

OUTBOARD LEVEL X SPONSOR

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THEBIGROCK.COM »

WINDOWSANDMORENC.COM

Product Sponsors

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TXTAV.CO

TITOSVODKA.COM

For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation has empowered talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands. We have the most versatile and comprehensive aviation portfolio in the world, and a trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.

America’s original craft vodka, distilled and bottled in Austin, Texas. Crafted to be savored responsibly.

CAPTAIN’S PARTY BAR SPONSOR

OFFICIAL VODKA

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BIG ROCK

Display Sponsors

C & C Industrial, Inc. CCINDUSTRIAL.COM A full-line industrial and commercial concrete contractor. Projects ranging from apartment complexes, drug stores and office strips to churches, theaters and multi-story bank centers. Now including laser screed services. Post tension certified.

COSTADELMAR.COM Dedicated to producing the highest quality sun lens in the world.

Official Sunglasses

UNDERARMOUR.COM

T H E 6 5 TH A N N U A L

Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament

Under Armour creates state-of-the-art products engineered to make athletes better and to maintain peak performance. Whether you’re 50 miles offshore, or 50 minutes from weigh-in, you put your trust in your gear, not the local weatherman.

Executive Director MADISON STRUYK

Foundation Director CRYSTAL HESMER

KWLA Director | Big Rock Kids Director CARLEE SHARPE SEAKEEPER.COM

SORDTOOLS.COM

BILLFISHGEAR.COM HOOKSUNGLASSES.COM

Seakeeper is a world leader in marine stabilization, virtually eliminating boat roll at anchor or underway. Now bringing stabilization to boats 30 feet and above.

A brand for people who are crazy about fishing. People who abuse every product that they get their hands on. Who expect their gear to hold up for as long as they are alive. We design our products for you.

Billfish Gear and Hook Optics are teaming up! At Billfish Gear, we enhance outdoor performance through technical products. See that bite like you’ve never seen it before with Hook Optic polarized lenses designed by fishermen.

BASKHOTEL.COM

BIG ROCK

Bask Hotel @ Big Rock Landing is an upscale waterfront hotel located in downtown Morehead City. Bask has one and twobedroom suites with living rooms, full kitchens, and balconies overlooking the water. Come enjoy a relaxing and refreshing experience at Bask Hotel @ Big Rock Landing.

Retail Operations TYSON WATSON

Retail Assistant MOLLY HARTY

Accounting PHIL COLLINS

Media Coordinator BAILEY PAGE

Event Coordinator MICHELLE WARREN

Publisher THE BIG ROCK BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT

Kitty Hawk Wind is a clean energy project that will be located off the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia. It will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately one million homes and businesses.

Graphics + Design CHEVY KAYLOR

Gold Sponsors RYAN BALL GRACE BELL

Program Photography FISH HUNT PHOTO TRIWORK STUDIOS ISAIAH WALKER MARK COGDELL

CRYSTAL HESMER MADISON STRUYK

Contributors

DYLAN RAY ASHLEY FITZGERALD

BRUCE PAUL CARLEE SHARPE

Official Tournament Artist LARRY RACKLEY Live-Streaming Videography JOSH ROBINSON—TRIWORK STUDIOS Program Printing MARTIN PRINTING 7 1 0 E VA N S S T R E E T | M O R E H E A D C I T Y | N O RT H C A R O L I N A

GULF DOCK 34

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©2023 by The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial, photography or other content in whole or part without prior written permission is prohibited. The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament assumes no responsibility for the advertisements, or any representation made therein.

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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Built to be a flat-out

FISHING MACHINE Proven to raise fish and Carolina tough, the Albemarle 36 Express has already established itself as one of the most sought-after sportfishing boats on the water.

HAPPY P a r t n e rs A gre e

Volvo Penta — Now powering the 36 Express and other Albemarle models.

www.johnsontowers.com Authorized distributor and dealer for Volvo Penta

2023 Big Rock.indd 2

2/7/2023 9:25:54 AM

Blissful moments aren’t planned.

Visit EDCure.org or call 1-844-4ED-CURE to discover implants for Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

EDCure.org is a website sponsored by Boston Scientific. @2022 Boston Scientific Corporation or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Rx only. MH-954204-AA FEB 2021

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Meet the Big Rock Board of Directors

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Jack Jordan, Casey Wagner, Howard Basnight, Roger Crowe, Jim Bailey, Randy Ramsey, Mike Thompson, Billy Kornegay, Dew Forbes. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Richard Crowe, Carol Lohr (director emeritus), Joy Bell, Caroline Petrilli, Dale Britt, Emery Ivey. a message from emery ivey

Big Rock Board President

I Emery Ivey

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2016

An Eastern North Carolina businessman, Emery Ivey joined the Big Rock Board of Directors in the fall of 2016, bringing a fresh perspective to the inner workings of the board.

t’s my pleasure to welcome you to the 65th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

Who could’ve predicted that a catch on September 14, 1957, would shape the world of sportfishing as we know it? Having had the opportunity to watch the tournament flourish since I was a young man, I can attest that it wouldn’t be where it is today without the loyalty of our anglers, sponsors, and Big Rock family.

Just 65 years ago, the winning prize for the tournament was a mere $250 in silver dollars.

That pales in comparison to the 2022 purse totaling $5,858,875— and the industry-record payout of $3,489,813 that Mercenaria claimed for their 572.6-pound blue marlin. As I reflect on the small group of businessmen, also known as the “Fabulous Fishermen,” that founded the tournament, I’m reminded of the exponential growth we’ve experienced over the last six and a half decades. Year after year, the tournament evolves to meet everchanging demands, technology, and conditions, but the mission of growing the sport and supporting the community remains stronger than ever.

This year we are not only celebrating 65 years of sportfishing excellence but another year of giving $1 million to charity. To date, the tournament has given $8,567,448 to deserving organizations. It is the Big Rock Foundation’s work that makes Carteret County the place we are proud to welcome you to.

“Year after year, the tournament evolves ... but the mission of growing the sport and supporting the community remains stronger than ever.”

EMERY IVEY BIG ROCK PRESIDENT 2022–2023

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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The board of directors and staff have worked diligently to make the 65th anniversary one for the books. I encourage you to enjoy the celebration and camaraderie that the Big Rock week is known for. Who knows, you could be the lucky winner.

Again, thank you for joining us for the 65th anniversary of the Big Rock Tournament.

Together, the tradition continues.

Best wishes and tight lines,

EmeryIvey

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MEET THE

Big Rock Board of Directors

MEET THE

Dale Britt

Joy Bell

PAST PRESIDENT 2017–2019 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2011

PAST PRESIDENT 2019–2021 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1992

After many special years on the Morehead City waterfront running the Sensation, Dale has transitioned to another Jarrett Bay, the private boat Weldors Ark. When not fun or tournament fishing Dale works with his family-owned business, Britt Development Company. He loves everything about the Big Rock, but especially the mission of “charity first.” He and his wife, Jane, are proud to call Morehead City home.

Joy Bell has given hours and hours of free time as the Big Rock accountant, with a lot of special attention during Big Rock Tournament week. Having fished the KWLA for many years, Joy and her team won first place Billfish Release in 2017.

Joy is an enthusiastic angler and is Tax Director in the firm of PBMares.

Tommy Bennett

Les Collins

PAST PRESIDENT 2007–2009 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1987

VICE PRESIDENT BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2015

A native of Morehead City, Tommy currently serves as Chairman of the Big Rock Charity Committee. An avid fisherman, Tommy particularly enjoys flyfishing for everything from tailing drum to sailfish. He is an independent insurance agent, and lives in Morehead City with his wife, Wanda.

Les has worked over 33 years in the outboard boating industry as president and owner of Collins, Inc., in Smithfield, North Carolina. An Eagle Scout and avid waterman, Les spends countless hours boating, fishing and hunting in eastern North Carolina. Les has maintained a residence at 8½ Marina Village since 2002.

Jack Jordan

SECRETARY BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1999

Richard has served on the board of directors since 1999. He has fished the Big Rock since 1976 and maintains a residence in 8½ Marina Village here in Carteret County. Richard is president of Delta Equipment Enterprises, Inc.

Dew Forbes

PAST PRESIDENT 2005–2007 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1998

PAST PRESIDENT 1999–2001, 2012–2014 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1991

Roger Crowe

Caroline Petrilli

Jack is executive vice president of Jordan Lumber and Supply, Inc., in Mount Gilead, North Carolina. He has maintained a local residence at 8½ Marina Village for over 30 years.

Attorney Roger Crowe provides legal support and sound advice to the Big Rock Board during the tournament and throughout the year.

Caroline grew up in Carteret County with a love of sport fishing. In 2014, she was awarded Top Female Angler in the North Carolina Governor’s Cup. She is now a CPA at PBMares in Morehead City.

Randy Ramsey Richard Crowe

Big Rock Board of Directors

PAST PRESIDENT | BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1987

Randy is the founder of Jarrett Bay Boatworks and currently serves as vice president of Safe Harbor Jarrett Bay. He has been involved in the boating and fishing industries his whole life, including running a fishing charter, marine surveying, building boats and now running one of the world’s leading custom boat manufacturing and service facilities. Randy is also a dealer principal at Bluewater Yacht Sales.

Randy is very involved in the community and serves on many nonprofit boards. He has served on the Big Rock board for more than 35 years. Randy lives in Carteret County with his wife, Tiffany.

PAST PRESIDENT 1993–1995 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1991

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2016

Casey Wagner

As a previous charter boat captain, Dew provides valuable input as Rules Committee chairman during the tournament week and throughout the year.

He and his wife, Valorie, live in Beaufort.

Howard Basnight

PAST PRESIDENT 1988–1992, 2012–2013 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1985

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1991

A Morehead City native and avid sport fisherman, Casey Wagner has fished in every Big Rock tournament since 1973, and will fish this year on his boat, Inspiration. He is the owner of Spectrum Rental Properties, specializing in luxury vacation rentals in Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Beaufort and Down East. Casey lives in Morehead City with his wife, Ruth.

A former charter and private boat captain as well as a former Rules Committee member, Howard brings good advice to the table. His historical catch of a 1002-pound “grander” blue marlin on August 12, 1989, will keep him in the record books for years to come. Howard has served on the Board of Directors for over 30 years.

Directors Emeritus P

lease join us in thanking our retired board members for their service over the years.

Mike Thompson

Jim Bailey

Billy Kornegay

TREASURER BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2006

PAST PRESIDENT 1997–1999 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1992

PAST PRESIDENT 2001–2003, 2015–2017 BOARD MEMBER SINCE 1981

Mike, a former charter boat captain and avid waterman, first began his association with the Big Rock tissue sampling for mercury and selenium content at Duke Marine Lab in 1974. Mike owns and manages Multi-Services, Inc., a telecommunication and financial services firm. Mike and his wife, Connie, live on Harkers Island.

Jim is the owner of the Anchorage Marina in Atlantic Beach and is an active realtor and a developer of waterfront properties in the Carteret County area. He and his wife live in Atlantic Beach surrounded by water and boat slips at their marina.

Billy has supported Big Rock in many areas, including running the committee boat from 1986 to 1998 and fishing the tournament aboard the Sugar Bear since 1972. He is coowner and CEO of Eastern Wrecker Sales, Inc, and has maintained a residence at 8½ Marina Village for over 40 years.

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Curtis Strange

BOARD MEMBER SINCE 2003

Curtis brings extensive knowledge, experience and insight in marketing, promotion and event management. His extensive accomplishments include being a two-time U.S. Open champion and threetime Player of the Year. In 2007, Curtis was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

He makes Morehead City his full-time residence with his wife, Sarah.

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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BEN MOORE

LONNIE POOLE

CAROL LOHR 41

CRYSTAL COAST Specializing in High Quality Concrete Boom Pump and Laser Screed Services!

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“BUILDING FOUNDATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME” C&C Industrial, Inc. has been providing quality concrete services since 1992.

Centrally located along Interstate 95 in Eastern NC, we are well-positioned to serve the

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Service & Repair Boating Supplies

Tri-State Area. We are a full-line industrial and commercial concrete contractor with projects

BIG FISH WISHES TO ALL BIG ROCK ANGLERS!

ranging in size from apartment complexes & condominiums, multi-story hotels & mixed-use developments, office centers, shipping & distribution hubs, parking decks, industrial & manufacturing facilities, warehouses, large retail establishments, and more.

4957 Arendell St. Morehead City

252.247.6667

StarlingMarine.com

Mo-Tito

Blue Marlin

Black Marlin

Tito’s Salty Dog

Tito’s Bloody Mary

America’s Original Craft Vodka

Tito’s All-Time Favorite Sailfish

The Código Team wishes you tight lines while you fish the 65th Big Rock Tournament.

Who’d have thought wild horses and an untamed sea could bring you so much peace.

Discover the “Best Boutique Hotel in America” named by USA Today! Brilliant sunsets. Gentle breezes.

Glimpses of wild horses across Taylor’s Creek. It’s hard to imagine a more peaceful setting than the Beaufort Hotel. Our venue combines the most luxurious accommodations and delicious hand-crafted cuisine with the vintage charms of North Carolina’s third-oldest town. So you can spend your time exploring the past and relaxing in the present. Where your Outer Banks adventure begins.

2440 Lennoxville Road | Beaufort, NC 28516 | (252) 728-3000 | BeaufortHoteINC.com

POWER WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST

Photo by Fish Hunt Photo

www.gregorypoole.com/marine

PRESENTED BY

BIG ROCK

Big Hero

Accordingly IV Viking [76’] Swansboro, NC OWNER

Accordingly II LLC CAPTAIN

Peter DuBose

Builder’s Choice Jarrett Bay [64’] New Bern, NC

U.S. ARMY STAFF SERGEANT

Clay Carver

YEARS OF SERVICE: 10

STATION

Fort Benning, Georgia

HOMETOWN

Raleigh, North Carolina

U.S. COAST GUARD BOATSWAIN’S MATE 1 ST CLASS

Darren McLaughlin YEARS OF SERVICE: 10

STATION

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

HOMETOWN

Raleigh, North Carolina

OWNER

Harris Huddle CAPTAIN

Brent Gaskill

Can Do Too Viking [52’] Stuart, FL OWNER

Sid Gold

CAPTAIN

Skip Lecain

WHAT IS

Big Rock Big Hero?

B

ig Rock Big Hero presented by Salt Life was created in 2018 as a way to honor active duty servicemen and women.

“Our vision for the Big Rock, Big Hero experience was to provide deserving servicemembers with an unforgettable fishing adventure. All of us at the Big Rock are forever grateful for their service to our country and this was just a small way of showing our appreciation,” explains Foundation Director Crystal Hesmer.

Family members and friends nominate their hero by sharing inspiring stories of their loved one’s loyalty to our country. We are humbled by each submission.

Service members are hosted on world-class sport fishing boats alongside elite anglers who are honored to welcome them aboard. Thank you to our hosts of 2022, pictured at right. We are thrilled for the sixth annual Big Rock Big Hero this year!

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El Cazador

U.S. ARMY SERGEANT FIRST CLASS

Nathan Fair

YEARS OF SERVICE: 18

STATION

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

HOMETOWN

Cottonwood, Arizona

U.S. NAVY COMMANDER

Matthew Michalowicz YEARS OF SERVICE: 23

STATION

Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

HOMETOWN

Pasadena, Maryland

Ricky Scarborough [85’] Quitman, TX OWNER

El Cazador Management LLC CAPTAIN

Paul Alderman

Job Site Viking [55’] Morehead City, NC OWNER + CAPTAIN

Bill Farrior

U.S. MARINE CORPS GUNNERY SERGEANT

Nicholas J. Harrel YEARS OF SERVICE: 19

STATION

Cherry Point, North Carolina 65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

HOMETOWN

THEBIGROCK.COM »

Kingman, Kansas 65

U.S. ARMY COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR

Jacob Provence YEARS OF SERVICE: 24

STATION

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

HOMETOWN

Kansas City, Kansas

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Crowe &Godwin AT T O R N E Y S AT L AW

The largest billfish tournaments in North Carolina are proud to present the NC Billfish Series. The seven NC Billfish Series tournaments team up with weigh masters Randy Gregory and George Lott to recognize and award the best tournament boats and anglers in North Carolina. The mission of the NC Billfish Series is to promote North Carolina’s billfish tournaments, sportsmanship, marine conservation, and competition in our world renown offshore fishery.

Competing boats will be awarded points for billfish released or landed in NC Billfish Series tournaments with trophies for the overall winner, top private and charter boat for the best three out of eight tournaments plus points for participating in each tournament. Trophies will be awarded for the largest blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo. A “special” award will be given to the boat with most total points (total points awarded for all tournaments) and individual awards will be given for outstanding junior boy, junior girl and lady angler.

The NC Billfish Series looks forward to the 65th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament where Series’ boats will be looking for big catches to gain valuable points. Please follow along the fishing action through our NC Billfish Series website (www.ncbillfishseries.com) and social media posts! Good Fishing!!!

2023 NC Billfish Series Tournaments

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Members of our firm have been recognized for legal excellence by Best Lawyers in America® and have been named among the Top 100 Criminal Trial Lawyers in North Carolina. Our firm has been recognized by U.S. News as one of the Best Law Firms.

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ROCK’N SHOTS

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ROCK’N SHOTS

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PRESERVE YESTERDAY, PROSPER TODAY, PROTECT TOMORROW

JR. ANGLERS 280 69

TOTAL BOATS

$172,375 TOTAL PURSE SAVE THE DATE: JULY 12TH -15TH, 2023

A total of 69 boats competed in the Second Annual Big Rock Kids Tournament. All teams took Thursday as a lay day due to inclement weather.

Within two days of fishing, 280 junior anglers racked up 40 billfish releases. The daily weigh-ins saw 72 dolphin and 42 wahoo. Over 65 trophies were awarded to anglers for their impressive catches and participation!

DONE DEAL claimed first place after releasing 3 blue marlin on Saturday. This secured their win for the Level I & II Total Release and Level III Daily Release, for a grand total of $57,500 in earnings.

3

Captain Mark Chambers put the Jr. Anglers of DUE SOUTH on the fish on both Friday & Saturday, releasing 1 Blue, 3 Sailfish, and 1 unverified Blue for a total of 1025 points, and $21,985 in prize money.

FIN PLANNER took home third place worth $12,990 for two blue marlin releases. Other notable wins include DEVELOPIN' HABITS 38.9lb. dolphin which scored them $17,595 and the top dolphin in the 2022 NC Billfish Series! FIN PRINT landed a 32.3lb. wahoo worth $16,830.

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FAMILY. FUN. FISHING!

REGISTER NOW AT WWW.THEBIGROCK.COM/KIDS 56

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GET THE

ALL TOURNAMENTS!

Big Rock App Online Registration thebigrock.com/registration BOAT + ANGLER LEADERBOARDS LIVE SCORING LIVE AUDIO + VIDEO AT WEIGH-INS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

PHOTO GALLERY FOLLOW BOATS WITH NOTIFICATIONS MESSAGES FROM THE TOURNAMENT PARTICIPANT CONTENT

APP TUTORIALS! HOW TO ADD ANGLERS HOW TO SUBMIT A LAYDAY UPDATE YOUR BOAT PHOTO

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CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT Customize your boat profile Manage your captain and crew Add tournament anglers

EASY PAY Multiple payment options available, including MasterCard, Visa and American Express

FAST AND FLEXIBLE Get your registration handled instantly Have the flexibility and control of handling changes yourself through your account 65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

BIG ROCK

Charitable Giving

ROCK’N SHOTS

Sunday Prayer Breakfast Back-to-Back Million Dollar Contributions

F

MISSION STATEMENT t To promote sportfishing throughout Carteret County and the state of North Carolina

t To promote conservation among sportfishermen

t To raise money for charities and worthy community projects.

t To preserve maritime culture and heritage

t To promote marine education

or the second year in a row, the Big Rock Foundation has contributed $ 1 million to charity! Following a record-breaking tournament season with industry-record payouts, the real winners this year are Big Rock charities.

The Big Rock Foundation designates 140,000 to a group of core charities and encourages other organizations to apply for grants for higher-impact projects.

Determining who will receive funding is a difficult task.

“With the phenomenal success of the tournaments, we are blessed to be able to make such a significant impact on our community through tournament participation, sponsor support, and retail sales,” stated Madison Struyk, executive director.

“We run out of money before we run out of good causes,” explained Foundation Director Crystal Hesmer. “We continue to seek further outside funding through private donations to enable the foundation to give even more to the community.”

Recipients gathered at Big Rock Landing for the Giving Tuesday ceremony, announcing the grand contribution. “As I look around, I see the fabric of our great community.

First responders, teachers, healthcare workers, and the great organizations that makeup Morehead City,” commented tournament President Emery Ivey.

The 18-member Big Rock board of directors volunteer their time and efforts to ensure the tournament is able to make generous charitable contributions annually. The board president appoints a charity committee each year to carefully review all requests for funding.

The entire process is driven by the fit between Big Rock’s five-point mission statement (left) and the destination of the year’s charitable funds. The 2022 Tournament Charity Committee consisted of Tommy Bennett, Chairman; Curtis Strange; Joy Bell; Billy Kornegay; Emery Ivey; and Caroline Petrilli.

The Big Rock Foundation continued to support Carteret County schools this year with a contribution of $376,000 to various schools. The Carteret County school system has received over $1.3 million in funding over the past 35 years.

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THEBIGROCK.COM »

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$

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BIG ROCK

Boy Scouts of America

Charity First IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL CHARITIES THAT RECEIVE ONGOING, YEARLY SUPPORT FROM BIG ROCK (p67–70), THE FOUNDATION ALSO ANNUALLY REVIEWS NEW, HIGH-IMPACT PROJECTS THAT ALIGN WITH ITS CORE VALUES AND MISSION STATEMENT: TO PROMOTE SPORTFISHING, CONSERVATION, CHARITY, MARITIME CULTURE AND MARINE EDUCATION.

143,000

$

Core Charities 2022

2 0 2 2 D O N AT I O N

EAST CAROLINA COUNCIL

F

or more than 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been providing character education and citizenship training to America’s young men in a setting that encourages them to take charge. The leadership training that local youth get in Scouting is unmatched, as is the support from local communities. The support that the East Carolina Council gets from the Big Rock Foundation has played a vital part in ensuring that the movement continues to improve the lives of all its scouts and their families.

East Carolina Council serves more than 10,000 youth and more than 2,900 volunteer adult leaders in 20 Eastern NC counties, including along the Crystal Coast. Scouts participate in unique learning experiences that help them develop their appreciation, skills and leadership abilities for good stewardship of our land and water resources.

East Carolina Council provides facilities and

T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

161,000

$

programs for use by Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops and Venturing Crews. Interested public groups can take part in interactive, hands-on learning that will develop our future leaders at several locations.

The East Carolina Scout Reservation, our main camping area, encompasses Camp Boddie, the Pamlico Sea Base and the PotashCorp ECO Lodge in Blount’s Creek, on the Pamlico River east of Chocowinity.

Toward the coast, there is Camp Sam Hatcher in Newport and to the west, in Bailey, is Camp Charles. Programs at these camps are sure to provide a fun, engaging outdoor experience that is sure to enrich the lives of visitors and their families.

History Museum of Carteret County

T

MOREHEAD CITY

he History Museum of Carteret County received a building renovation grant of $143,000 in 2022 for a much-needed new roof and HVAC replacement.

In May of 2023, the museum will unveil its new Big Rock gallery exhibit, featuring its first look at the history of Big Rock, KWLA and Big Rock Kids. The exhibit will highlight the tournament’s early years, showcasing conservation and the charities it supports throughout the community. This visual and educational exhibit will be open to the public through the summer.

CONTINUING THE TRADITION: CHARITY FIRST

One-Time Contributions

Arts Council of Carteret County...............................................$10,000 Beaufort Elementary School.....................................................$50,000 Beaufort Middle School...........................................................$65,000 Bogue Sound Elementary School..............................................$78,000 Bridge Down East...................................................................$60,000 Carteret Preschool..................................................................$20,000 Croatan High School Track and Field........................................$18,000 Crystal Coast Cancer Rehabilitation..........................................$10,000 Delta Health Foundation.........................................................$10,000 East Carteret High School Band...............................................$50,000 Gramercy Christian School......................................................$30,000

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Hope is Alive Ministries...........................................................$50,000 Mile of Hope Foundation...........................................................$5,000 Military Appreciation Day........................................................$10,000 Misplaced Mutts........................................................................$5,000 Morehead City Fire/EMS........................................................$12,000 Morehead City Little League....................................................$47,000 Morehead City Primary School.................................................$55,000 Newport Middle School...........................................................$40,000 Tag-A-Giant Foundation..........................................................$65,000 The History Place..................................................................$143,000 GRAND TOTAL of One Time Donations................................$833,000 65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

The Broad Street Clinic

T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

117,600

$

T

he Broad Street Clinic has been providing free medical and pharmaceutical services to uninsured and underinsured residents of Carteret County and surrounding areas since 1993.

Patients must meet financial qualifications, and must also qualify medically by having one of five chronic diseases: heart disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, hypertension or thyroid disease.

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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BELIEVING IN CARING + SERVING

Free medical care is provided by over 40 health care providers, who volunteer weekly to ensure patient needs are met.

Currently the clinic has over 900 active patients. The clinic continues to offer a regular medical clinic, an eye clinic, a gynecological clinic and a limited dental clinic.

The Broad Street Clinic is a member of the National Association of Free Clinics and a member of the NC Association of Free Clinics. Funds received from

the Big Rock Foundation are used for general operating expenses and to purchase medicines and supplies.

It takes 70 volunteer hours each week with the supervision from four pharmacists to ensure patients receive their medications.

In 2017, more than 22,000 prescriptions were dispensed from the BSC pharmacy—a value of $3 million.

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BIG ROCK

$

Core Charities 2022

BIG ROCK

Crystal Coast Hospice House

T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

101,600

TO CHERISH LIFE’S EVERY MOMENT

Core Charities 2022

T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

209,500

$

C

rystal Coast Hospice House provides a warm and supportive environment for terminally ill hospice patients and their loved ones who wish to be by their side.

$

83,000

Hope Mission of Carteret County

SERVING OTHERS WITH MANY HANDS AND ONE HEART Hope Mission of Carteret County, Inc., is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Hope Mission serves the Carteret County community by providing food, shelter, emergency financial assistance and other means of support such as emotional support, mentoring and counseling.

At Hope Mission, we believe that homeless folks and those that are on the edge or have substance abuse issues have lost their sense of identity. These folks feel as though they are standing alone against the whole world, and they become discouraged from thinking that life can ever be any better. They lose hope. At Hope Mission, we do everything we can to give them back that sense of belonging. We believe this is vital to their ability to transition back to the full and rewarding lives God intended them to live.

Our volunteers come from all over the county, including many who are vacationing in the area, fall in love with our mission and want to extend a helping hand to a fellow human being.

MEALS SERVED IN 2021

NIGHTS OF S H E LT E R 2 0 2 1

39,150 2,110

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EMERGENCY A S S I S TA N C E 2 0 2 1

26,589

$

T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

Martha’s Mission Cupboard

W

MAKING A DIFFERENCE WHEN PEOPLE HELP + SHARE

e at Martha’s Mission are especially thankful to the Big Rock for the donations we receive each year.

This year your money was spent on our operation. We have had many new clients and we have been seeing more people. Your wonderful donation is what keeps us going, especially during the first part of the year when we are trying to restock our food.

Martha’s Mission is an emergency food bank, which is entirely made possible by donations and volunteers.

We provide food to an average of between 300 and 350 families every month. Families in need of food are screened and referred to us by state federal social service agencies in Carteret County. The amount of food given to each family depends on the number of people in the family.

Martha’s Mission Cupboard is solely run by volunteers, and was established to provide the needy citizens of Carteret County with a temporary supply of nutritious and balanced food at no cost.

Our goal is to tide them over during a temporary financial crisis or while they are awaiting permanent assistance from the state or federal government.

Hospice is specialized, comprehensive care for terminally ill patients who are no longer seeking treatment for cure. Hospice care attends to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the patient and their loved ones. The goal of hospice care is to treat patients in their home with assistance although many patients are eventually referred to inpatient care.

The Crystal Coast facility offers ten private suites.

Six are dedicated to acute care and four to residential. Each spacious suite is fully furnished and equipped with a sleeper sofa, chest of drawers, recliner, residential lighting and private bath and shower. Medical components are discreetly screened. Tile, carpet, and hardwood

The warm and welcoming environment of the hospice home is complemented by natural landscaping over the 11-acre campus; porches; terraces; a memorial garden and brickyard, walking paths, as well as a butterfly garden; gazebos; and two ponds with fountains—all essential to supporting patients, families and friends as they celebrate the precious time they have together.

North Carolina State University

CENTER FOR MARINE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (CMAST)

N

orth Carolina State University’s Center for Marine Science and Technology (CMAST), located in Morehead City, has worked with the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament since 2003 to sample fish from the tournament.

In addition to collecting samples for our own research, we also sample these fish for other scientists who work on these species. The opportunity to sample some of these animals is quite rare.

The following information and samples are taken from yellowfin tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and blue marlin: length, weight, sex, a variety of tissues (including muscle, reproductive organs, liver, heart, stomachs, and mucus), and hard parts (like scales, otoliths, and fish spines). To date, we have collected samples for over a dozen marine biologists working along the U.S. Atlantic coast.

The fish captured during the Big Rock

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floor coverings give the hospice house a touch of home. Patient suites also have private patios with rocking chairs to enjoy the beautiful campus. Patients have access to a walk-in patient whirlpool spa equipped with therapeutic jets.

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

184,500

$

Tournament are top predators in the surface waters of the ocean. They have extremely high feeding rates and may have a disproportionately large effect on their prey populations when compared to other predators. Stomach contents are being analyzed by N.C. State University to determine the principal prey of these species. To date, dolphin and yellowfin tuna have the most diverse diets, with a variety of fish and invertebrates. Blue marlin and wahoo appear to be very selective, feeding mainly on frigate mackerel.

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BIG ROCK

Core Charities 2022

North Carolina Symphony CARTERET COUNTY

$

F

ounded in 1932, the mission of the North Carolina Symphony is to be the our state orchestra, achieving the highest level of artistic quality and performance standards, and embracing its dual legacies of statewide service and music education. Each year, the North Carolina Symphony’s 300 concerts, education programs, and community engagement events are enjoyed by adults and schoolchildren in more than 90 North Carolina counties.

The symphony dedicates more resources to statewide music education than any other professional orchestra in the U.S., demonstrating a deep commitment to making music education widely accessible throughout the state. This extensive program serves more than 70,000 students of all ages each year, many of whom live in rural and under-resourced areas with limited access to the arts. We also provide training and resources for teachers in alignment with the curriculum set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Music education has been a

Serving Others. Enriching Lives.

T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

151,000

pillar of our mission for more than seven decades, and we are proud to build the next generation of musicians and music lovers.

For over 20 years, The Big Rock Foundation has supported our music education programs, enabling over 10,000 Carteret County 4th grade students from public, private, charter, and home schools to see the North Carolina Symphony at no charge to the students or their families.

This concert is often the first time the students have heard a live orchestra, an experience many of them would not have otherwise. The Symphony removes obstacles by bringing the music to the students and by making classical music educational, accessible, and fun. For many, this experience is life changing, and becomes a cherished childhood memory.

We are grateful to The Big Rock Foundation for their dedication to the importance of the arts in the lives of young people.

Carobell, Inc. EASTER SEALS

T

he Big Rock Foundation has been helping Carobell, Inc’s Station Club Enterprise expand its possibilities for more than 25 years. Located in Morehead City, Station Club Enterprise is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 organization serving adults with cognitive impairments and developmental disabilities.

Funds received through the generous donations from the Big Rock Foundation have afforded Carobell/Station Club the possibility to expand our capabilities to provide our members with choices of tasks and activity opportunities and to reach out with new ideas and concepts. This truly fulfills our mission, which is to provide selfdirected support for members with intellectual developmental disabilities, empowering them to reach their fullest potential.

Past donations have enabled Station Club to

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TOWNE INSURANCE IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE 64TH ANNUAL BIG ROCK BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT T O TA L D O N AT E D SINCE 1986

107,500

$

purchase many needed items for our members such as iPads, a laptop computer and accessories to assist them in developing technology skills and increasing problem-solving skills.

All of our staff and members alike are extremely appreciative of this continual community support. A big thank you goes to our steadfast community friends at the Big Rock Foundation.

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We’re here to help you keep what you catch.

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Insurance products offered through Towne Insurance, a subsidiary of TowneBank, are not a deposit, not FDIC-Insured, not guaranteed by TowneBank, not insured by any federal government agency, and may go down in value.

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ROCK’N SHOTS

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ROCK’N SHOTS

Big Rock Headquarters

You’ve never needed anyone’s permission to fish longer. Staying where you belong on the water requires only the endurance to keep casting, and the gear to maintain peak performance. When you’re cool, you’re comfortable. When you’re protected from the elements, you’re powerful. The only one who gets to decide when you’re done is you.

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FISH WITHOUT LIMITS

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Proud sponsor of the 2023 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

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Winner’s Circle BIG ROCK 2022

BIG ROCK

BLUE MARLIN DIVISION SECOND PLACE

426,288

$

Wall Hanger

Captain BRIAN ALLEN

Captain PAUL WISEMAN

Angler BERNARD LINNEY

Weight 556.4 POUNDS

$

High Yield

1 556,063

Angler STACY ALLEN

283,525

BLUE MARLIN DIVISION THIRD PLACE

$ ,

Winner’s Circle

Weight 536.8 POUNDS

BLUE MARLIN DIVISION FIRST PLACE

Mercenaria

D

Captain NEIL SYKES

Angler MATTHEW BROWN

Weight 572.6 POUNDS

ay one of the tournament started off hot, with Captain Neil Sykes of the 72-foot Viking, Mercenaria, and angler Matthew Brown weighing a 572.6-pound blue marlin. Their entry into the Fabulous Fisherman’s division of the tournament immediately ensured them at least $777,750 for bringing the first blue marlin to the scales, weighing over 500 pounds. Although seven additional blue marlin were brought to the scales at Big Rock Landing, none could unseat the 572.6-pound fish weighed by Mercenaria on the first day. The team’s first-place blue marlin, along with their Fabulous Fisherman’s prize, added up to winnings of $3,489,813. Other popular billfish tournaments have had larger participant fields and total purses available, but only one has had a single participating team win a calcutta of prizes this large.

TOTA L B OAT S

2 2 6 T O TA L R E L E A S E S | 8 W E I G H E D

266 5,858,875 144 61 $

TOTA L P U R S E

BLUE

78

WHITE

20

SAILFISH

1

RELEASE R AT E

SPEARFISH

96%

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THU FRI SAT

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JAMES DUNCANpower-to-weight ........ PARKER The muscle of industry-leading ratiosM from mtu get you to and from the fishing grounds faster than RoShamBo ...... WILLIE ZIMMERMAN... NICK SHRIVER your competition. With a hp range of 1,360 to 2,600, these

premium 10V, 12V (now with 2,002 mhp), and 16V powerhouses propel the fastest sportfishing vessels in the world.

LEVEL V FA B U LO U S FISHERMAN’S

Mercenaria

Our Tech @ The Tournament program helps you focus on what’s important — landing the tournament-winning fish.

Whether it’s a complimentary 15-minute inspection or waiting for you on the dock when an unforeseen technical issue

Captain Weight NEIL SYKES 572.6 to get you back on the water and in the hunt. POUNDS arises, our mtu-certified technicians are on-site throughout

The Big Rock and other major East Coast tournaments — ready

777,750

$

To learn more about repowers, contact: BRETT HALAVACS, NC MARINE SALES MANAGER 252-732-6327

2022 Big Rock.indd 1

THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

www.johnsontowers.com

2/11/2022 3:42:56 PM

79

BIG ROCK

Winner’s Circle

Winner’s Circle

BIG ROCK

L E V E L I X N O N - S O N A R R E L E A S E D I V I S I O N W E E K LY

Irene

Marlin Fever

1,200 POINTS

1 156,000

Captain

Released

Captain

Released

Captain

JAMES EWING

3 BLUE MARLIN

CAMERON GUTHRIE

2 BLUE MARLIN 1 WHITE MARLIN

GRAY BLOUNT

129,625

Carolina Time

Angler MATTHEW BROWN

Captain JAY BLOUNT

77,775

$

Angler PARKER JONES

Weight 54.1 POUNDS

$

BOAT

POINTS

MONDAY PARI...................... 400

TUESDAY Carolina Girl......... 800

BOAT

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

17,000

10,200

Safari

45,050

Wave Paver

2,250 POINTS

1,600 POINTS

Released

LEVEL X OUTBOARD 50/30/20 BOAT

CAPTAIN

POINTS

PRIZE

2 ND PLACE

EZ Boy

E-Pox-Sea

800 POINTS

525 POINTS

400 POINTS

Pelagic Hunter II

4 BLUE MARLIN

Captain RODNEY ‘MOON’ CROSSMAN

Captain RUSSELL SINCLAIR

Captain BOBBY GARMANY

Captain JOHN CRUISE

Points 800

Prize 25,500

$

G A M E F I S H D I V I S I O N W E E K LY

FIRST PLACE $5,000 | SECOND PLACE $3,000

Released

4 BLUE MARLIN

3 RD PLACE

L E V E L X I O U T B O A R D W I N N E R -TA K E - A L L R E L E A S E

1,600 POINTS

5 BLUE MARLIN | 2 SAILFISH

$

1 ST PLACE

Bench Mark

Released

Redemption........ 525 SATURDAY Cuervos.............. 800 FRIDAY

$

$

Pelagic Hunter II

$

POINTS

$

$

67,575

BOAT

Pelagic Hunter II.. ..... JOHN CRUISE...... 800...... 17,000 EZ Boy. . ....................... VAN PIERCE........ 525. . ..... 10,200 E-Pox-Sea................ CHUCK HUDSON.... 400....... 6,800

L E V E L V I I I R E L E A S E D I V I S I O N W E E K LY

$

POINTS

Royal Flush.. .... 800 Irene................ 800

6 800

112,625

$

43,208 PRIZE

$ ,

$

51,850

$

L E V E L I X N O N - S O N A R R E L E A S E D I V I S I O N D A I LY

LEVEL VII DOLPHIN W I N N E R -TA K E - A L L

Mercenaria

Captain NEIL SYKES

Released

$

LEVEL VI SUPER 20 DIVISION

925 POINTS

3 BLUE MARLIN

527,000

$ ,

Desperado

1,200 POINTS

DOLPHIN DIVISION

TUNA DIVISION

WAHOO DIVISION

LEVEL VIII RELEASE DIVISION

W I N N E R - T A K E - A L L D A I LY $ 3 7 , 5 4 1 P R I Z E MONDAY

Total Points 1,600

THURSDAY

Total Points 1,325

TUESDAY

Total Points 800

FRIDAY

Total Points 925

Total Points 800

SATURDAY

Wave Paver Speculator WEDNESDAY

Stream Weaver

80

Safari Safari

Cuervos

Total Points 800

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

1st Place Captain

2nd Place Captain

1st Place Captain

2nd Place Captain

1st Place Captain

2nd Place Captain

JAY BLOUNT

CODY GARNER

GRAY BLOUNT

MIKE BROWNING

MIKE EVERLY

RON SANDERS

PARKER JONES

JEROMEY SINGLETON

CRYSTAL JOHNSTON

TOM GALAZKA

ROBERT LEERINK

BROOKS WALSTON

Angler

Angler

1st Carolina Time.. ........ 54.1 LBS 2nd Reel Time. . .............. 43.0 LBS

THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

Angler

Angler

1st Desperado.. ............. 131.2 LBS 2nd Fly N Fish................ 121.1 LBS

Angler

Angler

1st Speculator............. 104.7 LBS 2nd Fishy Business. . ....... 66.4 LBS

81

BIG ROCK

Winner’s Circle G A M E F I S H D I V I S I O N D A I LY

F I R S T P L A C E $2 , 0 0 0 | S E C O N D P L A C E $1 , 0 0 0

DOLPHIN

TUNA

WA H O O

MONDAY

MONDAY

MONDAY

1st Fly N Fish.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.2 LBS 2nd Yellowfin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.8 LBS TUESDAY

1 J&B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.5 LBS 2nd Ocean Stinger.. . . . . . . . 17.9 LBS st

WEDNESDAY

1 Off Shore III. . . . . . . . . . . . 27.7 LBS 2nd Wasabi.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.6 LBS st

THURSDAY

1 Carolina Time. . . . . . . . . 54.1 LBS 2nd Memories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.2 LBS st

FRIDAY

1 Job Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.2 LBS 2nd Mack 900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.1 LBS st

SATURDAY

1 Reel Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.0 LBS 2nd Inspiration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.6 LBS st

1st —.. . . . ............................ — 2nd —.. . . . ............................ — TUESDAY

1 —.. . . . ............................ — 2nd —.. . . . ............................ — st

WEDNESDAY

1 Desperado.............. 131.2 LBS 2nd —.. . . . ............................ — st

THURSDAY

1 Overtime................. 51.8 LBS 2nd Catherine Grace...... 19.5 LBS st

FRIDAY

1 —.. . . . ............................ — 2nd —.. . . . ............................ — st

SATURDAY

1 Fly N Fish.. ............... 121.1 LBS 2nd —.. . . ............................. — st

JUNIOR GAMEFISH DIVISION—DOLPHIN

1st Frequent Flyer....... . 36.6 LBS 2nd Dirty Martini........... 24.3 LBS TUESDAY

1 Speculator.............. 104.7 LBS 2nd Rare Breed............. 46.9 LBS st

WEDNESDAY

1 Lady Dianne............ 54.8 LBS 2nd Wired Assets.......... 20.7 LBS st

THURSDAY

1 Doc Fees................. . 48.7 LBS 2nd Sally Girl. . ................ 46.3 LBS st

FRIDAY

1 April Mae................ 50.2 LBS 2nd Pelagic. . ................... 42.3 LBS st

SATURDAY

1 Fishy Business........ . 66.4 LBS 2nd PARI. . ..................... . 27.4 LBS st

JUNIOR RELEASE DIVISION

With Two Locations To Better Serve You!

Sails Pitch

Marlin Fever

Junior Angler BRAXTON CULLENS

Junior Angler HENRY DANIEL

21-POUND DOLPHIN

82

252-732-5543

800 POINTS

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

910-880-5879

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IT TAKES ONLY ONE SMALL CHANGE TO CATCH MORE FISH.

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DONATE NOW

Crystal Hesmer

Big Rock Foundation Director

252.241.1515

SO WE ADDED SIX.

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Every Woman Wants a Bailey Box Raleigh | Cary | Rocky Mount | Greenville www.baileybox.com

Welcome Lady Anglers!

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ROCK’N SHOTS

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ROCK’N SHOTS

Weigh Station Action

88

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89

ROCK’N SHOTS

Weigh Station Action

BUILT FOR FISHING

PELAGICGEAR.COM 90

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

ROCK’N SHOTS

Sponsor’s Reception

92

ROCK’N SHOTS

Wednesday Dinner

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BIG ROCK 2022

64

Meet The

Fleet BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

BIG ROCK KIDS

BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

Meet The Fleet

Ava D

Big Eye

Bow Movement

C-Escape

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

Gillikin [62’] Morehead City, NC

Jerry Jackson

Sheldon Midgett [46'] Morehead City, NC

J. Tyler Jackson

Sea Fox [32’] Southport, NC

David Moxley

Viking [55’] Durham, NC

W.A. Downey Management CAPTAIN

Allen Downey

Baby J

Big Trouble

Braggin’ Rights

C-Phase

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Caison [60'] Morehead City, NC

Joel Killion Patrick Shore

Precision [64'] Morehead City, NCa

Reel Ventures LLC Chris Daniels

Jim Smith [53’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Braggin’ Rights Charters LLC John Foss

Shearline [58’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Gary Whaley Shane Whaley

38 Special

Annie C

Bad Becky

Bill Collector

Breakwater

C-Student

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Accordingly IV

Annie O

Bad Habit

Billfisher

Brothers Pride

Cajun Bateaux

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Topaz [38'] —

Chad Child Jerry Hollars Viking [76'] Swansboro, NC

Accordingly II LLC

Paul Mann [55'] Morehead City, NC

Brick Brown Whit Brown Guthrie [60’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Brad Sutton

CAPTAIN

Garlington [54'] Edisto Island, SC

Bad Becky LLC Patrick Brogan Hatteras [60'] Duck Key, FL

John Steele

Jarrett Bay [51’] Morehead City, NC

Bill Collector Offshore, LLC Stephen Draughon Duffie Boatworks [63'] Ocean City, MD

Jon Duffie

CAPTAIN

Peter Du Bose

John Steele II

Buddy Davis [47’] Morehead City, NC

—

Ashley Forrest Omie Tillet [54’] Hatteras, NC

Albert L. Bonney, Jr. Darrin Callahan

Viking [66’] Southside Place, TX

Keeley Megarity Ken Blackman Grady White [37’] Morehead City, NC

Thomas Stanley —

Adventure

Anticipation

Spencer [61’] Virginia Beach, VA

BAM

Spencer [37'] Atlantic Beach, NC

Bird Dog

Brown Eyed Girl

Callisto

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

Grady White [30'] Atlantic Beach, NC

Mark Kelley

Paul Coury

Blaine DuBose

CAPTAIN

Agent Orange Sailfish [26’] Kill Devil Hills, NC

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Jesse Rhodes

April Mae Hatteras [65’] Beaufort, NC OWNER

Joe Visser CAPTAIN

Layton Custom [40’] Morehead City, NC

Tom Vicars

Omie Tillet Sportsman [61’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Willie Harrelson

CAPTAIN

Harvey Shiflet

Garlington [61’] Palm Beach, FL

Callisto Marine LLC CAPTAIN

Howard Day

Steve Crammer

Bankwalker

Bizzy B

Buddy Rowe

Can Do Too

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Sportsman [60’] Raleigh, NC

Bryant Montague

World Cat [40’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Rob Bizzell

Tom Brewer

Sunny Briggs [57’] Charleston, SC

Todd Wigfield Robert Lucas

Viking [52’] Stuart, FL

Sid Gold Skip Lecain

Ali-Kat

Artemis

Barbara J

Blue Sky

Builder’s Choice

Carolina Girl

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

All In

Ashley Lauren

Blue Water

Bullwinkle

Carolina Girl

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Twin Vee [31'] Morehead City, NC

John Temple Jason Temple Blackwell [58'] Manteo, NC OWNER

Lee Riddle

Sea Island [50'] Charleston, SC

John Darby

Parker [21'] Naples, FL

Roy Crockett

Chucky Moore Ricky Scarborough [46’] Raleigh, NC OWNER

Island Adventures

Spencer [60’] Pawleys Island, SC

Greg Smith Jay Weaver

Bella Linda II Bertram [28'] Little River, SC

OWNER + CAPTAIN

John ‘Wes’ Clark

Buddy Harris [54’] Morehead City, NC

Jimmy Hite

Jarrett Bay [64’] New Bern, NC

Harris Huddle Brent Gaskill Spencer [57’] Wanchese, NC

Paul Spencer

Hatteras [54’] Manteo, NC

Steve E. Ash, Sr. Jordan Croswait Regulator [34’] Morehead City, NC

Thomas W. Glasgow

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Ann Warrick

Autreel

Bench Mark

Blueprint

Business

Carolina Lady

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Daniel Caison Paul Mann [76’] Midlothian, VA

Linwood (Chip) Lacey CAPTAIN

Bradley Diaz

94

2022

BIG ROCK KIDS

Mark Annis Cape Horn [31'] Raeford, NC

Chad Autry

CAPTAIN

Dan Spencer Spencer [57'] Mount Pleasant, SC

Bench Mark Sportfishing LLC Bobby Garmany

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

Jarrett Bay [46’] —

—

James Grebe THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

Viking [62’] Key Largo, FL

Mike Rich Dave Goddard

Viking Yachts [50’] Fayetteville, NC

Charlie Harrell Fred Willis

95

2022

Meet The Fleet Carolina Pirate

Forbes [45’] Morehead City, NC OWNER Aubrey Stimpson / Bonn Williams CAPTAIN Aubrey Stimpson / Bonn Williams

Carolina Time Gwaltney [56’] Raleigh, NC

BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

2022

BIG ROCK KIDS

Meet The Fleet

Fly N Fish

GeekBox IT

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Kyle Corbett

Winter [62’] Jacksonville, FL

Rob Rowe

Winter [40’] Trinity, NC

Van Pierce

CAPTAIN

Desperado

CAPTAIN

Jay Blount

Gray Blount

Carterican

Developin’ Habits

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Jarrett Bay [53’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Jordan and Josh Finch

Fly N Fish Excursions

Key West, FL [23’] Jamestown, NC

John Longest

Tom Galazka

Down Under

Fender Bender

Following Seas

Genetic Disorder

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

Charles Kellogg

Shannon Diller

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Charles Vanderbeck

Bennet Norman

Fin and Feather

Fowl Hooked

Goombay

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

Riviera [51’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Chris Daniels

Jarrett Bay [55’] Virginia Beach, VA

Bobby Whelan Collin Oxnard

Due South

Bobby Sullivan [58’] Oak Ridge, NC OWNER Bluewater Marine Investments CAPTAIN

Mark Chambers

Lee Smith

Henriques [42’] —

CAPTAIN

Allen Rouse

CAPTAIN

Outer Banks Boatworks [37’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Ran Johnston

Viking [58’] Palm Beach, FL

Garlington [61’] Camden, SC

Ron Prestage

Viking [55’] Beaufort, NC

Weaver [62’] Morehead City, NC

Terry Young CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Brian Peele

—

Catch 23

Diamond Girl

Dun-Rite

Fin Chaser

Free Ranger

Grand Slam

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

Coastal Pursuits

Wallis Higginbotham

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Rob Orr

Dave Grubbs

Catherine Grace

Dirty Martini

E-Pox-Sea

First Light

Frequent Flyer

Gratitude

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Viking [80’] Jupiter, FL

Sea Jumper LLC Stetson Turney Ricky Scarborough [35’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Scott J. Williams

Weaver [68’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Clyde Bailey Carson Ruffin Albermarle [36’] Little River, SC

Jeff Martin

Viking Yachts [68’] Morehead City, NC

Derek Dunn

Custom Carolina[62’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Keith Smith

Frank Spencer Contender [31’] Washington, NC

Chuck Hudson Name

Winter [65’] Hyannis, MA

Bradycam LLC Anthony Johnson

Buddy Cannady [46’] Ocracoke, NC

Jarrett Bay [54’] Morehead City, NC

Larry Brown Mike King

Cuthrie [60’] New Smyrna Beach, FL

Bayliss [69’] Pirate’s Cove, NC

Tips N Me LLC Kenny Midgett

Cuervos

Ditch Digger

El Azul

First Look

Full Circle

Halcyon

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

First Look Charters

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Ormonde Mahoney CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Mike Taylor

Alan Scibal

CAPTAIN

Tribute [58’] Jacksonville, FL

Aaron Galley

Viking [48’] Beaufort, NC

Jimmy Price

CAPTAIN

Ray ‘Foz’ Gibson

Yellowfin [42’] Beaufort, NC

Weaver [60’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Buddy Davis [50’] ‑

‑

Viking Yachts [53’] Manteo, NC

Wayne Chambers

Robert Gollahon

Dancin’ Outlaw

Doc Fees

El Bendido

Fishy Business

Game Changer

Hammer Time

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

C&G Adventures

OWNER

Chris Bass

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Gregg Middleton

CAPTAIN

Ron Sanders/Brad Chilton

Dark Horse

Donna Mae

El Cazador

Flatline

Game Plan

Haphazard

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

C & L [56’] Summerfield, NC

Crystal Coast Charters CAPTAIN

Joey Rivenbark Invincible [33’] Morehead City, NC

Chris Davenport

Buddy Canady [56’] Wilmington, NC

T&T Sportfishing LLC Taylor Pleasant Chadwick [61’] Morehead City, NC

Jamey Luihn

CAPTAIN

Blackwell [61’] Somers, MT

Paul Squarcia, Jr. David Midgett Ricky Scarborough [85’] Quitman, TX OWNER El Cazador Management LLC

SeaVee [39’] Beaufort, NC

Seacraft [32’] Morehead City, NC

Roger Mayo, Jr.

CAPTAIN

Chris Davenport

Billy Holton [60’] Manteo, NC

Viking [50’] Beaufort, NC

Deborah Jones Rob Usnick

Paul Alderman

Spencer [54’] Carolina Beach, NC

Steven Mozeley Austin Eubank Holton [61’] Winston-Salem, NC

Hap Royster Joey Belton

Deep Blue

Double B

Electric Bill

Flathungry II

Gamekeeper

Hatteras Fever II

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Daniels Boat Works [60’] Morehead City, NC

Deep Blue Sportfishing LLC Gerrad Otto

96

BIG ROCK

EZ Boy

CAPTAIN

Jamie Smith

BIG ROCK KIDS

Double R

Hatteras [50’] Morehead City, NC

Reel Partners

Gwaltney [57’] Morehead City, NC

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

Demolished Profits

Taylor Harrison [56’] Oregon Inlet, NC OWNER Desperado Sportfishing NC LLC

OWNER

KWLA

Scarborough [63’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Harry Smith Parker Henry

Spencer Yachts [60’] Charleston, SC

Chad Sanders

Seafox [28’] Wendell, NC

Marty Fox

Ukenfish LLC

Ricky Scarborough [54’] Buxton, NC

Buddy Hooper

CAPTAIN

Ken Upton

Mark McDevitt

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

Core Sound [55’] Wrightsville Beach, NC

THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

97

2022

Meet The Fleet

BIG ROCK

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

BIG ROCK KIDS

BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

2022

BIG ROCK KIDS

Meet The Fleet

Haulin’ Gass

Irene

Keep’n It Reel

Lo Que Sea

Marlin Gull

MJ’s

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

High Octane

Iron Leader

Kilo Charlie

Low Profile

Marlin Mania

Moon Dancer

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

High Yield

Island Girl

Kings Blue

Lured In

Marsh Madness

Murmuration

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Hit N Run

It’s Complicated

Kiss My Gass

Mack 900

Marshall Line

Natural

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Honey Hush

J&B

Knot Done Yet

Maggie

Memories

NCBD Diesel

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Wellcraft [30’] Morehead City, NC

‑

Will Bryan Fountain [38’] Kenly, NC

James Sharp

Viking [62’] Stuart, FL

Frank Sinito

Spencer [57’] Mount Pleasant, SC

High Yield Sportfishing LLC Paul Wiseman Weaver [80’] Palm Beach, FL

Byron Russell Danny Ford Spencer [62’] Hatteras, NC

Honey Hush Enterprises LLC CAPTAIN

Chuck Lindner

Grady White [31’] Morehead City, NC

Keith Harrison

Jarrett Bay [70’] Beaufort, NC

Caterpillar, Inc.

High Tide Boatwork [50’] Morehead City, NC

Brian Peele Brandon Peele Pair Customs [24’] Smithfield, NC

Sterling B. Casey

J&B LLC CAPTAIN

Alan Murray

Tony Huerta Shane Surrency

Ocean Yacht [54’] Ocean City, MD

Christopher Kinsley Howard Lynch Whiticar [77’] Palm Beach, FL

Kings Blue Charters Travis Waits Contender [35’] Clinton, NC

Jason Williford

Sterling Casey Wanchese [55’] Morehead City, NC

Paul Mann [58’] Ft. Pierce, FL

CAPTAIN

James Ewing

Joey Johnson

Viking Yachts [70’] Wrightsville Beach, NC

Logans Run Boating LLC

Perry Nichols

4M LLC

Luhers [36’] ‑

‑

Jason Harlin Viking [46’] Point Pleasant, NJ

Patrick McGovern

Hatteras [60’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Randy Bryant

CAPTAIN

Spencer [61’] Jupiter, FL

Michael Yocco

CAPTAIN

Troy Salmon Custom Carolina [55’] Hatteras, NC

Jim Bowman

Rebel Marine [41’] Morehead City, NC

Queen B Fishing LLC CAPTAIN

D. Logan

James Duncan Viking Yachts [72’] Elon, NC

Buddy Cannady [55’] Rockyhock, NC

Randall Russell Island Boatworks [65’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Marsh and Sons, Inc. Gold Chain Shane Brafford Weaver [65’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Lee M. Hill Chris Russell Hatteras [60’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Mike Pearce

Purdue [56’] Morehead City, NC

Starling Marine LLC David Starling Scarborough [56’] Beaufort, NC

Heath Fulcher Carl Beale Sea Hunt [25’] Franklington, NC

Nate Blackwell

CAPTAIN

Mark Rogers

Barry Moore

Honky Tonk

Jack Em Up

Labrador

Make It Happen!

Mercenaria

Nice Aft

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Hydrosphere

Job Site

Lady Dianne

Mama Tried

Mezzo II

Obsession

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Ricky Scarborough[57’] Manteo, NC

Last Call Sportfishing LLC CAPTAIN

Kyle Fisher Dean Johnson [57’] Charleston, SC

Game Changer LLC

Gamefisherman [34’] Morehead City, NC

‑

Rick Sykes Viking Yachts [55’] Morehead City, NC

Bill Farrior

CAPTAIN

Sunny Brigggs [52’] Morehead City, NC

Soundview Holdings LLC

Robalo [27’] Morehead City, NC

Zachary Murray

Mike Carithers

Chad Ballard

Grady White [33’] Oriental, NC

Lee Sutton

CAPTAIN

Wade Fickling Bertram [60’] Beaufort, NC

Viking [72’] Virginia Beach, VA

Neil Sykes Contender [35’] Morehead City, NC

Tyler Everett

Viking Yachts [54’] Morehead City, NC

Tony Haslam

Sheldon Midgett [55’] Manteo, NC

Jeff Ross

CAPTAIN

Matthew Bierley

Bart Sherwood

Insane-O

John Boat

Lights Out

Marked Off

Miss Teny

Ocean Stinger

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Inspiration

Johnie Floyd

Line Set

Marlin Fever

Miss Wy

Off Season

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Spencer Yachts [70’] Murrells Inlet, SC

Denton Williams John McNamara Jarrett Bay [55’] Morehead City, NC

Casey Wagner

Spencer Yachts [59’] Wilmington, NC

Seth Howell Jed Galloway Jarrett Bay [53’] Jacksonville, NC

Belair Marine CAPTAIN

Jake Ramsey

98

KWLA

Bayliss [65’] Ocean City, MD

William Haugland Chester Sims Sunny Briggs [68’] Savannah, GA

Lindly Mingledorff Corrin Askeland

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

Buddy Davis [44’] Morehead City, NC

Still Outnumbered Charters Folden Lee Jarrett Bay [63’] Morehead City, NC

Albert Daniel Cameron Guthrie THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

Regulator [32’] Morehead City, NC

Andrew Jones

Luhrs [40’] Wilmington, NC

Jesse Gawlik

Ashley Jones Scarborough [53’] Georgetown, SC

Ed Holder Matt Wilkinson

Cabo [40’] Stoneville, NC

Abby Jones Mike Truesdale

99

2022

Meet The Fleet

BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

BIG ROCK KIDS

BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

Meet The Fleet

Offshore III

Payload

Ramblin Man

Reel Lineman

Retriever

SandBob

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

Buddy Harris [50’] Morehead City, NC

Jaford Tyler

Bobby Croswait [57’] Pirate’s Cove, NC

Donnie Puryear

Gwaltney [55’] Morehead City, NC

Nick Chiotakis

CAPTAIN

Rickie Gillikin [42’] Morehead City, NC

Reel Lineman LLC

Chadwick [56’] Beaufort, NC

R.F. Burke Steele III

CAPTAIN

Lee Martin

Viking [72’] Fort Lauderdale, FL

Bob + Chad Moss CAPTAIN

Jami Ervin

Chris Corrcia

Offshore Outlaw

Pelagic

Rare Breed

Reel Priority

Right Hook

Sandra D

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Harris [36’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Eric Price

Guthrie [61’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Mike Webb

Paul Mann [63’] Sullivan’s Island, SC

James H. Simmons II

Viking Yachts [47’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Travis Cantrell Rob Best

Croswait [58’] New Smyrna Beach, FL

Justin Dewitt Austin Spitz

Hudson [58’] Pirate’s Cove, NC

Lures Galore LLC Tom Krauss

On Point

Pelagic Hunter II

Re-Leased

Reel Quick

RoShamBo

Sashimi

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Custom [51’] Morehead City, NC

On Point Sportfishing LLC

Contender [35’] Sneads Ferry, NC

John C. Cruise III

CAPTAIN

Royall Brown

Chadwick [61’] Morehead City, NC

Joe Segrave Luke Glennon

Jarrett Bay [77’] Fayetteville, NC

Carroll Thomas Brian Maready

Guthrie / Bluewater [65’] Solomon’s Island, MD

Nick and Rusty Shriver

Fountain [38’] Harkers Island, NC

Dallas Austin

Willie Zimmerman

On The Dot

Persistence

Redemption

Reel Steel

Royal Flush

Savanna Leigh

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Reel Country

Reel Time

Runaway

Saving Grace 50'

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

Contender [44’] Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Paul Cochrane

Viking [53’] Beaufort, NC

Ben Fish

Blackwell [54’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Michael Ford Adam Pittman

Outlaw

Island Boatworks [57’] Hatteras, NC OWNER + CAPTAIN

Ken Miller

Piracy

Shearline [61’] Morehead City, NC OWNER Curtis Struyk + Russell Stryuk

Buddy Harris [58’] Oxford, NC

Mark Ellington

Hines Farley [66’] Mountain Lakes, NJ

Mike Verzaleno Jason Parker Custom [31’] Beaufort, NC

Ron Bowen Peter Zook Sheldon MIdgett [44’] Hatteras, NC OWNER Joshua Thiel + Michael Hubbard

Viking [65’] Morehead City, NC

Shawn White Troy Pate Egg Harbor [50’] Virginia Beach, VA OWNER

Jay Daniels

Amanda Dean CAPTAIN Amanda Dean + Travis Brown

Reelentless

Safari

Saving Grace 70'

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Reelin Feelin

Sails Pitch

Scouts Out

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Overtime

Predator

Reel Hauler

Release

Sally Girl

Sea Creature

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Outlier

Play It By Ear

Reel Current

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Outnumbered

Post Call

Jarrett Bay [53’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Reel Development

Jarrett Bay [84’] Jacksonville, FL

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

Spencer [62’] Fitzgerald, GA

Anomaly Sportfishing LLC Ryan Riggs Viking [65’] Wrightsville Beach, NC

Kevin Summerville James Breen Viking [61’] Montauk, NY

Hatteras [60’] Naples, FL

Mike Bruce Ralph Griffin

Brian Bass Robbie Hall

Gray Hall B&B [58’] Ocean City, MD

Charles Gagnon

Seahunter [35’] Cedar Point, NC

Jeff Watson

Shawn Gibson

Reel Development LLC Thomas Bennett

Viking Yachts [72’] Wilmington, NC

Safari Ventures LLC Rodney ‘Moon’ Crossman

Weaver [64’] North Wildwood, NJ

Adam Youschak

C&L [58’] Wrightsville Beach, NC

Brian Dressler

Viking Yachts [70’] Palm Beach, FL

William Blount Rob Constantineau Grady White [25’] Blounts Creek, NC

Carl Parker

Howard Leconey

Bill and Theresa Bonner

Hatteras [54’] Morehead City, NC OWNER Stokes, Turnage and Puckett LLC

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

PARI

Rainmaker

Reel Hook Up

Relentless

Salt Lick

Sea I Sea

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Kevin Gaylord

Cap-N-Squid [57’] Hatteras, NC

Cody Garner

Paul Mann [66’] Atlantic Beach, NC

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Robbie Terry

Chris Barnett Chadwick [57’] Morehead City, NC

PARI Sportfishing LLC Matt Daley

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2022

BIG ROCK KIDS

Ocean Yachts [40’] Ocean, NC

John Kokinchak Jonathan + John Kokinchak

Sullivan [53’] Hatteras, NC

Rom Whitaker

Michael Carter

Steve ‘Creature’ Coulter

Jason Krahenbill Invincible [36’] Greenville, NC

Clint Sanders

Yellowfin [36’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Charlie Grant

Viking Yachts [72’] Wilmington, NC

Don Mills CAPTAIN

Stuart Lackey

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

Sally Girl Sportfishing, Inc.

Rigsbee [58’] Hatteras, NC

CAPTAIN

Johnny Brock Hatteras [60’] Charleston, SC

Ricky Scarborough [57’] Edenton, NC

Hunter Blount THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

101

2022

Meet The Fleet

BIG ROCK

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

BIG ROCK KIDS

BIG ROCK

KWLA

BIG ROCK BIG HERO

2022

BIG ROCK KIDS

Meet The Fleet

Sea P.A.

Shifting Gears

Stetson’s Revenge

Teaz’em

Turn It Blue

Watertight

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Sea Striker

Simple Mann

The Buyout

Unbridled

Wave Paver

OWNER

OWNER

Andrew Techet

Spencer [60’] Wrightsville Beach, NC OWNER Rusty Carter / Carter Holdings LLC

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Sea Tiger

Skip Hook

String Line

The General

Uno Mas

Weldor’s Ark

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Sea Toy

Skirt Chaser

Buddy Cannady [53’] Oregon Inlet, NC

Superflat

Sportsman [32’] Morehead City, NC

TKO

Viking 80

White Whale

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Seafix

Skirt Puller

Sushi

Top Level

Voodoo Child

Whitecaps

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Widespread

Freeman [37’] Ocean Isle Beach, NC

Eugene K. Ritch, Jr. Matt Ritch Jarrett Bay [61’] Morehead City, NC

Adrian Holler Pete Zook Buddy Cannady [56’] Columbia, SC

Jerry Smith Ed Bryant Spencer [59’] Manteo, NC

Sea Toy LLC Bull Tolson Ritchie Howell [61’] Mount Pleasant, SC OWNER Seafix Sportfishing Charters LLC

Briggs [57’] Beaufort, NC

Terry Labonte

Grady White [28’] Raleigh, NC

Brian Spicer

Hudson [54’] Pirates Cove, NC

Mark Barton

Pizza Kannan Paul Mann [58’] Morehead City, NC

Steve White Jarrett Bay [58’] Morehead City, NC

Kelly Williamson Mike Allen

Skirt Chaser Sportfishing

Brian Leggett

Erik Sanderson Jerry Owens

Stream Weaver

Timmy Kidwell Viking Yachts [48’] Goldsboro, NC

Jeremy Tillman Mark Farnsworth

Larry Gates

Buddy Harris [55’] Cape Carteret, NC

The Buyout LLC Andrew Gould Buddy Cannady [55’] Morehead City, NC

Zach Schuch

Viking Yachts [68’] Morehead City, NC

Gros Rocher LLC Andy Morris Mark Willis [77’] Fort Lauderdale, FL

Brooks Smith

Custom Carolina [45’] Dockside, NC

David Ellsworth

Jarrett Bay [57’] Atlantic Beach, NC

Todd Gallaher Zack Gallaher Bayliss [75’] Port Canaveral, FL

James Davis, Jr. Russell Sinclair Jarrett Bay [55’] Morehead City, NC

John B. Roberts CAPTAIN

Max Weaver

Dale Britt Viking Yachts [80’] New Gretna, NJ

Patrick Healey

Regulator [31’] Morehead City, NC

Sean Rollman

CAPTAIN

Barry Daniels Sailfish [27’] Williamston, NC

B&D [61’] Jupiter, FL

Sean Dooley Island Boat Works [57’] Nags Head, NC

Charley Pereira

Sea Fox [26’] Beaufort, NC

Brian Blonk

Scarborough [70’] Savannah, GA

Dale Daly

Buddy Davis [52’] Wilson, NC

Steve White

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Sensation

Slow Your Roll

Syked Out

Top Shelf

Wall Hanger

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Sequel

Smoke Show

Sylva Lining

Trixie

Wasabi

Wired Assets

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

OWNER

OWNER + CAPTAIN

John Thomas Jarrett Bay [52’] Morehead City, NC OWNER Reel Business Sportfishing LLC

Ashley Bleu Jarrett Bay [64’] New Smyrna Beach, FL

DB Ventures Group LLC

Kyle Leggett Viking Yachts [68’] Wrightsville Beach, NC

PreMo LLC Jeremy Edwards Jarrett Bay [36’] Virginia Beach, VA

Jay Brooks

CAPTAIN

Zack Adams Viking Yachts [56’] Isle of Palms, SC

Dave Sykes Dan Woody Viking [61’] Morehead City, NC

Sylva Lining Charters LLC

Hatteras [50’] Atlantic Beach, NC

E.W. Tibbs

Spencer [63’] Morehead City, NC

Brian Allen

Grady White Freedom [25’] Beaufort, NC

Mark Bildsten

Scott Wiggins Crown Marine [51’] Oregon Inlet, NC OWNER Unconventional Sportfishing LLC CAPTAIN

Jon Wilson

CAPTAIN

Shane Ryan

Jay Watson Buddy Harris [48’] Morehead City, NC

Reelax Fishing Charters LLC

Seahunter [35’] Oak Island, NC

Zachery Fisher

CAPTAIN

Greg McCoy

Corbett Johnson

Shearwater

Southern C’s

Tail Gunner

Tuna Duck

Waste Knot

Wolverine

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Shenandoah

Speculator

Talkin Trash

Tuna Tango

Wasting Time

Yellowfin

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

OWNER

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN

Whiticar [55’] Stuart, FL

Stephen Phillips Bill Bew

Spencer [61’] Ocean Reef, FL

Buddy Stallings Allan Willis

102

KWLA

Gary Davis [60’] Georgetown, DE

Gus Croll Travis Ralph Viking [92’] Palm Beach, FL

JKSHS LLC Mike Everly

Paul Mann [52’] Manteo, NC

Adam Shack Jimmy Grant Sailfish [26’] Apex, NC

Mike Cotten Scott Braswell

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

Buddy Canady [50’] Hatteras, NC

Dan Rooks Alex Holden Viking Yachts [55’] Wrightsville Beach, NC

Pablo Reiter Simon Smith THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

Jarrett Bay [67’] Morehead City, NC

Waste Knot LLC Michael Tickle Cobia [30’] Spring Hope, NC

Jay Phillip Manning Jay ‘Jabo’ Manning

Winter [60’] Port Huron, MI

Wolverine Sportfishing LLC Rocky Hardison Buddy Cannady [56’] Morehead City, NC

Fishmore Charters Inc. Donnie White

103

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65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

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CONTACT US TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN HELP YOU CONNECT YOUR LIFE AND FINANCES.

OAK CREEK WEALTH ADVISORS AND THE KRAFT HAIGLER GROUP OF JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT LLC Eden collection from Thibaut, Photograph Courtesy of Thibaut Inc.

4426 Arendell Street Morehead City 252.247.3175 mcqueensinteriors.com

4140-300 Parklake Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612 | 919.791.3822 | acreekmore@janney.com 4252 Arendell Street, Suite J, Morehead City, NC 28557 | 252.648.7911 | jkraft@janney.com For more information about Janney, please see Janney's Relationship Summary (Form CRS) on www.janney.com/crs which details all material facts about the scope and terms of our relationship with you and any potential conflicts of interest. © JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT LLC • MEMBER: NYSE, FINRA, SIPC • REF: 929008-0123

kwlaWinner’s Circle

kwla Winner’s Circle

2022

BILLFISH RELEASE DIVISION

108,800

$

FIRST PLACE

Can Do Too

Anglers MEREDITH HINTON | HUNTER GENTEL Captain SID GOLD 2 BLUE MARLIN [ 800 POINTS ]

TOTAL WINNINGS. . .... $108,800

SECOND PLACE

24,225

MJ’s

$

THIRD PLACE

16,150

All In

$

Anglers ASHLEY CARBONE BAILEY ROBLING Captain MICHAEL YOCCO

Anglers NIKKI COLGAN PEGGY RANSON AMANDA KING Captain DANIEL CAISON

2 BLUE MARLIN

1 BLUE MARLIN 2 WHITE MARLIN

[ 800 POINTS ]

[ 650 POINTS ]

LEVEL I GAMEFISH DIVISION F I R ST PLAC E $ 16,14 8 | SE COND P L A CE $ 1 0 , 766 WAHOO DIVISION

1st Place Angler

2nd Place Angler

NICOLE YUSKO

HEATHER MORRIS

JOHN HARRELSON

PETE ZOOK

MARK BECKER

FRANK SPENCER

110

Captain

Captain

1st Wet Dream.. ............ 42.8 LBS 2nd Dun-Rite................. 26.7 LBS

1 Place Angler st

NICOLE YUSKO

Captain

MARK BECKER

4 2 . 8 - P O U N D DO L P H I N

65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

TOTA L B OAT S

rewarded with two white and one blue marlin releases within an hour, earning them 650 points, and securing them a third-place finish.

At the scales, Rebekah Beck weighed a 67.0-pound wahoo earning Rebellious Fish $16,148 in prize money. Sea Striker’s Kristen Zook brought a 53.4-pound wahoo, claiming second place and $ 10,766.

Lady anglers on the Wet Dream had the most to celebrate as Nicole Yusko weighed in a 42.8-pound dolphin to capture the Winner-Take-All Dolphin division. Nicole, who has competed in the tournament for years, helped her team secure the record-breaking prize of $104,975. Heather Morris’s secondplace 26.7-pound catch earned the Dun-Rite team a $10,766 payday.

Thirteen-year-old Sarah Grace Priddy weighed a 16.2-pound dolphin, securing the title of top Junior Angler.

As weigh-ins were coming to an end for day one, fans were awaiting a tiebreaker gamefish from Can Do Too or MJ’s, however, neither team backed into

215 $318,750 THEBIGROCK.COM »

TOTA L P U R S E

65

25 BLUE

18

the landing. Can Do Too finished day one in first place, as they were the first team to earn 800 points.

The next day, seven teams tested the waters in hopes of a leaderboard shakeup. Meanwhile back on land, day one’s contenders nervously awaited the lines-out call. Two p.m. came quickly, as no offshore action was reported over the radio. One of the seven teams that competed on Sunday was the famous Atlantic Beach headboat Captain Stacy, with nearly 30 cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and healthcare workers on board. The crew weighed an 18.7-pound dolphin to wrap up the weigh-ins.

As the scales closed, Can Do Too celebrated their victory and a $108,800 payday. MJ’s was declared the secondplace winner, earning $24,225. The All-In ladies received $16,150 for their thirdplace finish.

Overall, the 25th annual KWLA proved to be a perfect weekend offshore. Lady anglers released 25 blue marlin, 7 sailfish, and 18 white marlin with competition right down to the wire.

T O TA L R E L E A S E S

WHITE

7

LI

WA

GN E R L ADY

AN

G R

2nd Place Angler KRISTEN ZOOK

1st Rebellious Fish. . . . . . . 67.0 LBS 2nd Sea Striker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.4 LBS

88, 82 5 P RI Z E

he 25th annual KWLA Tournament was an action-packed event. A record-breaking 215 boats competed for their piece of a $318,750 purse. An inclement weather forecast impacted the tournament, allowing teams to fish either Saturday or Sunday.

Saturday brought tight lines and stiff competition for the fleet of 208. By 9 a.m., several billfish were already released, including a blue marlin by Hunter Gentel aboard Can Do Too at 8:52 a.m. Within minutes of that release, MJ’s lady angler, Ashley Carbone, hooked a blue marlin. While Ashley reeled in her fish, Can Do Too’s Meredith Hinton fought one simultaneously—and that’s when the real competition began.

By noon, the fleet had racked up 36 releases, and Can Do Too was in the lead with 800 points for their two blue marlin releases. MJ’s angler Bailey Robling released a blue marlin, tying the two teams.

With an hour to spare before lines out, All-In’s reels screamed for the first time all day. Their patience had been

LE

1st Place Angler

Captain

$

DOLPHIN DIVISION

REBEKAH BECK

Captain

W TA D O L P H I N

T

The Ladies of Can Do Claim the 2022 KWLA Title

KE

First Place Billfish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,375 + Winner-Take-All Release. . . . . . . . . . . $68,425

SAILFISH

111

Meet The Fleet O F T H E 2 5 TH A N N U A L

38 Special Accordingly IV Alaina Lynn Ali-Kat All In Annie C Annie O Anticipation April Mae Ashley Lauren Baby J Bankwalker Barbara Ann Bench Mark Big Eye Big Trouble Bill Collector Billfisher Bizzy B Blue Water Bow Movement Braggin Rights Breakwater Charters Brown Eyed Girl Builder’s Choice Bullwinkle C Escape C Hawk C-Student Cajun Bateaux Can Do Too Captain Stacy Carolina Lady Carolina Pirate Carolina Time Carterican Checkin In Chief Come Monday Cost of Living Counter CurrenSea Cowboy Dancin Outlaw Deep Blue Demolished Profits Desperado Developin Habits Diamond Girl Ditch Digger Doc Fees Double 07 Double B Down Under Due South Dun-Rite El Azul

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El Bendido El Cazador Enough Eye Roller Fender Bender Fin Chaser First Look First Love Flatline Fly N Fish Following Seas Free Ranger Frequent Flyer Game Plan Gamekeeper Genetic Disorder Getnit Good Times Goombay Grand Slam Hammer Time Hattie Hoo Haulin’ Gass Heels N Reels High Octane High Yield Hit N Run Honey Hush Hoo-Hunter Impatience Inspiration Iron Leader Island Girl J&B Jack Em Up Job Site John Boat Johnie Floyd Jupiter 34 Just Cropping Kilo Charlie Kings Blue Kiss My Gass Knot Yet Labrador Lady Dianne Lady Lauren Line Set Live Action II Lo Que Sea Lock’d IN Low Profile Maggie Make It Happen!

Mama Tried Marked Off Marsh Madness

Maverick Memories Mercenaria Mezzo II Miss Cassea Miss Teny MJ’s Moon Dancer Mutiny II Natural Nauti Rascal Nuts and Bolts Obsession Ocean Stinger Off Season Offshore III On Point On The Dot Outnumbered PARI Patrón Payload Pelagic Perseverance Piracy Play It By Ear Post Call Predator Preferred Country Ramblin Man Re-Leased Rebellious Fish Redemption Reel Affair Reel Country Reel Development Reel Hauler Reel Priority Reel Quick Reel Steel Reel Time Reelax Reinstated Release Retreiver Retriever Chadwick Right Hook RoShamBo Royal Flush Safari Sails Pitch Sally Girl SandboB Sashimi Savanna Leigh Saving Grace 50'

JUNIOR

A NG L ER D I V I S I O N

THANKS TO OUR

kwla

Major Sponsor

Sea Creecher Sea Dub Sea I Sea Sea Striker Sea Toy Sea Wolf Sensation Sensation II

kwla2023 Sponsors PELAGICGEAR.COM

AGE

Top Junior Angler

13

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KWLA ARTIST

TIFFANY CASEY

LINDARIKE.COM

Bringing you the largest selection of waterfront properties in Carteret County.

String Line Superflat Surf City Charters Surface Interval Sushi Sylva Lining Tackle Box Take That Time Talkin Trash Team Earlyout Teaz’em The Buyout The General Three Little Birds Top Shelf Trixie Tuna Duck Unbridled Uno Mas Unplugged Voodoo Child Wall Hanger Wasabi Waste Knot Watertight Weldor’s Ark Wet Dream Wetlands Too Whitecaps Yard Ornament Yellowfin

Tiffany grew up in Florida but has lived around the world as a military wife. She’s thankful to call the Crystal Coast home alongside her husband and two children. Over the years, Tiffany has developed a love and respect for the wildlife around her, which she magnificently portrays in her paintings! Tiff is a self-taught artist, that has mastered the art of recreating a catch on canvas or painting your pet!

Tiffany's piece, "Lucky Lady", is acrylic on canvas & measures 36" x 36". It's featured on all 26th Annual KWLA Tournament Apparel. The original art will be auctioned off for charity at the Awards Banquet on Sunday, June 18th, 2023. @tiff_casey_art

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65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

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Beverage Sponsor

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65

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THANKS TO OUR

kwla Sponsors A N N PA I G E

FAMILY OWNED SINCE 2012 MOREHEAD CITY, NC

They have been sharing their love of fashion since 2012. They have watched Southern style develop over the years and love the charm of accessories.

BAILEY’S FINE JEWELRY

G AT O R B U G B O U T I Q U E

Three generations of our family serving your family.... one Bailey Box at a time.

A contemporary boutique providing women of all ages and sizes the most fashionable clothing and accessories with coastal luxe flair.

BEAUFORT OLIVE OIL Specializing in premium extra-virgin olive oil, aged balsamic vinegars, gourmet and flavored salts and artisanal and local culinary provisions.

C L E A R LY H O O K E D

J A R R E T T B AY

Fishing is female. Your clothes should be too. We’re on a mission to provide quality apparel for women on the water created by women on the water. Join us.

The Boathouse is your one-stop shop for Jarrett Bay gear and apparel, in addition to many unique nauticalthemed gifts.

CO M P L E X I O N M E D S PA

LOOKOUT FORD

An elegant destination for sophisticated skin and body improvements on Atlantic Beach. Each treatment is carefully crafted to enhance your personal journey to rejuvenation and renewal.

D AV I S D I E S E L Davis Diesel is your marine diesel and generator expert. Specializing in service and re-powers.

RECAP SPONSOR

D H YA C H T S A L E S DH Yacht Sales focuses on custom and high-end production sportfishing boats. Our deep knowledge of all the major brands in the industry and commitment to our clients is our top priority and one of our greatest assets.

DOWNTOWN BARRE Certified instructors will take you through amazing workouts to lengthen, strengthen and tone your muscles in record time.

REAL ESTATE

Michele Moffitt Real Estate came about after years of spending weekends on the Crystal Coast. Contact Michelle Moffitt with Keller Williams Crystal Coast to accomplish all of your real estate goals.

GOLD SPONSOR

MOMENTUM YOGA A studio dedicated to strengthening your health and well-being. A welcoming space with experienced instructors.

MONKEE’S BOUTIQUE

ISLAND PROPER A little boutique on the historic Beaufort waterfront with a selection of fine apparel, accessories, handbags and footwear to suit women of all ages who strive to be trendy and classic.

A mother/daughter business offering the ultimate in women’s fashion while providing an experience like shopping in your best friend’s closet! Something for every age, shape, and price range.

KWLA BIG ROCK

ngler A y d a L r e n Keli Wag

tournament

POSH PELICAN The Posh Pelican was born out of a love of fashion. Creating a unique shopping experience for all women!

REEL GIRL CLOTHING A female-owned and operated retail brand for real women who love to fish.

We know that unlike the ocean, our bodies aren’t one-size-fits-all. Ladies, it’s time to roll up those sleeves (but not ten times) and reel one in!

A locally owned and operated new and used car dealership located off Highway 70 in Morehead City.

VIDEOBOOTH SPONSOR

LORI TULLOCH

MORTGAGE LENDING TEAM

S A LT Y O Y S T E R

Selecting the right lender is just as important as choosing the right home.

We are committed to the highest level of quality in product and service.

GOLD SPONSOR

The area’s premier locally-owned concierge company, we organize anything under the sun, from stocking the fridge to a coastal adventure.

M A R Y K AY | DEBBIE FISHER

SO & SEW BOUTIQUE Locally owned by mother-daughter duo Susan and Claire, So & Sew is a premier gift and monogram shop that specializes in unique and meaningful gifts and designs!

Debbie Fisher has been saving faces for 30 years! She runs her business with excellent customer service and old fashioned integrity.

Z&Z DESIGNS

McQUEEN’S INTERIORS

A lifestyle store located in downtown Morehead City. Unique apparel, items for your home, and thoughtful gifts. Call 252.499.4055.

McQueen’s Interiors has been beautifying Crystal Coast homes since 1973.

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kwla Sponsors

MICHELE MOFFITT

EJW OUTDOORS Everything you need, including hunting and fishing licenses. Full bait and tackle shop with Penn, Shimano and Berkley Gulp. In-house reel repairs and spooling.

Largest Stan Rod dealer in the area.

Celebrating 75 Years In Business

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THANKS TO OUR

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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p r o v i d i n g t h e b e s t i n o f f s h o r e f i s h i n g t a c k l e s i n c e 1 9 4 6 .

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kwla Charity Mission LI

WA

GN E R L ADY

AN

kwla By The Numbers

G LE

KE

ABOUT THE

R

318,750

$

ABOUT

Keli Wagner

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Keli, who lost her battle with cancer in October 2008, was instrumental in having proceeds from the ladies’ tournament donated to the Carteret Health Care Cancer Center, specifically for patient comfort and care.

A

Through the generous support of the KWLA Tournament, the journey for cancer patients is made lighter.

Patients have appreciated the silencing earphones during their chemotherapy treatments, relaxed during complimentary massage therapy and escaped into the beautiful artwork that decorates the Cancer Center walls. Caregivers can recharge in the meditation garden while getting fresh air and sunshine. Additionally, over 2,000 patients and caregivers have enjoyed creating art in painting and pottery classes. The Lady Anglers, through the Big Rock’s Keli Wagner Lady Angler Tournament, truly make a diffference by providing those comfort

number of boats that fished on

number of boats that fished on

Sunday

age of top junior angler

Priddy

aboard dancin ’ outlaw

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208 Boats $ 108,800

365 Days of Comfort and Care

fter opening the new comprehensive multidisciplinary community Cancer Center in 2015, Carteret Health Care (CHC) continues to enhance the oncology services offered in the region. Exciting new phases of growth include offering a specialized new technology for radiation and breast cancer patients to aid in their healing and battle with cancer. These, combined with Carteret’s new clinical collaboration with the Mayo Clinic Care Network, means CHC oncologists can work directly with Mayo Clinic’s top specialists at any time so patients can confidently choose the best path for getting well and staying well.

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Total Purse Sarah Grace

items and enriching the cancer journey for patients and families.

Saturday

PARTICIPATING

Total Prize Money Won

The kindness that the KWLA Tournament shows to cancer patients is hard to measure. When a patient is first diagnosed, it is hard to comprehend all of the details and changes that are coming at them. Nurse Navigators guide them during this time by providing support and answering questions as well as providing necessary items purchased with the KWLA funds to get them started in this journey. Simple things such as calendars to record their symptoms, their many appointments and note recording reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed.

700

BY C A N D O TO O

estimated weight in pounds of

Meredith Hinton’s Blue Marlin Release

from the first place boat can do too

42.8 Pounds

the weight of wet dream ’ s first place winner - take - all dolphin

16K Social Media number of our friends on

Carteret Health Care in Morehead City offers a comprehensive range of oncology services, including state-of-the-art treatments, to meet the needs of patients and their caregivers.

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The new Cancer Center was designed as a welcoming space. Infusion areas are placed along the exterior wall, with access to daylight and views of the meditation garden.

follow along at

The meditation garden offers a place of solace and healing to oncology patients and their families. The garden and water features are supported by KWLA’s charitable donations.

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@KWLATOURNAMENT THEBIGROCK.COM »

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Pr emi um Oli ve Oi ls & Balsami c Vi negar s, Salt s, Snacks, Pr ovi si ons & Local Pr oduct s

To Your Lifestyle

• 60+ flavors of Ultra Premium™ extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar

• Artisanal & local provisions, including:

snack mixes, pickles, drink mixes, dips, nut butters, jams, granolas, cookies, chocolates, seasonings, BBQ sauces, and much more

WEIGH ST

www.beaufortoliveoil.com 413 Evans St .

Mor ehead Cit y 252-222-3414

300 Fr ont St .

Beaufor t 252.504.2474

Part of t he 81 Hospit alit y family of brands:

8700 Emer ald Dr. Emer ald I sle 252.354.2868

C&C Industrial, Inc. ccindustrial.com

NT EVE

• Online ordering and shipping is available at:

KW L

A

ION T A

PROUD SPONSOR of the

KWLA TOURNAMENT

ROCKY MOUNT, NC

WEIGH STATION + EVENT SPONSOR

SPECIALIZING IN HIGH-QUALITY CONCRETE BOOM PUMP + LASER SCREED SERVICES! C&C Industrial, Inc., has been providing quality concrete services since 1992. Centrally located along Interstate 95 in Eastern North Carolina, we are well positioned to serve the Tri-State Area.

We are a full-line industrial and commercial concrete contractor, with projects including...

C&C Industrial, Inc. has been providing

DIAMOND SPONSOR of the

APARTMENT COMPLEXES • CONDOMINIUMS • MULTI-STORY HOTELS quality concrete services since 1992.

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENTS • OFFICE CENTERS Centrally located along Interstate 95 in SHIPPING AND DISTRIBUTION HUBS PARKING Eastern• NC, we are DECKS well-positioned to INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURINGserve FACILITIES • WAREHOUSES the Tri-State Area. We are a full-line LARGE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS industrial• AND and MORE commercial concrete

contractor with projects ranging in size from apartment complexes & condominiums, multi-story hotels & mixed-use officeofcenters, Building foundations and relationships thatdevelopments, stand the test time. shipping & distribution hubs, parking decks, industrial & manufacturing 118 facilities, warehouses, large retail establishments, and more.

7991 BEASLEY ROAD • WHITAKERS, NC

BIG ROCK TOURNAMENT

252.443.9403

OFFICIAL REAL ESTATE SPONSOR

Linda Rike REAL ESTATE

J u s t A d d Wa t e r To Yo u r L i f e s t y l e

Real locals. Real success.

1410 Arendell Street | Morehead City | 252.247.6922 Specializing in High Quality 65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M Concrete Boom Pump and Laser

lindarike . com

Anticipation

Captain Stacy

—Spirit—

—Presentation—

LI

WA

GN E R L ADY

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TOP GUN

G

LE

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EBONY ANGLERS

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Weigh-Ins

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Best Dressed Contest

T

he KWLA Best Dressed Contest is a fun and fabulous tradition that takes place the day before the KWLA Fishing Tournament. Every year, the ladies’ event is charged with suspense, waiting to see what themes the angler fashionistas have chosen. As you can see from these pictures, judging is not an easy task! In 2022, the lady anglers showed great creativity and spirit, and that is what makes this event a favorite year after year.

Counter Currensea

Carterican

—Originality—

—Effort—

Brown Eyed Girl

Big Trouble

—Fishiest—

—Creativity—

BALLY HOOTERS

HUSTLIN’ HONEYS

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THEBIGROCK.COM »

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WIZARD OF OZ

BOO BEES

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ROCK’N SHOTS

KWLA Party

ROCK’N SHOTS

KWLA Party

I N F R A R E D H E A T E D Y O G A - B A R R E I N D O O R C Y C L E LULULEMON STRATEGIC SALES PARTNER A P P S T O R E D O W N T O W N B A R R E B O O K I N G

THEDOWNTOWNBARRE.COM

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THEBIGROCK.COM »

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Hey New Students, Get Your First Class

FREE!

YOGA | PERSONAL TRAINING | MASSAGE THERAPY REFLEXOLOGY | PRIVATE YOGA CLASSES PADDLE BOARD YOGA | INTUITIVE READINGS

252-247-YOGA (9642)

www.momentumyoganc.com 2900 Arendell St. #16 Morehead City, NC 28557

Follow along!

@ m o n ke e s o f m o re h e a d c i t y 124

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Registration Form

MAJOR SPONSOR

Complete form in detail and don’t forget to sign!

Projected 2023 Prize Money

AFTER JUNE 1, IN-PERSON or ONLINE REGISTRATION IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.

TOTAL ENTRIES

318,750

$

BOAT INFORMATION

Boat Name ________________________________________________

HAS THIS BOAT FISHED IN THIS TOURNAMENT BEFORE?

Yes

❑ No ❑

AMOUNT TO CHARITY

$

Boat Make/ Boat Length ______________________________________ Engine Type _________________________________

—Based on 2022 Entries—

15% OF FEES RETAINED BY TOURNAMENT

Locally Mobile Docked At ______________________________ _______ Boat Phone ______________________________ _______ OWNER

Level I—Mandatory. . . . . $1,000

Address___________________________________ City/ST/ZIP________________________________ email______________________________________ CAPTAIN

NAME_____________________________________ Address___________________________________ City/ST/ZIP________________________________ email______________________________________ phone______________________________________

Proceeds are donated to the Carteret Health Care Cancer Center specifically for patient comfort and care.

HMS PERMIT NUMBER

NAME_____________________________________

25,000

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permits-and-forms# I, as entrant, do hereby RELEASE and HOLD HARMLESS Crystal Coast Tournament, Inc., its officers, directors and sponsors, whether individual or corporate, from any claim for damages to my person or property incurred by my participation in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. This release applies to members of my crew and all parties fishing from my boat.

By signing the entry form and paying my entry fee, I acknowledge that I have read this release and am bound by same. This release shall also be binding on my heir, executors, administrator or assigns.

I further do hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand the Rules of the Tournament and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions contained therein.

y SIGNATURE

WINNER’S INFORMATION PAY PRIZE MONEY to (WINNER) NAME: _____________________________________

GUARANTEED PRIZES

1 Place Release.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,375 2nd Place Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $24,225 3rd Place Release. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,150 st

1st Place Gamefish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,148 2nd Place Gamefish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,765

Level II—WTA Dolphin. . . $500

Address___________________________________ City/ST/ZIP________________________________

email______________________________________

email______________________________________

Level III—WTA Release. . . $500 —MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

$

Total Level Fees 2023

2 NAME__________________________________ 5 NAME__________________________________ Address___________________________________

Address___________________________________

City/ST/ZIP________________________________

City/ST/ZIP________________________________

email______________________________________

email______________________________________

3 NAME__________________________________ 6 NAME__________________________________

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Address___________________________________

Address___________________________________

City/ST/ZIP________________________________

City/ST/ZIP________________________________

email______________________________________

email______________________________________

FOR QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATION, CONTACT:

Big Rock Executive Director MADISON STRUYK

1 NAME__________________________________ 4 NAME__________________________________ City/ST/ZIP________________________________

Rules Committee DALE BRITT | DEW FORBES RANDY GREGORY RANDY RAMSEY EMERY IVEY CASEY WAGNER Committee Boat TBA Weighmaster RANDY GREGORY Tournament President EMERY IVEY

1st Place Dolphin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $88,825 Level I Prize—Largest Dolphin. . . . + 16,148 potential total winnings. . . . . . . . . . $104,973

1st Place Release.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $68,425 Level I Prize Money—Release. . . . + 40,375 potential total winnings. . . . . . . . . $108,800

Address___________________________________

SCALES CLOSE AT 6PM

KWLA Tournament Director CARLEE SHARPE

City/State/ZIP_______ ________________________________ Phone___________________________

LADY ANGLERS

8am–2pm

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

WINNER’S SSN OR FEDERAL TAX ID#

Address______________________________________________

official rules June 11

Checks should be made out to KWLA TOURNAMENT. Send payment and this form to: 710 EVANS STREET MOREHEAD CITY, NC 28557 —FOR OFFICE USE ONLY—

CK#

DATE

REC. BY

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919.801.8346

252.725.1568

RULES AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT.

2023 CHANGES ARE PRINTED IN PINK

1 REGISTRATION All boats must

be registered with the Tournament Committee and entry fee paid to qualify for prizes and trophies. Any boat may be substituted but must be registered wi-th the Tournament Committee prior to fishing. The tournament reserves the right in its sole discretion to deny entry to anyone for any reason. No entries or upgrades after 8:00 a.m.

2 RULES MEETING At least one person from each boat should attend the Captain’s Meeting for the tournament, which is usually held on the Friday evening prior to the day of fishing on Saturday. Regardless, all participants in the tournament are responsible for knowing all tournament rules, including any changes to the rules that may take place at the Captain’s Meeting.

3 FISHING TIME No lines or teasers are permitted in the water before official fishing hours. The use of THEBIGROCK.COM »

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spearfish. omnidirectional sonar technology will not be permitted before official fishing hours. ✔ When mate touches the leader or leader Official fishing hours are 8:00 a.m. until touches the rod tip before the fish is 2:00 p.m. This is a one-day billfish release/ released. gamefish tournament scheduled for ✔ When team turns in a release form Saturday, June 10, 2023. Official time will provided by the Tournament Committee be GPS time. Fish hooked prior to or after attested to by signature of the captain fishing hours are not eligible. and mate or angler on board the boat at 4 ROD & REEL RULES This is a rod-andthe time of the release. This form may be reel, hook-and-line tournament. Double submitted to the Official Weigh Master at line and leader combined may not exceed Tournament Headquarters, Hatteras Harbor 40 feet; neither may exceed 30 feet. The Marina or submitted electronically via fish must be fought by rod and reel from the Big Rock app. Release forms must be the boat. A second rod and reel may be turned in no later than 10:00 p.m. on the attached to the primary rod and reel. It day the fish was released to qualify. Other is not allowed to throw a rod overboard than blue marlin, billfish forms may also with a floatation device. The following be photographed and uploaded to the Big practices are illegal in this tournament: A Rock app. use of handline or rope attached to the 400 RELEASE POINTS WILL BE AWARDED FOR: line or leader; B shooting, harpooning ✔ Blue marlin, if the team provides or lancing; and C the transfer of any indisputable video or photo evidence to participant from one boat to another. After the Rules Committee. To qualify for the hookup, only a female may fight the fish.

400 points, teams must turn in a release Mate is allowed to adjust drag after the form in person along with the SD card, rod is passed to a female. Drones are not Micro SD card or Compact Flash card from allowed in this tournament. their camera. Forms and media cards can 5 REPORTING All billfish must be reported be turned in at the Official Weigh Station to tournament headquarters when hooked, in Morehead City or to the tournament lost or released. Radio frequency shall be representative at the Hatteras Harbor VHF Channel 71. The alternate is Channel Marina. The media card and release form 78a. must be turned in no later than 10:00 p.m.

6 BOUNDARIES All boats fishing in on the day the fish was released to qualify. tournament must fish between LORAN The media card must show clear video or coordinates North 40275 and South 39200. photo of the mate touching the leader or All fish must also be hooked within those the leader touching the rod tip and clear coordinates. and indisputable evidence that the fish is a blue marlin. It is the responsibility of the 7 FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS participants to ensure that their camera’s All vessels and participants shall comply clock/date is set accurately to reflect the with North Carolina and Federal Fisheries time and date of the releases to qualify laws and regulations regarding fishing for the 400 points. All videos will become licenses, vessel permits, fishing gear, season property of the Big Rock Blue Marlin size limits and bag limits. Participants shall Tournament. If the Rules Committee is also adhere to all Keli Wagner Lady Angler unable to see indisputable evidence that Tournament rules as contained herein. the fish is a blue marlin, the release will be 8 QUALIFYING BILLFISH All participants, scored at 125 points. The tournament will fish and boats must adhere to all state not allow photos or video from cell phones. and federal fishing regulations to qualify Date and time stamp must be 100 percent for prizes in this tournament. This is an accurate. all-release tournament—no billfish shall be boated. A fish is boated when any portion q DISQUALIFICATION A boat will be of the fish or gaff breaks the plane of the disqualified from the tournament if the boat. In the event a billfish is boated, the boat, captain or crew violate any rules of boat will automatically be disqualified from the tournament. the tournament. w GAMEFISH Winning gamefish will be determined by weight. In the event of 9 RELEASE POINTS A cash prize will be a tie, the winner will be determined awarded to the boat that scores the most by the first fish weighed in. Fish must points. No release points will be awarded be in fresh, edible condition and fit for if the gaff breaks the outside vertical plane human consumption. All gamefish must of the boat. In the event of a tie in total be weighed in the day they are caught. release points, the tiebreaker shall be the All gamefish to be weighed in must be largest single gamefish (yellowfin tuna, reported as soon as possible after 2:00 dolphin, wahoo) by weight. If no gamefish p.m. to the Committee Boat. Only two are caught, the winner will be determined gamefish per species per boat may be by the first boat to achieve the winning weighed in. Weighmaster has the right to total. In order to qualify as a release, by refuse any fish. Winner-Take-All—Dolphin federal law, the billfish must remain in the prize money will roll over if no qualifying water. fish is weighed. Gamefish are defined as 125 RELEASE POINTS WILL BE AWARDED: yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo. If no ✔ For all billfish including blue marlin, qualifying gamefish are caught in Level 1, white marlin, sailfish, hatchet marlin and the tournament will retain the money.

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kwla Official Rules e WEIGH-IN All gamefish eligible for

prizes must be off-loaded and weighed at the Official Tournament Weighstation from the boat landing the fish. The fish must be entered on the official entry form by the tournament weigh master. The same scales and weigh station will be used for all fish, including those entered in the NC Billfish Series.

Gamefish scales will close at 6:00 p.m. The weigh station is located on the Morehead City waterfront. The weighmaster has the right to refuse any fish at his sole discretion.

r MANDATORY HOOK

REQUIREMENTS Non-offset circle hooks are mandatory when deploying natural bait or natural bait /artificial lures.

“J” hooks are allowed on artificial lures only. t PRIZE PAYOUT SCHEDULE Prize money checks will be made payable to the person or entity indicated on the registration form of the winning boat.

Social Security Number or Taxpayer I.D. number of the recipient must be provided on the entry form. All undisputed funds will be distributed 10 days after the tournament PROTEST Any protest by any y participant against the catch of another participant must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Rules Committee. No protests are allowed against the tournament. Any protest must be received by 9:00 a.m. on the day following the catch. Any member of the rules committee, or the weigh-master (at their sole discretion), retains the right to hold and keep any fish deemed questionable with respect to being qualified for any prize or cash award. If retention of the fish is refused, the fish is automatically disqualified. u DISPUTE RESOLUTION A protest by one participant against the catch of another must be submitted in accordance with Rule 15. All other disputes, controversies, or claims of any kind arising out of or relating to the tournament (hereinafter, “dispute” or “disputes”), including, but not limited to, all disputes concerning decisions by tournament officials, boards, or committees, must be submitted in writing to the rules committee no later than 6:00 p.m. on the last fishing day of the tournament. Failure to submit any such disputes in writing by that date and time shall constitute a waiver and release of any and all such disputes. In the event of any dispute arising out of or relating to the tournament in any way, the interested parties shall use their best efforts to settle such dispute by mutual agreement. To this effect, responsible, authorized representatives of the

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interest parties shall meet, consult, and negotiate with each other in good faith (with or without a third-party mediator, as they may choose) and attempt to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

In the event they do not reach such a solution within a period of five days after the first notice by any party to any other of the existence of the dispute, then without waiving any other provisions in these rules concerning the absolute discretion and finality of decisions made by the Tournament Officials, Boards, or Committees, the sole and exclusive means for resolution of any dispute shall be the procedures set forth below: A The dispute shall be submitted to arbitration under the North Carolina Revised Uniform Arbitration Act, Chapter 1, Article 45C of the North Carolina General Statutes.

B All negotiations, mediations, and arbitration hearings shall take place in Morehead City, North Carolina, or such other places the interested parties may agree upon in writing.

C The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator who is a retired North Carolina state or federal judge or an attorney whose practice experience includes commercial litigation. The arbitrator must be a resident of the state of North Carolina. In the event the interested parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator, the decision shall be made by a resident Superior Court judge of Carteret County, North Carolina.

D Prior to any arbitration hearing, limited discovery shall be permitted for the purpose of obtaining production of documents and taking depositions.

All discovery shall be governed by the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure.

All issues regarding discovery requests shall be decided by the arbitrator. All discovery shall be completed within 90 days after the selection of the arbitrator; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall have the authority to extend or reduce the time for discovery in a manner consistent with a general desire for expedited resolution of the dispute.

E All fees and expenses for the arbitration shall be borne by the parties equally.

However, each party shall bear the expense of said party’s own counsel, experts, witnesses, and preparation and presentation of proofs. Only in the case of extreme abuse of the procedure may the arbitrator reallocate such costs and expenses among the parties.

F Any arbitral award may be enforced by an action in the superior court of Carteret County.

G The terms and conditions of this agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and enforced under the laws and judicial decisions of the state

of North Carolina, notwithstanding any principles of conflicts of law. In the event any part of this agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or void, such declaration shall not affect the validity of any of the other terms or provisions of this document.

i WEIGHT ALTERATION Attempted

weight alteration of any gamefish will automatically disqualify the boat from the tournament. IGFA rules apply regarding mutilated fish. The rules committee reserves the right to cut open any fish for inspection of suspected weight-altering efforts such as inserted weights, ice, water, etc. o POLYGRAPH Polygraph tests may be administered to captain, mates, and others as deemed necessary by tournament officials. Participants must make themselves available for polygraph testing in Carteret County within 24 hours following notice from tournament officials. Individuals that are required to take the polygraph test must not consume alcohol or any controlled substance within eight hours prior to the test. A participant’s refusal to take a polygraph test or failure to answer test questions in a manner satisfactory to tournament officials, in their sole discretion, may result in disqualification.

By entering the tournament, participants consent to the admissibility of polygraph results in any dispute or proceeding arising out of the tournament.

p WITHDRAWAL FROM TOURNAMENT No fees will be refunded.

a REFUNDS In the event that no

qualifying fish are caught, the prize money will be retained by the tournament. s VIOLATION OF RULES Any boat violating any of these tournament rules or any boat containing a participant violating any of these tournament rules is subject to disqualification from the tournament (unless another sanction for a particular violation is expressly set forth herein). By participating in the tournament, all participants acknowledge that all tournament rules are material and that disqualification is a permitted and appropriated sanction for any violation of any tournament rules.

Decisions regarding the interpretation of rules, violation of rules, penalties, and the suspension of any rules or penalties will be made by rules committee and /or board of directors in their sole discretion.

All decisions by rules committee and / or board of directors are final and are not subject to further challenge by participants.

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SCAN TO LEARN MORE

Registration Form

After June 1, in-person or online registration is strongly recommended.

WWW.ETMLAWNCARE.COM | 252-247-LAWN (5296)

Eastern Turf Maintenance is your locally owned and operated lawn care expert in Eastern North Carolina.

With us, you are truly SHOPPING LOCAL. Call or scan the square below to schedule a free quote with your future lawn care professional TODAY!

Serving the Greater Crystal Coast, New Bern, Greenville and Wilmington areas

OUR SERVICES

• Fertilization • Weed Control • Aeration • Fire Ant Control • Tree & Shrub Care • Athletic Field Maintenance & Renovation

COMPLETE BOTH SIDES OF THE FORM IN DETAIL AND DON’T FORGET TO SIGN!

BOAT INFORMATION

Boat Name ____________________________________________ Boat Make/ Boat Length _________________________ Engine Type _________________ Locally Docked At _______________________

HAS THIS BOAT FISHED IN THIS COMPETITION BEFORE?

Mobile Boat Phone______________________ OWNER

Yes ❑ No ❑

IS THIS BOAT EQUIPPED WITH OMNIDIRECTIONAL SONAR?

Yes ❑ No ❑ NAME_____________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________ City/ST/ZIP________________________________________________ email______________________________________________________ CAPTAIN

NAME_____________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________ City/ST/ZIP________________________________________________ email______________________________________________________

phone______________________________________________________ HMS PERMIT NUMBER

www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permits-and-forms#

MAJOR SPONSOR

3 000,000!

1 ST PLACE POTENTIAL WINNINGS OVER

$ ,

*

(IF ENTERED IN LEVELS I, II, III, IV, V, VI)

ENTRY FEE AND PRIZE SCHEDULE ON NEXT PAGE Use the schedule worksheet to determine your total entry fees. Mail the form and a check made out to Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament for your total to:

Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament 710 EVANS STREET MOREHEAD CITY, NC 28557

THANKS TO OUR

LEVEL SPONSORS!

WINNER’S INFORMATION PAY PRIZE MONEY to (WINNER) NAME: ____________________________________________

Address___________________________________ ___________________

LEVEL I First Release of the Day

LEVEL I Gamefish

LEVEL V Fabulous Fisherman’s Level

LEVEL VI Super 20 WTA

LEVEL VII Dolphin Winner-Take-All

LEVEL VIII Weekly + Daily Release

City/State/ZIP_______ _______________________________________ Phone___________________________________________________ WINNER’S SSN OR FEDERAL TAX ID#

I, as entrant, do hereby RELEASE and HOLD HARMLESS Crystal Coast Tournament, Inc., its officers, directors and sponsors, whether individual or corporate, from any claim for damages to my person or property incurred by my participation in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. This release applies to members of my crew and all parties fishing from my boat.

By signing the entry form and paying my entry fee, I acknowledge that I have read this release and am bound by same. This release shall also be binding on my heir, executors, administrator or assigns.

I further do hereby acknowledge that I have read and understand the Rules of the Tournament and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions contained therein.

y SIGNATURE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT REGISTRATION

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THEBIGROCK.COM »

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LEVEL X Outboard 50/30/20

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BIG ROCK

Entry Levels, Fees and Prize Payouts

OFFICIAL RULES

CHECK OFF THE LEVELS YOU WISH TO ENTER

CHECK OFF THE LEVELS YOU WISH TO ENTER

Level I—Mandatory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500

Level IX—Weekly + Daily Non-Sonar Release.. $5,000

GUARANTEED PRIZES

1st Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000 2nd Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000 3rd Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,000 First Release of Each Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 Largest Gamefish† for the Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 2nd Place Gamefish for the Week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000 Largest Gamefish Daily. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000 2nd Place Gamefish Daily. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 †Gamefish is yellowfin tuna, dolphin or wahoo.

Level II—50/30/20 Largest Blue Marlin. . . . . . . $2,500

If you enter this level, the use of omnidirectional sonar technology is n o t p e r m i t t e d at any time during the tournament.

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

1st Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $243,313 2nd Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $145,988 3rd Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $97,325

BOATS MAY FISH FOUR OUT OF THE SIX DAYS

1st Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $129,625 2nd Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $77,775 3rd Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $51,850

HEADQUARTERS OPENS AT 6 AM ON FISHING DAYS SCALES CLOSE 7 PM DAILY FOR GAMEFISH

—50% of Total Purse Paid Out to Daily Release Equally Over 6 Days—

Prize Payout per Day.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $43,208

Level X—Outboard 50/30/20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000 $

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

1st Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $17,000 2nd Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,200 3rd Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,800

Level XI—Outboard Release Winner Take All. . . $1,000

Level III—50/30/20 Largest Blue Marlin. . . . . . $5,000

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I, X—

PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

Winner Take All.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,500

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I, II—

PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

1st Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $450,500 2nd Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $270,300 3rd Place Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $180,200

Level IV—Winner-Take-All Blue Marlin. . . . . . . . $5,000

Add up all your checked off level fees (Level I is mandatory, and has been checked off for you). This is your total entry fee; you will be entered in all the levels you have selected.

Write your total fees in the box below.

Winner-Take-All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $837,250

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I, II, III, IV—

$ I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE

1 Fish Boated Over 500 Pounds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833,000 st

$

Level VI—Super 20 Winner Take All.. . . . . . . . . $20,000 —MUST ENTER LEVEL I, II, III, IV, V—

PAYOUT BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

Winner-Take-All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,156,000

Level VII—Largest Dolphin Winner Take All. . . $2,500 —MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

PAYOUT BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

_____________% OF MY WINNINGS TO THE BIG ROCK FOUNDATION.

We Strongly Encourage Online Registration However, if you choose to mail in your registration, please complete the registration form on both sides, sign and and send the form along with payment to: BIG ROCK BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT 710 EVANS STREET MOREHEAD CITY, NC 28557

Winner-Take-All. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $527,000

Checks should be made out to: BIG ROCK BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT.

Level VIII—Weekly and Daily Release. . . . . . . . . $5,000 —MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

See you at the docks!

SPLIT PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES —50% of Total Purse Paid Out to Weekly Release 50/30/20—

1st Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $111,562 2nd Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $66,937 3rd Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $44,625

—FOR OFFICE USE ONLY— RECEIVED BY

CHECK NO.

DATE

—50% of Total Purse Paid Out to Daily Release Equally Over 6 Days—

Prize Payout per Day.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $37,187

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madison@thebigrock.com 252.725.1568

RULES AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE PRIOR TO THE TOURNAMENT.

1 REGISTRATION All boats must be regis-

Level V—Fabulous Fisherman’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000 PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

Rules Committee EMERY IVEY DALE BRITT | DEW FORBES RANDY GREGORY RANDY RAMSEY CASEY WAGNER Committee Boat TO BE ANNOUNCED Weighmaster RANDY GREGORY Tournament President EMERY IVEY Big Rock Tournament Director MADISON STRUYK

2023 CHANGES ARE PRINTED IN RED

TOTAL ENTRY FEES 2023

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I, II, III—

PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

9am–3pm

—MUST ENTER LEVEL I—

SPLIT PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES —50% of Total Purse Paid Out to Weekly Release 50/30/20—

PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

PAYOUTS BASED ON 2022 ENTRIES

June 12–17 FISHING DAYS

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tered with the Tournament Committee and the entry fee paid to qualify for prizes and trophies.

Any boat may be substituted during the week but must be registered with the Tournament Committee prior to fishing. Registration forms will be accepted at the Big Rock Office or the Captain’s Meeting. The tournament reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deny entry to anyone for any reason. No entries or upgrades will be accepted after 9:00 am, Monday morning.

2 RULES MEETING At least one person from each boat should attend the Captain’s Meeting for the Tournament, which will be held on Sunday prior to the first day of fishing. Regardless, all participants in the Tournament are responsible for knowing all Tournament Rules, including any changes to the Rules that may take place at the Captain’s Meeting.

3 ROD & REEL RULES This is a rod and reel, hook and line tournament. Double line and leader combined may not exceed 40 ft; neither of which may exceed 30 ft. The fish must be fought by rod and reel from the boat. A second rod and reel may be attached to the primary rod and reel.

It is not allowed to throw a rod overboard with a flotation device. The following practices are illegal in this tournament: A use of handline or rope attached to the line or leader; B shooting, harpooning, or lancing; and C the transfer of any participant from one boat to another to aid in the landing of the fish. Bill rope/”snooter” is allowed.

Drones are not allowed in this tournament.

4 BOUNDARIES All boats fishing in TourTHEBIGROCK.COM »

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nament must fish between LORAN coordinates 400 pound penalty will be enforced.

North 40275 and South 39200. All fish must also w LEVEL V—FABULOUS FISHERMAN’S The be hooked within those coordinates. winner of Level V will be the first blue marlin re5 MANDATORY HOOK REQUIREMENTS ported and boated weighing 500 pounds or more.

Non-offset circle hooks are mandatory when de- Qualifying fish must meet all tournament rules. All ploying natural bait or natural bait/artificial lures. boats participating in this level must be entered in Levels I, II, III and IV. If no qualifying fish is weighed, “J” hooks are allowed on artificial lures only. money will roll over to the next year’s tourna6 FISHING TIME AND LAYDAYS No lines or prize teasers are permitted in the water before official ment. A fish may be called in as boated when any fishing hours each day. Official time will be GPS portion of the fish breaks the outside vertical plane time. The use of omnidirectional sonar technology of the boat. will not be permitted before official fishing hours e LEVEL VI—SUPER 20 WTA The winner of Leveach day. Fishing days for all eligible boats shall el VI will be the largest qualifying blue marlin. Qualbe any four out of the available six days, captain’s ifying fish must weigh 400 pounds or more and choice. No single boat can fish more than 4 total meet all tournament rules. Boats must be entered days during the Tournament. Lay Day forms may in Levels I, II, III, IV and V to participate in the sube submitted in person at the Big Rock Office, Hat- per category. If no qualifying fish is weighed, prize teras Harbor Marina or by using your Big Rock App money will roll over to next year’s tournament. account. Lay Day forms must be submitted prior r RELEASE POINTS Cash prizes will be awardto 9 AM on the day declared as a non-fishing day. ed to the boats that score the greatest number of There will be no exceptions on time. If a boat does points first. No release points will be awarded if the not declare a day as non-fishing, the Tournament gaff breaks the outside vertical plane of the boat.

Committee will automatically count the day as a In order to qualify as a release, the billfish must refishing day for that boat. main in the water (Federal Law).

125 RELEASE POINTS WILL BE AWARDED: 7 REPORTING All billfish must be reported to the Tournament Headquarters when hooked, ✔ For all billfish, including blue marlin, white lost, boated or released. Radio frequency shall be marlin, sailfish, hatchet marlin and spearfish.

VHF Channel 71 and (alternate Channel 78A). Fish ✔ When mate touches the leader or the leader hooked prior to or after fishing hours are not eligi- touches the rod tip. ble. ✔ Team turns in a release form provided by the 8 QUALIFYING BLUE MARLIN To be eligible Tournament Committee attested to by signature of for prize money, a blue marlin must weigh at least the captain and mate or angler on board the boat four hundred pounds or measure at least one hun- at the time of the release. This form may be subdred and ten inches. In the event of a tie by weight, mitted to the Official Weigh Master at Tournament the marlin having the largest total measurement Headquarters, Hatteras Harbor Marina or submitof girth plus length shall be declared the winner. ted electronically with the Big Rock app. Release Length shall be measured from the V-notch in the forms must be turned in no later than 10:00 p.m. tail to the tip of the lower jaw. No official weigh slip on the day the fish is released to qualify. Other will be given for any disqualified fish. NC State Law than blue marlin, billfish forms may also be photostates that you may only boat one blue marlin per graphed and uploaded to the Big Rock app. In the event of ties, the first boat to achieve the winning day. totals shall be declared the winners IF NO QUALIFYING FISH IS WEIGHED IN LEVEL II, 400 RELEASE POINTS WILL BE AWARDED: III, OR IV, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PRIZE MONEY IN EACH LEVEL WILL BE PAID TO THE BOAT ✔ For blue Marlin if the team provides indisputENTERED IN EACH LEVEL WITH THE MOST RE- able video or photo evidence to the Rules Committee. To qualify for the 400 points, teams must turn LEASE POINTS. a Release Form in person along with the SD Card, 9 DISQUALIFICATION Boat will be disqualified in Micro SD Card or Compact Flash Card from their from the tournament if: camera. Forms and Media Cards can be turned in ✔ The boat, captain and/or crew violates at the Official Weigh Station in Morehead City or to any rules of the tournament unless otherwise the tournament representative at Hatteras Harbor specified in these rules.

Marina. The Media Card and Release Form must be ✔ If a billfish has been boated and not presented turned in no later than 10:00 p.m. on the day fish to the Weighmaster. A fish is considered boated is released to qualify. The Media Card must show clear video or photo of the mate touching the leadwhen any portion of the fish breaks the outside er or the leader touching the rod tip and clear and vertical plane of the boat. indisputable evidence that the fish is a blue marlin. ✔ If a fish escapes before gaffing and is recaptured by any method other than as outlined It is the responsibility of the participants to ensure that their camera’s Clock/Date is set accurately to in the angling rules. No free gaffing allowed. reflect the time and date of the Releases to qualify ✔ Under no circumstances can you gaff the fish for the 400 points. Date and time stamp must be in order to measure the fish and then release the 100% accurate. All videos will become property of fish. the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. If the rules q 400-POUND PENALTY Boat will be penal- committee is unable to see indisputable evidence ized four hundred pounds from the weight of the that the fish is a blue marlin, the release will be largest blue marlin weighed in by the boat during scored at 125 points. The tournament will NOT allow photos or video from cell phones. the week by said boat if: t LEVEL IX—NON-SONAR RELEASE Entry in ✔ Blue Marlin does not meet tournament minimum length and/or weight requirements this level is restricted to: A Boats without omnidirectional sonar technology or B boats equipped ✔ Fish does not adhere to State and Federal with, but choose not to use, omnidirectional sonar Fisheries regulations Prize payouts will be awarded for total ✔ If the gaff breaks the vertical plane of the boat, technology. weekly release points and the overall daily release the fish can no longer be counted as a release and winner. Weekly prizes will be divided as follows: no points will be awarded. If the fish is lost, the 50% first place, 30% second place and 20% third team will not be penalized 400 points. If the fish is place. If no billfish are released, winners will be deboated, it must meet minimum requirements or a termined by the largest game fish, (yellowfin tuna,

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u LEVEL XI—OUTBOARD WTA RELEASE

Boats must be entered in Level X—Outboard 50/30/20 to participate in the Outboard WTA Release category. If no billfish are released, the winner will be determined by the boat entered in Level XI Outboard WTA Release with the largest weighed gamefish. i FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS All vessels and participants shall comply with North Carolina and Federal Fisheries laws and regulations regarding fishing licenses, vessel permits, fishing gear, season size limits and bag limits.

Participants shall also adhere to all Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament Rules as contained herein. o GAMEFISH Winning gamefish will be determined by weight. In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the first fish weighed in. Fish must be in fresh, edible condition and fit for human consumption. All gamefish must be weighed in the day they are caught. Hookup time for gamefish should NOT be reported to Tournament Headquarters. Level VII —Winner-TakeAll Dolphin prize money will roll over to the next year’s tournament if no qualifying fish is weighed.

Gamefish are defined as yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo. If no qualifying gamefish are caught in Level I, the tournament will retain the money. p WEIGH-IN All blue marlin and gamefish eligible for prizes must be off-loaded and weighed at the official Tournament Weigh Station from the boat landing the fish. The fish must be entered on the official entry form by the Tournament Weigh Master. Blue marlin take priority over gamefish at the scales. The same scales and weigh station will be used for all fish including those entered in the NC Billfish Series. Gamefish scales will close at 7:00 pm. The Weigh Station is located on the Morehead City waterfront. All billfish weighed in shall be donated for research. The Weigh Master has the right to refuse any fish in his sole discretion. The Weigh Station will remain open until the last boated blue marlin of the day is weighed. a PRIZE PAYOUT SCHEDULE Prize money checks will be made payable to the person or entity so indicated on the registration form of the

winning boat. The Social Security Number or Taxpayer I.D. Number of the recipient must be provided on the entry form. All undisputed funds will be distributed 10 days after the tournament. s PROTEST Any protest by any participant against the catch of another participant must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Rules Committee. No protests are allowed against the tournament. Any protest must be received by 9:00 a.m. on the day following the catch of the disputed fish and by 7:00 p.m. on the last day of the tournament. Any member of the Rules Committee or the Weigh Master (in their sole discretion), retains the right to hold and keep any fish deemed questionable by him with respect to being qualified for any prize or cash award. If retention of the fish is refused, the fish is automatically disqualified. d DISPUTE RESOLUTION A protest by one participant against the catch of another must be submitted in accordance with Rule 21. All other disputes, controversies, or claims of any kind arising out of or relating to the Tournament (hereinafter, “dispute” or “disputes”) including, but not limited to, all disputes concerning decisions by Tournament Officials, Boards, or Committees, must be submitted in writing to the Rules Committee no later than 6:00 p.m. on the last fishing day of the tournament. Failure to submit any such disputes in writing by that date and time shall constitute a waiver and release of any and all such disputes.

In the event of any dispute arising out of or relating to the tournament in any way, the interested parties shall use their best efforts to settle such dispute by mutual agreement. To this effect, responsible, authorized representatives of the interested parties shall meet, consult, and negotiate with each other in good faith (with or without a third-party mediator, as they may choose) and attempt to reach a mutually satisfactory solution. In the event they do not reach such a solution within a period of five days after the first notice by any party to any other of the existence of the dispute, then without waiving any other provisions in these rules concerning the absolute discretion and finality of decisions made by the Tournament Officials, Boards, or Committees, the sole and exclusive means for resolution of any dispute shall be the procedures set forth below: A The dispute shall be submitted to arbitration under the North Carolina Revised Uniform Arbitration Act, Chapter 1, Article 45C of the North Carolina General Statutes.

B All negotiations, mediations, and arbitration hearings shall take place in Morehead City, North Carolina, or such other places the interested parties may agree upon in writing.

C The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator who is a retired North Carolina state or federal judge or an attorney whose practice experience includes commercial litigation. The arbitrator must be a resident of the State of North Carolina. In the event the interested parties cannot agree upon an arbitrator, the decision shall be made by a Resident Superior Court Judge of Carteret County, North Carolina.

D Prior to any arbitration hearing, limited discovery shall be permitted for the purpose of obtaining production of documents and taking depositions. All discovery shall be governed by the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. All issues regarding discovery requests shall be decided by the arbitrator. All discovery shall be completed within 90 days after the selection of the arbitrator; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall have the authority to extend or reduce the

© 2023 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

dolphin, wahoo). If only two boats qualify, prize money will be split 60/40 for two places. Winners may be polygraphed (see Rule #24). Daily prize money will be divided by the number of days that a qualifying fish is released. All other Big Rock rules are enforced for this level. Entrants must enter Level I and may enter additional levels as stated in Big Rock rules. y LEVEL X—OUTBOARD 50/30/20 Entry in this level is restricted to outboard boats only.

No inboards, inboard-outboards, jet-powered or airboats permitted. No sailboats permitted. Any hybrid or combination engine boat will not be eligible for prizes in this level. To be eligible for prize money, a blue marlin must weigh at least 400 pounds or measure at least 110 inches. Prize money for the Outboard Level is a guaranteed purse minimum of $10,000. Prizes will be divided as follows: 50% first place, 30% second place and 20% third place. If no blue marlin are caught qualifying for first, second, and/or third place, winners will be determined by release points. If no billfish are caught or released, winners will be determined by the largest gamefish (yellowfin tuna, dolphin, wahoo). If only two boats qualify for the catch and release prizes, prize money will be split 60/40.

Winners may be polygraphed (see Rule 24). All other Big Rock Rules are enforced for this level.

Entrants must enter Level I and may enter additional levels as stated in Big Rock Rules.

time for discovery in a manner consistent with a general desire for expedited resolution of the dispute.

E All fees and expenses for the arbitration shall be borne by the parties equally. However, each party shall bear the expense of said party’s own counsel, experts, witnesses, and preparation and presentation of proofs. Only in the case of extreme abuse of the procedure may the arbitrator reallocate such costs and expenses among the parties.

F Any arbitral award may be enforced by an action in the Superior Court of Carteret County.

The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be construed, interpreted, and enforced under the laws and judicial decisions of the State of North Carolina, notwithstanding any principle of conflicts of law. In the event any part of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or void, such declaration shall not affect the validity of any of the other terms or provisions of this document. f WEIGHT ALTERATION Attempted weight alteration of any blue marlin or gamefish will be subject to disqualification and automatically disqualify the boat from the tournament. IGFA rules apply regarding mutilated fish. The Rules Committee reserves the right to cut open any fish for inspection of suspected weight altering efforts such as inserted weights, ice, water, etc. g POLYGRAPH Polygraph Tests shall be administered to captains, mates and others as deemed necessary by Tournament Officials. Participants must make themselves available for polygraph testing in Carteret County within 24 hours following notice from Tournament Officials. Individuals that are required to take the polygraph test must not consume alcohol or any controlled substance within eight hours prior to the test. A participant’s refusal to take a polygraph test or failure to answer test questions in a manner satisfactory to Tournament Officials, in their sole discretion, may result in disqualification. By entering the tournament, participants consent to the admissibility of polygraph results in any dispute or proceeding arising out of the Tournament. h WITHDRAWAL No Level I fees will be refunded. 100% of all other levels will be refunded 14 days after the tournament and following collection and clearing of all funds paid. All refund requests must be received in writing by 9:00 a.m. on Monday prior to the tournament at Tournament Headquarters. j VIOLATION OF RULES Any boat violating any of these Tournament Rules or any boat containing a participant violating any of these Tournament Rules is subject to disqualification from the tournament (unless another sanction for a particular violation is expressly set forth herein).

By participating in the tournament, all participants acknowledge that all Tournament Rules are material and that disqualification is a permitted and appropriate sanction for any violation of any Tournament Rules. Decisions regarding the interpretation of rules, violation of rules, penalties, and the suspension of any rules or penalties will be made by Rules Committee and/or Board of Directors in their sole and absolute discretion.

All decisions by Rules Committee and/or Board of Directors are final and are not subject to further challenge by participants.

WHERE SOME SEE FLOCKS, YOU SEE FISHFINDERS.

FANTOM™ RADAR SERIES

15% OF FEES RETAINED BY TOURNAMENT EXCEPT for LEVEL I | SEE PRIZE SCHEDULE FOR LEVEL I

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WITH AUTO BIRD GAIN AND MOTIONSCOPE™ TECHNOLOGY

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MORE THAN JUST A PROSECCO.

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BIG ROCK

Event Schedule + Map

Map Key Crystal Coast Civic Center

3505 Arendell Street MOREHEAD CITY

Headquarters Weigh Station

Event Calendar 2023 BIG ROCK

9 10 11 12 13 LI

WA

GN E R L ADY

AN

S AT U R DAY

S U N DAY

M O N DAY

T U E S DAY

KWLA TOURNAMENT

Prayer Breakfast

TOURNAMENT DAY 1

5:30–6PM

KWLA Fishing

Big Rock Landing Morehead City

Tournament Begins

Big Rock Landing Morehead City

KWLA Reception Party & Best Dressed Contest 6–9PM

Big Rock Landing Morehead City

Linda Rike REAL ESTATE

J u s t A d d Wa t e r To Yo u r L i f e s t y l e

8AM–2PM

KWLA Sponsors Reception 5:30–7PM

Carteret Community College Student Center

Big Rock Captain’s Party 7–11PM

Big Rock Captain’s Meeting

9AM–3PM

402 Turner Street BEAUFORT

A participant’s refusal to take a polygraph test or failure to answer test questions in a manner satisfactory to tournament officials, in their sole discretion, may result in disqualification. By entering the tournament, participants consent to the admissibility of polygraph results in any dispute or proceeding arising out of the tournament.

Polygraphs will be administered at the Crowe Law Firm at 402 Turner Street in Beaufort, North Carolina (Pin 3 on map).

14 15 16 17 18 F R I DAY

S AT U R DAY

S U N DAY

TOURNAMENT DAY 2

TOURNAMENT DAY 3

TOURNAMENT DAY 4

TOURNAMENT DAY 5

TOURNAMENT DAY 6

Second Day of Fishing

Third Day of Fishing

Fourth Day of Fishing

Fifth Day of Fishing

Final Day of Fishing

Awards Brunch

G

9AM

Crowe Law Firm

olygraph tests shall be administered to the top money winners, release winners, captain and others as deemed necessary by tournament officials.

Participants must make themselves available for testing in Carteret County within 24 hours following notice from tournament officials.

Individuals that are required to take the polygraph test must not consume alcohol or any controlled substance within eight hours prior to the test.

T H U R S DAY

R

KWLA Captain’s Meeting

710 Evans Street MOREHEAD CITY

P

Polygraph Requirements

W E D N E S DAY

LE

KE

F R I DAY

Event Schedule + Polygraph Requirements

BIG ROCK

9AM–3PM

Begins 6 days of fishing, with two Lay Days required, captain’s choice

9AM–3PM

9AM–3PM

9AM–3PM

Wednesday Dinner

Big Rock Landing Morehead City

Live Coverage of Big Rock Awards Brunch

STARTS AT 6PM Big Rock Landing Morehead City

5–5:30PM

9AM–3PM

11AM–2PM

11AM–2PM

Big Rock Landing Morehead City

Big Rock Landing Morehead City

Pig Pickin’ 6–9PM

Big Rock Landing

Crystal Coast Civic Center

KWLA LIVE STARTS 2PM Weigh-In Starts 3PM

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BIG ROCK LIVE COVERAGE STARTS 2PM Watch On Daily Weigh-In Starts 4PM at Big Rock Landing

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LUXURY HOTEL

Big Fish Go Far

Relaxation and pleasure are what you will experience at bask hotel @ Big Rock Landing—a feeling unlike any other. bask is a new hotel experience that will revive your senses and send you away refreshed and renewed. From the moment you enter, immerse yourself in the waterfront ambience, with its continuous stream of boating life and dive in deep to coastal living.

THE 2021–2022 RACE SAW A 200-POUND BLUE MARLIN TRAVEL AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 7,974 NAUTICAL MILES IN JUST 240 DAYS

BY BRUCE POHLOT, PH.D.

CO N S E R VAT I O N D I R E C TO R , I G FA

T

he International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has been teaming up with The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament and Big Rock Foundation on the IGFA Great Marlin Race since 2021. The IGFA Great Marlin Race, or IGMR, is a research program conducted in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Block at Stanford University where the satellite-tagged fish that travels the farthest wins the race.

The program seeks to study the behavior and habitat use of billfish species by tracking their movements and diving behavior using advanced satellite tag technology. Since the program’s onset in 2011, over 500 satellite tags have been deployed on seven of the nine species of billfish and has resulted in eleven scientific publications with more on the way. Data from the IGMR was also used in the passage of the Billfish Conservation Act of 2014 that banned the importation of billfish into the United States. Needless to say, IGMR results are leading to improved conservation and management of billfish across the globe.

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Going into the third year of the IGFA/Big Rock partnership, the tagging program has been revealing some incredible insights into blue marlin behavior and the environmental drivers of their movements across the Atlantic. In fact, the 2021–2022 race saw a 200-pound blue marlin travel an estimated total of 7,974 nautical miles in just 240 days. After the tag was deployed off North Carolina, the blue marlin crossed the Atlantic before turning south off the coast of Morocco. The fish then swam southward through Cape Verde before turning back to the west toward South America and nearly crossing the Atlantic again before the tag released. Incredibly, in the early days of this tracked migration, the marlin dove down to a depth of 1,505 feet.

This satellite tag, sponsored by Tony Huerta and deployed aboard the Lo Que Sea during the 2021 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, won the annual IGFA Great Marlin Race as the longest distance travelled of any billfish tag deployed in 2021. Results from the 2022 IGMR event will be available prior to this year’s tournament, and we look forward to deploying more tags and learning more about these billfish in 2023!

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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145

BIG ROCK

By The Numbers

96

RELEASE RATE

%

14K

T-Shirts

266 $ Years 7 8,000,000 Total Purse $ 5,858,875

PARTICIPANTS

SOLD DURING BIG ROCK WEEK

SINCE 1986, MORE THAN

In Charitable Donations In 2022, the Big Rock was able to contribute $ 140,000 to their annual core charities and $ 860,000 to other local organizations in need.

3,489,813

$

MERCENARIA | 2022 WINNING BOAT

In Total Prize Money

21

572.6

POUND

blue marlin for the win

4 months 17 days

TIME SPENT IN 2022 watching Big Rock TV on YouTube

54.1 Pounds

WEIGHT OF HEAVIEST DOLPHIN

Jarrett Bay Boats COMPETED IN THE 64 th ANNUAL

BIG ROCK BLUE MARLIN TOURNAMENT

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Live here. ❤ Give here.

CHARITY IS AT THE HEART OF T HE B IG ROCK TO U R N AMEN T.

8,567,448 Donated Since 1986

$

PROCEEDS FROM T HE B IG ROCK LI CE N SE P LAT E GO TO B IG ROC K C HARITIES To read more about the donations made possible by the Big Rock Tournament and Foundation, see the article on page 66.

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149

Big Rock History

)

MEMORIES 1957–2022

LEARN | HEAL | GROW

Over the years, the Delta Health Foundation has dedicated itself to taking care of the caregiver.

Providing education and retreats to hospital chaplains, military, medical personnel, nurses, doctors, and more.

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W

RIGHT: The only existing photo of the very first blue marlin caught off the coast of Morehead City (1957).

hen billfish competitors begin to register for the 64th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, they take their first step toward winning part of the richest blue marlin tournament purse on record.

That’s quite a change from the original Big Rock prize: a child’s red wagon filled with silver dollars.

To understand this transition, you need to travel back in time to the spring of 1957. Back then, no one was certain that billfish even existed in the waters off the North Carolina coast. The commercial fishermen who had worked our coastal waters for generations seldom ventured beyond sight of the coastline, and not one of them had ever seen one of these fish.

Sailors on the commercial freighters traveling in and out Port of Morehead City insisted they’d seen blue marlin not too far offshore, but most locals dismissed this as “bar talk.’’ The deck hands didn’t know exactly where they THEBIGROCK.COM »

65

were at the time of the sightings, plus blue marlin skeletons never washed up on the beach.

Still … the rumors persisted.

A few wishful thinkers hoped the stories were true. Bob and Mary Simpson, Bill Strickland, Tom Potter, and Dick Parker decided to settle the issue once and for all. Together they created the Fabulous Fisherman’s Club—a loose-knit organization of Morehead City fishing enthusiasts. The club partnered with several local merchants and announced they would pay a cash prize to the first person who could catch a blue marlin in the waters just off the Crystal Coast. That cash prize did the trick.

Intended to promote deep sea fishing and to help support the area’s infant charter boat industry, it worked as intended, encouraging anglers and captains to head further offshore in pursuit of their prize.

Fishermen sighted blue marlin

throughout that summer yet no one was able to land the beautiful, elusive fish. But summer failures gave way to autumn success. On September 14, 1957, Raleigh angler Jimmy Croy, fishing aboard the Mary Z with Captain K.W. “Bill’’ Olsen, landed a 143-pound blue marlin.

It forever changed the face of Crystal Coast fishing.

SOUND THE SIRENS! Before the fish ever reached shore, Captain Olsen had radioed Bump Styron at the Morehead City Yacht Basin to report the historic catch. Styron, in turn, notified Bob Campbell—WMBLAM Radio’s “Voice of Fishing’’—and he got the word out to the public. Soon, a crowd of about a hundred had gathered at the yacht basin, waiting.

In the meantime, Tony Seamon and his son Tony Junior went to First CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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BIG ROCK

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, CONTINUED

Citizens Bank, where bank president Jim Bob Sanders kept a sealed sack of silver dollars. Tony Junior counted out the prize money and poured the coins into a little red wagon donated just moments before by the manager at Rose’s department store. Then, accompanied by police sirens, car horns, and as much vocal ruckus as could be mustered, the red wagon made its way through the streets of Morehead City to the dock.

Reports on the amount of the first cash prize vary from $250 to $500. Confusion as to the amount of that first prize exists to this day. Since nobody knew what the Big Rock would become, nobody kept accurate records. Prizes now are hitting the million dollar range.

It was the first celebration of what would become the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, an event that now brings thousands to the waterfront each June.

A picture of that famous first marlin appeared in the September 17, 1957, edition of the Carteret County NewsTimes. The event merited just three paragraphs on an inside page—no other pictures of the fish are known to exist.

QUIET BEGINNINGS In the early years, the Big Rock could barely be considered a tournament.

There were no rules of consequence, and only a few boats participated. When prizes became part of the affair, the total booty looked like the results of a scavenger hunt. In 1965, a listing of the prizes included a quart of varnish.

Limitations were few. Generally speaking, a member of the Fabulous Fisherman Club won the Big Rock if he docked the first blue of the season before the November 1 cutoff date.

Tournament growth was slow. In 1958, George Bedsworth, captain of the Dolphin, pocketed a $325 prize. It would take years for the tournament to grow into the giant that is now known as the Big Rock.

In 1960 and 1961, “Fab Fishermen’’ didn’t even recognize previous efforts.

152

The 1960 event—won by angler Carroll Williams of Petersburg, VA, aboard the Bunny Too captained by Arthur Lewis of Morehead City—featured a special Pfleuger trophy provided by worldrenowned taxidermist Al Pfleuger of Miami. Pfleuger would continue to mount the winning Big Rock fish for the next several years.

The 1963 tournament, and the one that immediately followed, sought to find out who could boat the most blue marlin. The ’63 tournament concluded with 64 blue marlin brought to the scales.

This huge number of blue marlin makes it hard to imagine that only six years before, no one had ever caught a blue marlin off the Carteret County coast.

In fact, Croy’s catch on the Mary Z was something that came about quite by accident. The only reason the Mary Z was out in 50 fathoms of water that day was because Captain Olsen was giving the Mary Z its first test in ocean waters.

He had just finished building it and took Croy as his party that day to show him the warm offshore waters of the Gulf Stream.

Once there, Croy had the experience of a lifetime. After a 38-minute battle, the area’s first blue marlin was landed.

(Olsen had jokingly bragged he would catch the first marlin only days before this test run.) He celebrated the catch late into the night with several of his Fabulous Fisherman’s Club friends. But nobody in the raucous group had any idea what was about to come.

GEOMETRIC CHANGES From humble beginnings — a simple challenge to catch the first blue marlin — the event grew into an annual contest.

Year after year, the event became more structured as new rules were added.

The “Fabulous Fisherman’s Blue Marlin Tournament’’ was renamed the “Big Rock’’ in 1972 because that was the spot in the Gulf Stream where everyone went to fish. After a dozen years, entries in the tournament began to grow. The handful of boats during the early years led to 35

boats in 1970. The tournament topped 111 boats in 1979 and a record breaking 270 boats in 2021.

The Big Rock currently averages 200 boats and nearly 1,600 competitors.

Cash prizes have grown by leaps and bounds. In 1974, the winning boat received just $800. Ten years later, the purse nearly reached $70,000. Big Rock fans were thrilled when the 1988 purse topped $90,800. The total purse has averaged $2,621,830 over the last five years, with a record breaking purse of $ 4.75 million in 2021.

C I TAT I O N M 2 G E N 2

YOU DREAMED IT. WE DESIGNED IT.

That total is dwarfed by the $7.5 million the Big Rock Foundation has donated to local charities. Entry fees have changed dramatically as well. A $ 25 tournament charge was all that was required early on. As late as 1973, inclusion in the tourney cost only $75.

But as the prize money grew, so did entry fees. To enter Level I, Level II and Level III in the 1993 tournament, anglers needed to pay $2,200 to tournament officials. The entry fee (for all levels) in 2021 was $27,500 — which exceeds the combined total purses of the first 15 Big Rocks!

FOCUS ON CONSERVATION Over the years, the annual competition has changed its name, altered its format, adjusted its sponsorship, and modified its rules. The Big Rock Board of Directors continues to fine-tune the event to ensure the tournament always represents good times and great fishing.

A strong focus on conservation has remained a primary concern for more than a decade. Twenty-four years ago, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament’s Board of Directors raised the minimum weight limit to land a blue marlin from 200 to 400 pounds (200 pounds above regulations set by the federal government in 1998).

Tournament rules adopted in 1997 require Big Rock anglers to release all blue marlin that do not weigh more CONTINUED ON PAGE 156

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BIG ROCK

Historyy

, CONTINUED

than 400 pounds or measure at least 110 inches in length. The tournament rewards boats with release points.

Marine biologists from the NC State University Center for Marine Science and Technology (CMAST) take charge of weighed-in blue marlin for study and research, and take samples of all gamefish.

Proceeds from every Big Rock tournament are donated to support organizations that are dedicated to helping pelagic species flourish. In 2021, Big Rock partnered with the International Gamefish Association (IGFA) to deploy satellite tags on blue marlin off East Coast for the first time.

Lo Que Sea tagged a blue marlin which traveled 5,196 nm. That satellite tag is potentially the longest blue marlin track ever collected by the IGFA and the second-longest track of all time for any billfish species.

GOING GLOBAL The Big Rock now attracts competitors from all around the world. In recent years, anglers from 22 states and three international teams have participated.

Winning the Big Rock has become the focus of many top billfish competitors.

HEROES ON BOARD Of course no one would have the freedom to fish if it weren’t for the brave men and women who serve our country.

During the 60th annual tournament, the Big Rock Big Hero program was born. Since its inception, the initiative has placed active duty servicemembers with world-renowned crews and captains. In its inaugural year, USMC Col. T.J. “Bucket” Dunne was invited to fish aboard Fender Bender on the last day of the tournament. He released one blue marlin but was quickly told to “sit back down.” After an hour fight, Bucket boated the 514.3-pound fish to take second place in the entire tournament!

LADY ANGLERS While many people consider blue marlin fishing a “man’s sport,” it is the ladies who have dominated

154

the headlines. In 1993, Kathy Keel of Edenton landed a 759-pound blue marlin to win the 35th annual Big Rock.

She held the all-time Big Rock record until 2000, when Ron Wallschlager of Kiawah Island, SC, reeled in an 831-pounder. That record was shattered in 2019 when Todd Dickerson of Fenwick Island, DE, weighed in a 914-pound monster on the last day of the 61st annual tournament. To this day, Kathy’s catch remains one of the top three fish to ever hit Big Rock’s scales.

In 2005, Gigi Wagoner of Fredrick, MD, became the fourth woman to win the Big Rock. Fishing aboard the Ocean City-based charter boat Size Matters, Wagoner reeled in a 529-pounder.

Anglers like Keel and Wagoner were the inspiration behind the 1998 creation of a one-day, ladies-only tournament that serves to introduce women to sportfishing. In 2019, the twenty-second annual Keli Wagoner Lady Angler (KWLA) Tournament drew a record 167 boats. Nearly 500 competitors battled for prize money in gamefish and billfish release divisions. Since its inception, the KWLA event has raised more than $ 425,000 for charity.

PASSING THE TORCH The Big Rock tournament has long recognized young anglers who compete alongside seasoned deep sea fishing veterans during the week-long event.

The tournament rewards Junior Anglers for top gamefish weighed in and overall release points.

In 2019, Junior Angler Michael Cripe earned the crew of Job Site a whopping $ 368,250 for his 53.7-pound dolphin!

Promoting sportfishing and marine education throughout the state of North Carolina has remained a top priority for the tournament. So the board of directors voted unanimously to add the Big Rock Kids Billfish Tournament to their schedule for 2021. The kids tournament is the first of its kind, rewarding Junior Anglers an extra 25 points for each billfish released. The primary purpose of the tournament is

to raise additional funds for children’s charities. The Big Rock Kids Tournament hosted 59 boats and boasted a $152,824 purse in its inaugural year.

CYBERCAST COVERAGE Big Rock fans have enjoyed outstanding tournament coverage, following the offshore action on the tournament’s website, social media, and the Big Rock app. Competition updates are provided just seconds after a hookup is reported to tournament headquarters. You can even listen to the radio live via the Big Rock website.

Big Rock board member Randy Ramsey mans the radio from the early morning hours ’til the last fish has hit the scales daily. One of the spectators’ favorite traditions is his blessing of the fleet, done every morning, inspired by Captain Omie Tillet.

Weigh-ins and exclusive interviews are captured by Big Rock TV, started in 2008. Big Rock TV has now become an international sensation, with over two million viewers in more than 71 countries in 2021.

INTO THE FUTURE Who could predict the amazing growth of the Big Rock Tournament? What developments will carry the tourney into the next century? Perhaps the event will span two weeks, as it did in its infancy. Perhaps special instruments will be invented that have the ability to measure the size of a blue marlin through radio telemetry so that boating these fish becomes a thing of the past.

Only time will tell.

Since some people already call the Big Rock the “Super Bowl of Fishing,’’ perhaps others will begin to call that late-January football game the “Big Rock of Football.”

Whatever happens, it’s been a wild and wonderful journey. And it all began a little more than 64 years ago when Jimmy Croy and Bill Olsen hooked a very special 143-pound fish.

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157

Big Rock Winners Over the Years 1957

1958

1959

[143.5 POUNDS]

[428.5 POUNDS]

[397.25 POUNDS]

ANGLER Jimmy Croy LaGrange, NC

ANGLER C.L. Safrit Salisbury, NC

ANGLER J.D. Rivers Durham, NC

Mary Z

Dolphin

Bunny Too

CAPTAIN Bill Olsen

1982

Marlin Darlin

ANGLER T. Teeter Morehead City, NC

1983

[459.8 POUNDS]

Promises Too

ANGLER Ken McLeskey Virginia Beach, VA

2008

[640 POUNDS]

Artemis

ANGLER Darryl Reyna Charleston, SC

2009

[466 POUNDS]

Sea Creature ANGLER Bobby Weeks Hatteras, NC

158

The only existing photo of the first marlin landed off Morehead City.

1962

1963

1964

1965

Dolphin

No fish landed during tournament

[474.5 POUNDS]

[487 POUNDS]

[420 POUNDS]

[427 POUNDS]

ANGLER J. Duckett W. Turner First Fabulous Fisherman’s Cherry Point, NC

ANGLER Dr. Leroy Allen Raleigh, NC

ANGLER Calvin Koonce Raleigh, NC

ANGLER Curt Seifart Charlotte, NC

[390.5 POUNDS]

Tom N’Jerry

Bunny Too

Sea Hag

ANGLER Carroll Williams Petersburg, VA

Bolo Jr.

1980 FIRST WOMAN CHAMPION

1981

[432 POUNDS]

1980

Flying Fish ANGLER Tom Barnes Wilson, NC

1984

[376 POUNDS]

ANGLER Margaret Adams Winston-Salem, NC

ANGLER Jim O’Daiell Wilmington, NC

Jet Stream

1985

[720 POUNDS]

[534.5 POUNDS]

ANGLER Brad Gillam Windsor, NC

ANGLER Bruce Young Raleigh, NC

Outlaw

2007

[613 POUNDS]

Bak Bar

ANGLER Montukie Lewis Charleston, SC

2010

1979

[390 POUNDS]

Sea Hag

Sea Mint

2006

1986

Chainlink ANGLER Wes Seegars Goldsboro, NC

2012

[499.3 POUNDS]

ANGLER John Parks Cape Carteret, NC

ANGLER Travis Stephenson Greenville, NC

ANGLER Todd Baxley Wilmington, NC

Fly Buoy

Sea Buster

ANGLER Rusty Cutshaw Morehead City, NC

[440 POUNDS]

Midnight Hour

O Four

ANGLER Randall Link Virginia Beach, VA

2004

Size Matters ANGLER Gigi Wagoner Frederick, MD

[636 POUNDS]

1988

[576 POUNDS]

ANGLER James Edmonds Arlington, VA

2005

[652.8 POUNDS]

Double B

1987

Shearwater

[528 POUNDS]

Carnivore

ANGLER Mark Mason Greensboro, NC

[608.5 POUNDS]

[529 POUNDS]

1977

Kelly Bean

ANGLER Susan MacRae Sneads Ferry, NC

[501.5 POUNDS]

2011

1978

[604 POUNDS]

2003

[555 POUNDS]

Impulse

ANGLER Donald Lane, Jr. Jay Hughes Atlantic Beach, NC

2013

[465.3 POUNDS]

Restless V ANGLER Bob Donovan Rockville, MD

1989

[513 POUNDS]

Diamond Girl ANGLER Denard Harris Charleston, SC

2002

[677 POUNDS]

[541.5 POUNDS]

ANGLER J.F. Pedersen, Jr. Jim Pedersen Hollywood, SC

ANGLER Kent Copeland Kill Devil Hills, NC

Pipe Layer

2014

[754.3 POUNDS]

Hatteras Inspiration ANGLER Fever II Bruce Brown ANGLER Taylor Miller Raleigh, NC

1976

[575 POUNDS]

Nags Head, NC

2015

[680 POUNDS]

Viking 62

ANGLER Earle Hall Hampton, VA

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Samanna

2016

[621.4 POUNDS]

Ashley Lauren

ANGLER Doug Phillips Atlantic Beach, NC

1975

1974

[481.5 POUNDS]

[451 POUNDS]

Yellow Bird IV

C’est La Vie

ANGLER Richard Miller Rumson, NJ

ANGLER L.B. Britton, Jr. Ahoskie, NC

1990

1991

[717 POUNDS]

Top Dawg

1966

1967

[245 POUNDS]

[350 POUNDS]

ANGLER Ivan Mercer Charleston, SC

ANGLER Rufus English Lynchburg, VA

Bunny Too

Dolphin

1973

2001

1972

[530.5 POUNDS]

[487 POUNDS]

ANGLER John Waldin Charlotte, NC

ANGLER Lance Harris Springfield, VA

Sea Tramp

1992

Wahoo

1993

[637 POUNDS]

[514 POUNDS]

[759 POUNDS]

ANGLER Jimmy Zeigler Richmond, VA

ANGLER Bob Smith Hatteras, NC

ANGLER Kathy Keel Edenton, NC

Locomocean Outlaw

ANGLER Dub Jones Seabrook Island, SC

2000

1999

Chaser

1998

[515.5 POUNDS]

[831 POUNDS]

[600 POUNDS]

[564 POUNDS]

ANGLER Vince Johnston Morehead City, NC

ANGLER Ron Wallschlager Kiawah Island, SC

ANGLER David Wood Harkers Island, NC

ANGLER Karl Knudsen Raleigh, NC

Sea Summertime Dancin’ Striker Blues Outlaw

2017

[533.8 POUNDS]

Run-Off

2018

[518.5 POUNDS]

Honey Hush

ANGLER ANGLER Matt Hanley Robert Gorrell Morehead City, Morehead City, NC NC

THEBIGROCK.COM »

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2019 RECORD MARLIN

In 1980, Margaret Adams landed a 390pound blue marlin to win the Big Rock.

Blue Marlin Tournament

First marlin landed off Morehead City

[398.25 POUNDS]

1961

1960

1957 FIRST MARLIN

2019

[914 POUNDS]

Top Dog

ANGLER Todd Dickerson Olney, MD

Tournament record 914-pound marlin!

Waste Knot

2020

Todd Dickerson’s 914-pound fish is the current record holder!

1968

[538 POUNDS]

Red Snapper

ANGLER Jerry Fulford Washington, NC

1971

[377 POUNDS]

Alpha d’Amour

ANGLER Carroll Ballou Morehead City, NC

1994

1969

[495 POUNDS]

Dolphin 1

ANGLER Leland Pribble Madison Heights, VA

1970

[476 POUNDS]

Reel King

ANGLER “Bump” Styron Morehead City, NC

1995

[649 POUNDS]

[400 POUNDS]

ANGLER Bob Warren Fayetteville, NC

ANGLER Rex Johnson Morehead City, NC

Salty Fare Sea Striker

1997

1996

[646 POUNDS]

[535 POUNDS]

ANGLER Norm Schaeffler Virginia Beach, VA

ANGLER Russell Orenstein Boca Raton, FL

Ocean The Girl Yachts 48 Next Door

2021

2022

[495.2 POUNDS]

[656.5 POUNDS]

[572.6 POUNDS]

ANGLER Riley Adkins Sneads Ferry, NC

Oregon Inlet, NC

Virginia Beach, VA

Pelagic Widespread Mercenaria ANGLER ANGLER Hunter II Cole Pirrung Matthew Brown

159

ROCK’N SHOTS

160

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Big Rock Staff + Volunteers

161

In Memory

In Memory Billy Adams

Board MemberEmeritus Chuck Rhodes

M AY 3 0 , 1 9 4 4 — O C T O B E R 1 1 , 2 0 2 2 | A G E 7 8

W

OCTOBER 2, 1942—FEBRUARY 3, 2023 | AGE 81

illiam Jackson “Billy” Adams, a resident of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, left his earthly home on October 11, 2022. Billy enjoyed many hobbies, such as offshore fishing, golf, snow skiing, NC state football and various forms of racing. During the 80s and early 90s he was an avid offshore fisherman. The highlight of his summer was fishing the Big Rock Tournament. He began offshore fishing in a Grady White, and as his passion for offshore fishing grew, so did the size of his boat. His last boat was the Southern Comfort, a 48-foot Ocean Yachts Super Sport.

A

thoughtful man of integrity, Chuck Rhodes joined the Big Rock Board of Directors in 1982 as vice president, becoming president from 1983 to 1984. He served on the board faithfully until 2003, when his status was revised to Director Emeritus for life.

Chuck offered his talents in many different capacities during his tenure at Big Rock but most notably served as the “on land” Committee Boat from the 8½ Marina tower in Big Rock’s early days of offshore communications.

Chuck had several great loves of his life: his wife Judy, his children (Fonda, Kim, Grayer and Millicent), his grandchildren, his dog Tucker, and the Big Rock Tournament. When he first met Judy, they sparked a conversation talking about boats, and it developed into a relationship of 43 beautiful years. He had an affinity for fishing and the ocean, and the tournament was one of his favorite times of year.

Most importantly, Chuck always gave his family Big Rock T-shirts every year for Christmas and they all wore them proudly. Chuck’s legacy will live on through his love for fishing, but more importantly, through the impact he made on the people around him.

Daniel Wayne Webb

NOVEMBER 27, 1956—AUGUST 11, 2022 | AGE 65

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ost of us knew Dan as the manager of Gregory Poole Caterpillar’s marine division but he was so much more.

Dan was a force in the marine industry, and his commitment to always doing the right thing that allowed CAT to grow not only in North Carolina, but across the globe. Dan was an advocate for the customer and would go the extra mile, often when he didn’t have to. His smile and his genuinely caring way with people was remarkable to watch. Easygoing, but decisive. Laughing about a bad situation, but finding a solution. Dan was not only rewarding to work with, but he was also a true friend to many in the marine industry and beyond.

His daughter Fonda sent us her thoughts after his recent passing: “My earliest memories of my father include his love of saltwater. From fishing and boating, to finding a subject of conversation with strangers, to the air he breathed, heavy with the smell of sea and salt. Everything I learned about living by the ocean I learned from Chuck Rhodes. He was widely known as a man of few words— sincere and always willing to help others learn the ways of living on the water, including me, his daughter. Not many girls my age knew how to drive and dock a boat, or even how to fish. Even fewer knew their way around a buoy and a ballyhoo.

When I was 13, in the middle of junior high, when most girls were getting lip gloss and nail polish, he gifted me a 21-foot Mako. Other girls were seeking titles like Miss Congeniality, while I drove a boat my father named Miss Conduct.

Dan was a regular on the tournament circuit, and his support and passion for the Big Rock and our community was clear to everyone who knew him. Dan will be missed, but his legacy and influence on others will be felt for generations.

“Over the years Chuck became known as the voice of the Big Rock, calling out announcements over the ham radio. Of all his responsibilities during his time as a Big Rock board member, this was his favorite. The Big Rock stole his heart, but in 1978 he landed his own “big blue” at 572½ pounds and 12 feet, 9 inches, winning the Calico Jack Tournament aboard the Jaws, captained by Donnie Russell. This catch is proudly displayed in my home as a cherished memory of my father and a pursuit that brought him so much joy. His friends were many and widespread, earned through his passion for fishing and his time at 8½ Marina. Among these we count Billy Kornegay, who holds a very special place in the hearts of Chuck’s family.”

Matthew Alan Bierley

J U N E 1 9 , 1 9 8 6 — J U LY 2 5 , 2 0 2 2 | A G E 3 6

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att has fished the Big Rock multiple years on different boats. He always enjoyed fishing the Big Rock, especially with the Hydrosphere crew. There was never a dull moment with him around, that’s for sure. When he wasn’t fishing, he was spending time with his family at home in Maryland. From a guy who started fishing when he was 11, a day never went by without learning something new from him. He was a mentor and one of the top captains on the water.

“Chuck was a true and loyal friend,” commented board member Billy Kornegay. We had many long talks on the back of the boat at 8½ and later during our winters in Florida. I am deeply saddened at this sudden loss and will miss him greatly.

Matt (aka, “Muscles”) was one of the most driven and disciplined guys I ever met. He definitely had a strong passion for the sportfishing industry. He was always committed to anything he put his mind to. Matt will never be forgotten as he was a true legend to the community. —TUCKER LORRIS

Although brief in speech, he was widely respected for his depth of knowledge and his quality of character. Among all the lessons he taught me, I value this one the most: sometimes, less is more. And if you spend more time listening than talking, when you do speak, people listen.”

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In Memory Jeffery Parker Castleberry M AY 2 9 , 1 9 9 9 — D E C E M B E R 5 , 2 0 2 2 | A G E 2 3

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utside of the love for family and friends, saltwater fishing was Parker’s #1 passion and it all started on the Morehead City waterfront. From a young age, Parker was captivated by offshore fishing and the thrill of seeing charter boats return with the day’s catch. He looked forward to the Big Rock cranking up every June and it was at a Big Rock weigh-in that he met his dearest friend, Emily.

In 2022, only weeks after the 64th annual Big Rock Tournament, Parker fished on the Marlin Fever where he and close friends completed a coveted Grand Slam catch! It was the start of a meaningful new relationship between Parker and Carolina Time Captain Jay Blount.

Over the following months, Captain Jay quickly identified qualities that made Parker so special. “He was gregarious, intelligent, engaging, tough, respectful, savvy, polite, witty, committed, eager to please, funny, caring, and had a milliondollar smile to boot. He loved God’s creation and he loved the people who shared his life with him here.” Well said, Captain Jay!

Peter B. Wright

JANUARY 8, 1944—JANUARY 23, 2023 | AGE 79

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aptain Peter B. Wright was born on January 8, 1944, in Patterson, New Jersey.

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he began working on charter boats while still in grade school. As an adolescent, Peter fished during his free time and learned from esteemed Pompano Beach Captain John Whitmer. He later finished in the Bahamas and began competing in Bimini marlin tournaments.

Peter was active in tag-and-release efforts since the 1960s. He was instrumental in implementing archival pop-up tags and advocated for the transition from J-hooks to circle hooks. For many years he served as editor-at-large for Marlin Magazine and wrote a monthly column, “The Wright Way.” Peter is best known for his ability to catch big fish. In a career spanning five decades, Peter captured 77 granders and released countless others—more than anyone in sportfishing history. Peter was inducted into the International Gamefish Association Hall of Fame in 2007 for his accomplishments as a world-renowned captain and angler. Peter taught and inspired many captains that are living out his legacy in waters around the world.

Freddie L. Stancil

OCTOBER 14, 1950—NOVEMBER 30, 2022 | AGE 72

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reddie Stancil passed away on November 30, 2022, with his loving family by his side. Freddie was a devoted member of his church, a lifelong tobacco farmer, and the owner of Stancil Builders, Inc., for 36 years.

Freddie was known for his love of hunting, fishing on the Double 07, his family and spending time in Morehead City. Freddie was an avid participant in the Big Rock Tournament for more than 15 years, and the family hopes to continue out his legacy and love for deep sea fishing as the years go on.

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Index of Sponsors A

Albemarle........................................................ 38 Alexseal.. ......................................................... 137 Ann Paige........................................................ 83 Avangrid | Kitty Hawk Wind................................. 48

B

Bailey’s Fine Jewelry.................................. 16, 37, 86 Banks Boatworks. . ............................................. 155 Bask @ Big Rock Landing.................................... 144 Bausch Towers. . ............................................... 107 Beaufort Hotel.............................................. 46, 60 Beaufort Olive Oil Company.. ............................... 118 Billfish Gear. . ....................................................149 Bluewater Yacht Sales......................................... 61 Bogue Battery................................................. 170

C

C&C Industrial, Inc........................................ 42, 118 Calcutta........................................................... 17 Collins Boating. . ................................................ 20 Complexion Med Spa........................................ 106 Costa del Mar................................................... 85 Codigo Tequila.. ................................................. 47 Crosley Home Products.......................................22 Crowe + Godwin Law Firm. . .................................. 53 Cummins. . ....................................................... 63

D E F

Davis Diesel.. .................................................... 83 Delta Health Foundation.................................... 150 Dini’s Self Storage. . ........................................... 165 Downtown Barre............................................... 123 Eastbay Media................................................. 105 Eastern Turf Maintenance.................................. 130 ED Cure. . .................................................... 36, 140 EJW Outdoors.............................................. 23, 115 First Citizens Bank............................................... 8

GHI

Garmin............................................................ 135 The Gatorbug................................................... 157 GFL Environmental............................................. 18 Gregory Poole Marine. . ........................................49 Gulf Dock.. ...................................................... 156 Hook Optics.....................................................149 Island Proper.................................................... 117 Island X•Per•Tees.............................................. 28 168

Glossary Guide YOUR BIG ROCK

JKLM

Jarrett Bay Boatworks............................... 2, 157, 172 Linda Rike Real Estate..................................... 4, 119 Marina Casa de Campo. . ................................. 44, 76 Mary Kay | Debbie Fisher. . ................................... 86 Mercury.......................................................... 171 McQueen’s Interiors.......................................... 108 Michael Best................................................... 104 Michelob Ultra | Adams Beverage.................... 12, 130 Mionetto........................................................ 136 Momentum Yoga & Wellness............................... 124 Monkee’s of Morehead City................................. 124 Montana Whiskey Co.. . ...................................... 169

NOPR

Napa Auto Parts. . ............................................. 160 Oak Creek Wealth Advisors................................ 109 Pair Electronics................................................ 166 Parker Auto Group............................................... 6 Pelagic Gear.................................................. 14, 91 Parker Offshore.. .......................................... 27, 129 PB Mares......................................................... 143 Ritchie Howell.................................................. 141

S

Salt Life............................................................ 10 Salty Oyster Concierge...................................... 170 Seakeeper....................................................... 87 So & Sew Boutique........................................... 148 Sord Fishing Products........................................125 Southeastern Elevator......................................... 25 SouthEastern Foundries. . ..................................... 72 Starling Marine.................................................. 43 Sunbrella Marine............................................... 29

TUV

Textron Aviation. . .............................................. 153 Tito’s Handmade Vodka....................................... 45 Town Creek Marina............................................. 73 Towne Insurance................................................ 71 Under Armour.. .................................................. 77 Valley Wealth Group.. .......................................... 57

WYZ

Wells Fargo......................................................167 Western Branch Diesel................................... 37, 60 Wet Sounds..................................................... 147 Windows & More............................................... 26 Yamaha............................................................ 21 Z&Z Designs..................................................... 137 65 « T H E B I G R O C K . C O M

T

WHAT IS ‘THE BIG ROCK’?

HE BIG ROCK is an area of hard bottom approximately 35 miles southeast of Morehead City. The structure’s location along the continental shelf in 180 to 500 feet of water is unique since it is mostly in the Gulf Stream current. The Big Rock’s location, along with the dramatic upwellings of structure, provides an outstanding fishing location.

85/85 Northeast corner of the Big Rock BOSCO A really big blue marlin BROKE ’EM OFF Lost your fish DROP BACK The time between when the fish bites the bait and the bait comes out of the rigger clip until the fishing line tightens up EATER A blue marlin ready to eat the bait EASTERN WALL The side of the Gulf Stream farthest off shore— can be more than 50 miles from the western wall FLYER (GAFF) A large gaff with a detachable handle used to boat a large fish FREE JUMPIN’ A fish jumping out of the water GRASS Refers to sargassum grass, a plant that grows in the ocean and is a habitat for shrimp and little organisms which sustain the lifecycle leading up to blue marlin—the current and wind combine to form GRASSLINES or SCATTER GRASS GREYHOUND A marlin who has just taken the bait and is jumping away with it very fast HOOKED UP You’ve got a fish on the line LEADER Monofilament or wire that you rig the bait on LIVE BAIT Living fish used as bait, including bonita and dolphin LORAN COORDINATES The “highways” of the ocean—two Loran coordinates in combination identify a specific point in the ocean OUTRIGGER A large pole that allows you to fish more bait and spread them out TAIL WALKIN’ When a fish comes out of the water after he’s taken the bait, he sometimes appears to be walking on his tail to shake out the bait from his mouth TRIPLE 000s Loran coordinate 40000 TUNA DOOR An actual door in the transom of the boat used to pull in a large fish WESTERN WALL The westernmost boundary of the Gulf Stream current

Find us and learn more at MontanaWhiskeyCo.com

WINDOW SHOPPER A non-aggressive blue marlin in your baits WIRING A FISH When a mate grabs the leader and pulls the fish to the boat THEBIGROCK.COM »

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