01/07/2026
Well we had a lackluster Big Rock and Hatteras Marlin Club Tournament. We started out feeling pretty good caught a nice wahoo good enough for second place and a magnum size white one. Won a little money for our ladies, but then reality set in. We guessed wrong the first 2 fishing days were totally out of the bite. Then the last 2 days we managed to watch other boats catch some nice fish. When the smoke cleared we fished hard 4 days and never saw a fish in the baits. Then up to Hatteras for the Marlin Club. Pretty much the same story fished hard for 3 days never saw a single billfish. Needless to say we have some work to do and get ourselves back on track. During the Big Rock we took a lay day to pay our respects for Alva Don Stallings, the last picture is one I found of Don single handed creeking my Father when we won the Capn Fannie’s Tournament. Seeing that picture and others during the course of the week made us reflect on all the memories and friendships made over the years. For me on a personal level it was my 50th Big Rock, and I wish I could say I had 50 more left in me, but I don’t. Number 51 will be here before you know it and we are already counting the days. Congrats to all the winners particularly the Marlin Fever with their Big Rock record and Simple Man at the Hatteras Marlin Club. Up next for us is the Alice Kelly Tournament and hopefully we will have our issues ironed out and get back to seeing some fish.