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Good Rock FISH AWN!!! The call heard above white waters of wake and the drone of

diesels. The battle’s bugle sound to strap into the fighting chair, and reel with

rushing adrenaline. East coast captains converge on Morehead City, NC each June

for the week long Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament. This year marks the

59th competition for the heaviest Blue Marlin and an assortment of game fish cash

prizes. The Eastern North Carolina hallmark to the beginning of summer has

become ingrained in our culture over generations. This time of year, everyone has

a Big Rock story from either being onboard, or on the dock the day a 700+lb

winner came into port.

Episcopalian, founder of Realo Drugstores, and Captain, Rob Bizzell says

that a favorite tradition has been the morning prayer. Captain Omie Tillet, a fixture

in the NC fishing and boat building culture would come from Wanchese to give the

morning inspirational words and prayer over VHF radio. Bizzell says, “It has a

special place and meaning for all of us fishermen as we head out to the fishing

grounds.” The prayer reminds them that if not for the grace and bounty that God

has provided they would not be able to participate in the wonderful event and

thereby be a part of the Big Rock Foundation’s charities and projects. Captain

Bizzell is proud that his boat “BizzyB” will be fishing with four Episcopalians this

year! We can all wish them luck. The Rev. John Carlisto of St. Paul’s in Beaufort

also has a favorite story. John remembers soon after arriving to Beaufort, he and

his wife took an 18 foot boat out into the inlet to watch the crowd and action from

the water. Over his shoulder he watched a pack of boats making way, wide-open,

for the weigh-in 7:00pm cut-off. The fleet created such a wake that his wife

thought they would capsize, “It was like being in a washing machine”. The Rev.

enjoys the fun and community of Big Rock week. A week in June to see visiting

friends from all over the state, familiar faces both in the crowd and is his

congregation from past Episcopal conventions. The Big Rock Chairman of the

board, Billy Kornegay, says that the family aspect of being together and fishing

together has been what he looks forward to most each year. His children have

grown up fishing the Tournment with Kornegay since his start in the 1970’s. Big

Rock has become a real family tradition.

The spectrum splash of the annual Big Rock T-shirts can be seen at summer

camps all over North Carolina, from Camp Trinity in Pine Knoll Shores to Camp

Kanuga in Hendersonville. The deep draw of attention Big Rock has earned over

the decades has garnered healthy support of sponsors and a growing roster of entry

fee paying participants. Daily contest entry fees range from $1,000 to $2,500.

Signing up for the entire tournament’s round is $22,500. This stream of revenue

has blessed Big Rock with the formation of the Big Rock Foundation Charity

Committee which has donated over $4 million since its inception. The Chair of the

committee and treasurer is Tommy Bennett. Tommy speaks with an eased

elegance, a cadence still heard around the water of Morehead City. His face

brightens when given the opportunity to talk about the ways in which Big Rock has

been able to give back to the community. In 2016, Big Rock gave $379,932 to

numerous Eastern North Carolina charities. The Tournament has been a known

leader in natural conservation over the years by promoting tag and release

programs with prize incentives. A principle in-line with the Episcopal Mark of

Mission, “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the

life of the earth”. This year, all sailfish and white marlin must be released, in

return captains gain a chance to win a number of cash prizes for most fish released.

Big Rock has also followed the path of feeding the hungry, healing the sick,

service to others, and sharing community. When Hurricane Matthew hit in the fall,

the foundation donated $52,707 to help with flood victim relief efforts. In 2011 Big

Rock made their first substantial contribution to the Carteret County Salvation

Army by purchasing a $75,000 mobile kitchen or food truck to feed those in need.

What started with a mobile kitchen has recently led to becoming a major

contributor to the new Salvation Army Campus located in Morehead. Big Rock

donated a check for $262,500 to cover half the cost of the land purchase for the

Campus. The Campus will house classrooms, a large family store, worship center,

commercial kitchen, and shelter.

Big Rock sets a tone of giving in Morehead City while the influx of travelers

brought by the tournament has been a boom for the area. The economic

development has created an opportunity for others to do more. Blue Ocean Market,

a wholesale and retail seafood market supplies 100+ local restaurants with fresh

seafood and has been onboard with giving back. Co-Owner James Cox says that in

past years Blue Ocean was permitted to collect caught fish from the Tournament

Captains to pass on to Morehead soup kitchens. Licensing regulations and quotas

have changed that process in recent years. In its place, Blue Ocean, simply makes

donations from its inventory to Hope Mission Kitchen and contributes volunteer

time to the Broad Street Health Clinic. Episcopalian Dr. Mary Katherine Lawrence

serves as medical director for the free Broad Street Clinic and was a driving force

in its creation. The Broad Street Clinic was founded in 1993 by county physicians

and other concerned citizens as a private non-profit, free health clinic serving the

adult residents of Carteret County and surrounding areas. Its mission is to provide

access to medical care for the uninsured low income population in the community.

Eastern North Carolina is a beautiful place to live, work, and enjoy time

together at our great gatherings. Let us be thankful, and thoughtful of God’s gifts

and remember those in need. We can all follow the example of the Big Rock Blue

Marlin Fishing tournament and give back.

-Ben Harper

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