OBSFC Take The Troops Fishing 2007
On Saturday, August 18, the Onslow Bay Saltwater Fishing Club held its 5th annual Take the Troops Fishing event, based out of Osprey Oaks Marina in Newport. The club puts on the event each year as a small show of gratitude for the sacrifices made by the troops, and this year the club members hosted 53 Camp Lejeune Marines for a day of fishing and camaraderie.
Strong winds didn’t stop the 20 participating OBSFC captains from showing the Marines a good time on the water and at the dock, where a post-fishing cookout and raffle completed the day.
Notable catches during the event included the 12.5 lb. king mackerel that Marines Ryan Tatum and Bryan Massey caught while fishing with OBSFC members Greg and Kay Ogle aboard the 20’ Sportcraft “Mak ‘N’ Do.” The crew found their king at the Dead Tree Hole near Cape Lookout. The king earned Tatum a new rod and reel combo for catching the event’s largest fish.
Camp Lejeune Commanding Officer Col. Adele Hodges fished with event organizer Charles Cone and caught a 3 lb. spanish mackerel. “This was the first year I’ve come out, and I had a great time,” she said. “We caught the spanish and some other interesting fish that we threw back.”
Red drum, flounder, and cutlassfish were among the other species that the Marines caught and took home during the event.
“Really, this is just a small token of what we truly owe these troops,” Cone, a retired Marine, explained. “You can never really show as much appreciation as you should to them for what they’re doing for us and for the country. They sacrifice a lot.”
Cone wished to thank all the sponsors that make the event possible.
“We get the captains together as a club, but Berkeley provides us captains’ bags, Country Aire Rental gives us the tent, the tables, and the grill, Sodexho provides the food, restaurants in Jacksonville donate gift certificates for the raffle, and Mr. Morton lets us use Osprey Oaks Marina, so it really doesn’t cost us anything.”
In addition, the six rods and reels given as prizes to the Marines catching the largest fish in the event were provided by New River Marina and the members of the OBSFC.
