"The boats have become more modem, sleeker and faster." 



Head boats typically carry larger crowds, while charter boats 

 take out smaller groups. 



"Now, there are a lot of people doing charter fishing on a part- 

 time basis on the weekends," says Harker, whose family ran "party 

 boats" out of Harkers Island. 



"Boats cost so much now that you have to want to do it. It is 

 hard to make investment back from running fishing parties. You 

 can't get a 50-foot custom boat built for less than $500,000 to 

 $700,000. To take out six people, it costs $1,400 a day." 



Tlie Continental Shelf, which docks at the downtown 

 waterfront, serves large fishing parties on a regular basis. "My 

 family has been on the waterfront for more than 60 years," says 

 Capt. Bill Davis, the boat's owner. 



"My granddaddy was Capt. Stacy, and he started taking 

 fishing trips out here. My daddy and his brother owned the first 

 Capt. Stacy'' he adds. But now the larger 

 Capt. Stacy Fishing Center operates off the 

 Atlantic Beach Causeway. 



Reminders remain of bygone days 

 when colorful fish captains — including 

 Capt. Ottis Purifoy — spent hours greeting 

 tourists and fishermen. But times are 

 changing. 



"We just lost Capt. Ace Harris." 

 Tunnell says, "He was 89 and used to tie 

 up here near the Gulf Dock that has been 

 here for years." 



The Dolphin I, which is docked near 

 the Olympus Dive Shop, also offers a 

 piece of history. "This is one of the oldest 

 wooden fishing boats left on the Morehead 

 waterfront," Tunnell explains. 



"There aren't many wooden boats 

 built now. It is still maintained by Capt. 

 George Bedforth, who is in his 80s," he 

 adds. "Capt. George caught some of the 

 first blue marlin brought into Morehead 

 City." 



WATERFRONT ATTRACTION 



In addition to charter boats, the waterfront is home to the Diamond City tour boat and a variety 

 of old and new businesses. Near the bridge to Beaufort, condominiums are being remodeled. Nearby 

 are some boat slips and the headquarters of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, which started on 

 the waterfront 47 years ago. 



On a recent day. Tunnel! gives a tour of the Sanitary Fish Market, a large restaurant known for 

 its fresh fish, hush puppies and picture window that provide a waterside view. 



Faces of famous North Carolina politicians and celebrities peer from the wood panel wall, 

 including governors such as Kerr Scott and Terry Sanford, who also served in the U.S. Senate. 



"Every customer is famous," Tunnell says of the photos. "We have fed Ted Williams, Rocky 

 Marciano, Robert L. Ripley, Ray Bolger, Skip Henderson, Tipper Gore and every governor since 

 Clyde Hoey and Mel Broughton." 



The Big Rock 

 Blue Marlin Tournament attracts competitors 

 from around the world to the Morehead City 

 waterfront. Tourists and locals like to eat 

 outside near the docks. Night fishing is 

 popular with some anglers. The Carolina 

 Princess and other "for hire" boats take fishing 

 groups to the Gulf Stream. 



Coastwatch I Early Summer 2006 I www.ncseagrant.org 



