Soldiers to enjoy day of fishing at Oak Island

by Michelle Butzgy
Paraglide

Love to catch kings, grouper and sea bass on the open seas? Enjoy swapping ‘how the big one got away’ stories with fellow Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors and Coast Guard members? An organization based out of the North Carolina coast is hosting Military Appreciation Day 4.5 Oak Island, Oct. 17, at 6 a.m. The fishing event includes fishing tackle and a ride out to the ocean courtesy of MAD boat volunteers.

Mark Vann, a Fayetteville resident, has been volunteering by taking Soldiers, Airmen and Marines fishing on his boat “Reel Trouble,” since 2007. “I’ve never heard anybody say they haven’t had a good time, whether bad weather, good weather, catch fish or not,” said Vann. He has enjoyed spending time with servicemembers. “(One of them) gave me a challenge coin every time he came fishing with me. I treasure them very much,” he said. Another one of Vann’s guests caught a sailfish in 2008.

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Beaverson heard about the event when he was at a boat show in Raleigh, N.C. in January. He saw the name Military Appreciation Charters and decided to ‘google’ the name, which lead him to the MAD site. “I’ve been there ever since,” he said.

Beaverson and his wife, Anita, went on Military Appreciation Day 4 at Morehead City, N.C. in June. “It was awesome,” he said. “My wife and I caught five mahis and two kings.” The Morehead City gathering is the larger of the two events MAD holds each year, said Beaverson.

“Morehead is very Family oriented. There is stuff set up for children — dock fishing, climbing towers, vans. This one (Oak Island) is to show the active duty themselves, ‘we do appreciate what you do,” said Vann.

The event will begin at William “Bill” Smith Park picnic area at 4446 Fish Factory Road in Southport, N.C. with registration. “Safety is our upmost goal,” said Vann. All guests will have tags naming which boat they will be on for the day.

‘Heroes’ will be shuttled to the South Harbor Marina where they will be placed on a boat for a day of fishing. Military anglers do not have to have a coastal recreational fishing license because of a waiver granted from the N.C .Division of Marine Fisheries. For more information, visit MAD’s Web site at www.militaryappreciationday.org or e-mail info@militaryappreciationday.org.