A Fresh Start-

After a somewhat dismal economy picture in 2009, I think we all are ready to let business pick up and actually get going again. AND,....I must say, it seems to be looking exactly like that!

Over the Christmas holidays, I had four (yes, four) emails from new companies who were interested in finding their spot among the leading sponsors of Big Rock. This showed me that hope is still available to anyone who takes the chance to go out there and find it.

There are plenty of exciting new idea's with Big Rock this year including our new winner take all dolphin category. This category is geared towards the smaller boat and smaller entry level but with plenty of ways to win. For a total of $4000, you are in the guaranteed level for blue marlin, daily/weekly prizes for release, and daily/weekly prizes for all gamefish ..PLUS, a total prize pot for the dolphin-winner take all!!

So grab your friends and plan for one of the best weeks you will have in 2010 by fishing with the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament!!!

Ft. Lauderdale Bound!

The Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year as signs of economic improvement begin to appear. Housing sales are better than previous months and we believe this will trickle down to the boat market as well. After all, what good is a house without a boat? At least that's the way my coastal brain works.

I'll be headed there this week to see the show and continue my never ending quest for Big Rock sponsors. We have been extremely fortunate to have the continued support of our sponsors through this tough time and I will do my best to make it worth their while. The tournament is a "rock" (if you will) among the waves of slow economy and continues to see growth in participation and sponsors.

The Big Rock board would like to welcome Coble Trench Safety, owned by Tom Coble of Greensboro, North Carolina. Coble Trench Safety stepped up this year as Presenting Sponsor and has now committed his support for the next three years as Major Sponsor. A Carteret County homeowner and Big Rock fisherman, Tom has given his support for many years and is excited to participate as the major leading sponsor of the tournament.

All sponsors are encouraged to commit for 2010 now to save their position for the upcoming event. Thanks to everyone who has already secured their spot in the line-up!

Randy Ramsey on the Radio!

This weekend is the 21st Annual Ducks Unlimited Band the Billfish Tournament and our own, Randy Ramsey of Jarrett Bay Boatworks/Jarrett Bay Yacht Sales will be on the radio entertaining the DU participants.

Randy's knowledge of the boats and their captains along with his quick wit offer participants a link back to land as they await the billfish bite. He has been the BIG ROCK radio personality for several years and we hope he never "quits" his job!

Randy and the other 14-member board of directors volunteer their time all year long to make Big Rock a successful event. Their efforts have netted over 2 million dollars to worthy organizations so far and have built a foundation to sustain these charities for many years to come.

Yeah, ....What It's All About-

Charity.

Though much is said about the amount participant's win, charity is why this 15-member volunteer board of directors work so hard each year to make Big Rock a success.

Yesterday the board donated $91,413 to fourteen different organizations who they have defined as the "core" group of charities. This annual event, held at the Dunes Club in Atlantic Beach, is what the entire board looks forward to each year. The icing on the cake of what was a great tournament year.

Pictured here with Casey is Chuck Bryant, Director of Newport Developmental Center and his predecessor Doris Oglesby, who recently retired from the school for adult handicap students. Even though Doris is living the high life of retirement, she asked if she could attend the charity luncheon just because it has meant so much to her in the past. The Newport Developmental Center is THE core charity of the tournament since it was the first to receive the benefits of a profitable event. Doris, Chuck and all the other recipients were so very thankful for the donations Big Rock makes each year. In turn, the board thanked each of them for working with organizations that define what a real community stands for.

President Tom Bennett opened the ceremony and welcomed everyone, Gene McClendon of Hope Mission offered the prayer, and the recipients were treated to a nice lunch prior to the presentation. Casey Wagner, charity committee chairman, presented each charity their donation for 2009 saving the final RAAB Clinic check for last.

Casey, still heartbroken over the loss of his wife Keli to breast cancer last year, was filled with emotion as he explained the renaming of the ladies tournament for Keli and why the donations to the clinic were so important. Sonda Warrington, director of RAAB, offered her thanks and defined the use of funds for patient comfort and care. The Keli Wagner Lady Angler Tournament raised $23,000 during this year's one-day tournament, $7000 of which came from non-fishing teams!!

It was a great way to start the holiday weekend knowing that Big Rock has now breached the 2 million dollar mark in its support of these many worthy causes.

Just a few days ago, this was the site at the weigh station...
Wow, what fun we had!!

Another great weather week, unprecedented re-entries, and a finish that couldn't be scripted any better with two North Carolina captain's battling it out.

The 51st Annual Big Rock was a wonderful success thanks to the multitude of committed staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make each facet of the event the best it could be.

A special "shout out" to Randy Ramsey who arrived each morning with Tiffany at 6:00 am. Tiff offered to open the office for me and Randy of course, didn't want to be without her! Once the office was opened, Randy escorted Omie Tillet in at 7:00 for the morning prayer. My office was full all week with people wanting to listen to Randy and have a moment of his time. He is a very special man, a successful businessman and a committed Big Rock board member.

Mike Thompson also spent his entire week handling the funds and adjusting the purse as needed. This job alone takes a full time person. Thanks Mike!

Media Director, Bruce Paul-, Statistician-Jo Ann Taylor, Office Assistant-Barb Backman, Web/Photographer-Ronnie Boone, Weigh Station-Randy Gregory and George Lott, M/C- Rick Cowell, Streaming Video-Brian Goodwin, Bar-Lynn Ward and Thurmond Beard, and of course Web/Assistant Rowanne Robertson. All of these people and more giving an entire week through exhaustion to make the tournament as perfect as it could be.

Thanks to everyone mentioned and unmentioned for your loyal efforts to the biggest and best billfish tournament in the U.S or anywhere!!

Well....everyday I have thought of some wonderful thing I wanted to write about but of course...with facebook, twitter, and trying to actually run the tournament, I have gotten behind.

On Friday, I had excitement and such joy about the ladies tournament, on Saturday I had such incredible craziness in the office you could not think and on Sunday I had such thankfulness for volunteers, participants, sponsors, police officers, everyone that make up this entire week. Each day I could have written 10 pages on what happened here but, it just didn't work out.

The tournament is going great and we had some nice gamefish today. Releases have been good and I think most boats are excited about the first fish opportunity.

Good luck anglers!!

Artist Steve Goione has done another brilliant job with the 51st Annual Big Rock original. Wow!, are the colors vivid and beautiful!

Steve has been around for a while now, showing (and donating) for many other tournaments too. I'm sure after awhile he wonders how many different ways he can draw a marlin. He seems to find it though, each time and offer something more than you could have hoped for. Goione pieces take weeks to create and finish.

As sort of an unwritten "gentleman's rule", the first place blue marlin winner will usually buy the original art. This is their contribution to charity after being so lucky at the tournament. Last year the art brought in $22,500 for Big Rock charities and hopefully the 51st winner will want this incredible piece just as much.