CityView Magazine

60 | July/August 2015 John C. Tally Big Drum Invitational What began as Crawford MacKethan Jr.'s bachelor party in 2007 has become a highly- anticipated weekend-long event each year in the Pamlico Sound at Cedar Island, the northernmost and most sparsely populated area of Carteret County. e weekend aer Labor Day, at the peak of Red Drum spawning season, 100 men in 20 boats come together for fishing and fel- lowship. While there are trophies for first, second and third place, the winners don't receive a monetary award. "It's for bragging rights only," said Crawford, who organ- izes the tournament each year with Lockett Tally, son of the late John C. Tally, an avid fisherman and the tournament's namesake. "My dad always loved fishing Cedar Island and we grew up with a lot of men who fish in the tournament. ey were his friends," said Lockett, who particularly appreciates the tournament's unique ability to bring to- gether the men of his dad's generation and his own. Bragging rights are a sufficient draw, as the tournament reaches capacity quickly and has for the past several years. "Every- one loves to relax with their buddies at Ce- dar Island and they get to do it at its best. First place or last place, every boat catches fish," said Lockett, of the tournament's con- tinued success in the pinnacle of a season that lasts from August through October. e official salt-water fish of North Car- olina, the Red Drum has been a protected game fish since 2007. Using an Owen Lup- ton drum rig, the design of which increas- es probability that the fish will be hooked harmlessly in the side of the mouth rather than the belly, all fish are released quickly aer measurement to minimize trauma. "e fish we catch can be 40 inches long, but they are also 20-50 years old. We want to protect them as much as possible," said Crawford. Another paramount concern of the tour- nament co-chairs is safety. Participants must be experienced in navigating the Pam- lico Sound, the largest lagoon on the East Coast. Fed from the west by the Pamlico and Neuse Rivers, the area is characterized by wide expanses of shallow water, shoaling and tidal shis from tributary rivers. "It can be a treacherous body of water if you don't The weekend after Labor Day, at the peak of Red Drum spawning season, 100 men in 20 boats come together for fishing and fellowship. The boat that catches the most Red Drum wins and a fish must be 34 inches long to qualify. Neil Senter reels in a big one. Crawford MacKethan with a great catch.

• Cover