‘Wicked Tuna’ premiere party will benefit local watermen

“Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks,” the second season of the National Geographic TV channel series featuring North Carolina fishermen will have a local premier party on Saturday, July 18, at the OBX Marina and will be a fundraiser for North Carolina Watermen United. 

The event, which includes a barbecue dinner by Darrells 2, a cash bar, a question-and-answer session with all four participating captains, and the screening of the 2015 first episode, will cost $25 per ticket.  A limited number of tickets are available. 

Each of the captains will be on hand to talk about the experience, sign autographs, and shake hands.  They are Greg Mayer, 2014 winner of the “Wicked Tuna:  North vs. South” competition, Britt Shackelford, and newcomers Tami Gray and Charlie.  Both Mayer and Shackelford are members of the Board of Directors of NCWU.  The captains will have their boats on hand at the marina – weather permitting. 

The first episode will address the concerns of two of the northern captains getting out through Oregon Inlet, which is often challenging at best.   The series was shot during the first quarter of 2015 off the North Carolina coast. 

This season there will be 10 episodes of the show, and they air on Sunday nights at 9 p.m., beginning on Sunday, July 19.  The series focuses on what captains and their mates do to catch tuna when the season is open.

NCWU, which originally came together in 2005 as a group of commercial, charter/headboat, and recreational anglers, has worked hard to promote the North Carolina fishing industry and protect those who work on the water, along with recreational fishermen who enjoy being able to fish.

Of equal importance, is the consumer, who may not necessarily fish, but who wants the highest quality protein source in the world – North Carolina fresh seafood.  This organization was originally responsible for developing the idea of Outer Banks Catch as a means of educating the consumer of the benefits of fresh, local N.C. seafood and has brought the importance of the state’s fishing industry to the attention of local, state and federally elected officials.

For more information on the organization, visit www.ncwu.net or https://www.facebook.com/NCWatermenUnited.  Tickets to the “Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks” event can be purchased at OBX Marina at Wanchese Seafood Industrial Park, online at www.ncwu.net under the “click here to shop” button, or by calling 252-305-6094.