TO CONGRATULATE CHARLES "CHARLIE" NOONAN OF SUMTER COUNTY FOR CATCHING THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE RECORD POMPANO DOLPHINFISH AND THE PENDING WORLD RECORD.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives was pleased to learn that eighteen-year-old South Carolina angler Charlie Noonan caught a North Carolina state record 11.34-pound pompano dolphinfish on June 8, 2022, the pending world record, while fishing out of Ocean Isle Beach; and
Whereas, the fishing trip taken along with Kate Noonan, Buddy Noonan, Matthew Robinson, Riley Robinson, and Will Noonan, was chartered with Salt Fever Guide Service aboard the thirty-seven foot Freeman named Glory Daze and was a high school graduation gift to him from his family; and
Whereas, an abandoned refugee raft had been observed forty-two miles offshore for a few weeks, and numerous species of fish were hanging around the floating debris, a very productive spot for fishing; and
Whereas, after fishing the raft site without much luck that morning, the charter did some bottom fishing and caught plenty of snappers and triggerfish. After a full day, they began heading in; and
Whereas, the Salt Fever crew wanted to make sure Charlie's trip was something to remember, so they returned to the raft site a second time before heading to shore, and Charlie pitched the ballyhoo toward the raft. The record fish, hiding in the shade of the raft and ready to feed, bit, and Charlie hooked his trophy; and
Whereas, when they returned to shore, Charlie talked with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, and the fish was weighed at Intracoastal Angler on the certified state record scale in Wilmington. One of the state's marine biologists confirmed the species and helped put the paperwork in motion for the fish to be certified as the North Carolina state record and the new world record; and
Whereas, Charlie Noonan's pompano dolphinfish weighed in at some three pounds heavier than the current International Game Fish Association (IGFA) world record; and
Whereas, pompano dolphinfish, resembling a more popular cousin, the mahi mahi, are frequently caught in other parts of the globe but somewhat rarely off the North Carolina coast; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the pride and recognition that Charlie Noonan has brought to the Palmetto State with his trophy catch, and the members look forward to following his continued accomplishments as he begins his college career at The Citadel in the fall. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate Charles "Charlie" Noonan of Sumter County for catching the North Carolina state record pompano dolphinfish and the pending world record.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Charles "Charlie" Noonan.