Friday Morning at Big Rock: Golf Cart Coastal Edition

When I heard someone had landed a 919-pound record-breaking marlin at the Big Rock Tournament, I knew I wanted to go see the tournament for myself.

A few days later, I was invited to join a boat cruise over to check out the action, and it turned into one of those Fridays that reminded me exactly why I moved to a small coastal town.

Before we even made it to the tournament, the day was already off to a pretty good start.

We passed a pod of dolphins making their way through the water. The wild horses were out along the shoreline. And once we arrived near the tournament docks, I spotted the Cricket II from Jaws tied up among the boats.

The tournament itself was impressive. Seeing photos online is one thing. Seeing dozens of sportfishing boats gathered together in person is something else entirely. It gives you a much better appreciation for the scale of the event and the amount of preparation that goes into it.

Because we would be spending several hours out on the water, I dressed for the conditions rather than the dock.

SPF is everything for me in the summer, especially on a boat. The white SPF shirt kept me protected without feeling hot or heavy, which is exactly what I wanted for three hours in the sun.

I paired it with a bright pink skort that kept me cool while still giving me plenty of coverage. One of the reasons I love a good skort is that I never have to think about it. Whether I’m climbing on and off a boat, walking around a marina, or hopping between docks, it just works.

For footwear, I wore my favorite pink Clarks sandals. Clarks has become one of my go-to brands because they’re comfortable enough for long days on my feet, and they were perfect for a day spent around boats and docks.

My Black Clover hat helped keep the sun off my face, and my favorite pair of Goodrs—appropriately named Flamingos on a Booze Cruise—kept the glare off the water out of my eyes.

I also never go anywhere in the summer without my 40-ounce BrüMate. Coastal North Carolina is already heating up for the season, and having cold water within reach makes a huge difference on the water.

My striped Sea Bags tote was filled with all of my SPF favorites and everything else I wanted within easy reach for the trip.

The outfit worked exactly as intended, but the real highlight was getting to see where the competition was taking place. The boats, the atmosphere, the excitement surrounding the tournament—it was all worth the trip.

It was one of those mornings that reminded me exactly why I moved to the coast. Good weather, good company, dolphins in the water, wild horses along the shoreline, and a chance to see one of North Carolina’s most famous fishing tournaments up close.

Not a bad way to spend a Friday. -LME

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