| Author |
Message |
Pandemonium
Member
Username: Pandemonium
Post Number: 117
Registered: 8-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 6:12 pm: | |
After talking to Seablast I talked to Capt. George of Fish on Charters the man that Capt. Chris called when he returned the Realistic back to port.
At 1:30am Chris was leadering a 400 to 500 pound shark to the boat, seas were about 6 to 8 foot. After 2 attempts with no luck Capt. Billy said lets get the fish in so we can head home due to the rough seas. Billy got as far up the leader to the wire, thats when the fish took a massive run to the deep. After about 30 seconds, which seem like 10 minutes to Chris, Bill appeared 50 to 60 feet behind the boat waving his arm yelling "back the boat up". Chris backed up and had Bill near the side of the boat. Thats when Billy collapsed face down while floating in the water. I suspect a heart attack. They tried reviving him for an hour with no luck while waiting for the coast guard chopper.
What a long sad day at the dock. Can you imagine the horror this man went through while being pulled to the deep and still managing to free himself from a creature weighting twice the amount that he does, not to say the creature being in his own elements. I guess you could say the shark didn't beat him but all the other elements did. He did free himself and returned to the top of the water.
Whether a friend or enemy everybody knows this was a horrible death. For a loser to say " I told you so " doesn't have enough backbone to be human, my thoughts of this person would be in jellyfish classification.
Billy was my dock neighbor and a very good friend. He was one of the best and will always be remembered that way. If anybody has any other negitive comments keep them to yourselves because most people don't want to hear it at this time of sorrow.
Capt. Billy you will be missed by all the other people you have touched in your lifetime. Your life was ended where you called home. My regrets to your family. Watch over the rest of us while we are making our daily voyages. You will be missed my friend.
Capt. Steve |
Seanmcguire
Member
Username: Seanmcguire
Post Number: 147
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 6:31 pm: | |
Capt. Steve, Thanks for getting the real deal out here. So he was leadering the fish when he went overboard? I guess he got his hand caught in the leader? Do you remember when the marlin took the mate overboard off of Ocean City...I think he took a wrap on the leader when the fish decided to dive. They never did find him....Sean |
Pamela
Junior Member
Username: Pamela
Post Number: 299
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 7:55 pm: | |
I'm stunned. Rick called me at work. I knew if I came in here, I would find out the real story. The area has lost a true legend. I knew the names Billy Verbanis and Realistic 20 years ago. I'd hear the Captain's and Mates talk about him in Harbor Lights. (That's where they would head after they got in.) Knew way back then, that he was a good captain. His consistant records proved it.
I can't believe it wasn't on the news.
Talk about snapping me back to reality. I have such complete faith in Rick on boat. But you just never know, do you?
My heart goes out to his family.
Unbelieveable story. Sounds like something you'd read in a book or see in a movie.
Even in death his legend will continue.
|
Ninja
Senior Member
Username: Ninja
Post Number: 646
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 10:58 pm: | |
Words may never describe the feeling people have right now. Unfortunetly I found out this eveing while in Bill's. I was pretty numb when I heard. The kind lady behind the desk showed me Steves post above. I was fishing with a charter captain out of Ocean City this eveing in Lewes, and to say the least the mood all around town is somber. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and close freinds this eveing. |