Carolina Princess Fishing Trips

With a heavy heart but full heart , hear is a letter from Captain Terrell. Please read.

Hello Fishing Friends,

The week before last Friday was my 69^th birthday. On Saturday I ran the Carolina Princess for Capt. Wayne while he substituted in the galley.

 On the way out to sea I reminisced on the decision I made 5 decades ago that has resulted in a long, fun career with many great sunrises, sunsets, fishing adventures and most of all, all of you folks who had the confidence and trust in me to provide a fun and fruitful fishing experience!

 My 1^st boat, “Harriet L” was built in 1976 and I ran her until 2006. I took over the Carolina Princess in 2006 when my friend, Capt “Woo Woo” Harker asked me to start filling in for him while he went through an experimental treatment of new cancer drugs for a vain attempt to stop an incurable cancer prognosis. While I filled in for him, I realized that after 30 years on the Harriet L, it was no longer a challenge, but the Carolina Princess presented a new and bigger challenge. So, I made the decision to move on to a bigger and better enhancement to my career along with enabling me to enhance my knowledge of fishing ability, boat handling and working in a new environment.

 I’ve had the boat for 19 years now. The 1^st 15 were a whirlwind of new experiences running a longtime family business with my sister, Julie helping me out. In 2008 my daughter, Sara, decided to come be the shore-based office manager. She has been here faithfully for over 17 years whilst rearing her 6-year-old daughter. Everyone knows her. She has really been the lynchpin keeping this together and has done a fine job in both customer diplomacy and keeping track of everything ensuring the business ran smoothly. I cannot thank her enough!

 I would be remiss if I do not thank both of my parents, “Rilla” and “Capt. Leroy” for supporting me and standing beside me for all of these years of my career.

  During this time, I had the pleasure to teach Sara’s husband, Wayne to eventually take over the boat and give me some relief from the every day duties of running the boat. He has done a fine job of this for the last 12 years!

 The last 5 years has become a struggle to me maintain the long hours it takes to keep this business going. For the last 5 years we have turned down repeated offers to sell the boat. But, this year, I realized the enjoyment has slowly left me as I aged and I should take the time to do things for my wife, Pat, and myself while I still had the energy to do so.

I decided to act on the thought of retirement 2 weeks ago and one call to a friend up north and told him I was ready.

 Within 2 days I had 5 offers on the boat and after looking carefully, I decided to call the only one who seemed to be the most sincere and would take great care of this wonderful boat.

 He came here last Wednesday and after less than 2 hours we made the deal for him to buy Carolina Princess. Unfortunately, she will go up north after that.

 The boat will still run through November 15^th and after that, we will fade off into the sunset.

 Once again. I wish to convey to you my many thanks in being great folks helping me with your patronage all of these decades while we shared all of the wonders of being at sea.

                                                                       My Heartfelt Thanks to All,

                                                                       Capt. Terrell Gould