Today we’d like to introduce you to Dwayne Eury.
Hi Dwayne, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am the owner/operator of a charter business called Nautical Excursions, LLC. Nautical Excursions was started in July 2021. As a way to get the name out and to attract customers, I offered a free charter to the Military Community. I received an unexpected high number of interested individuals from the Military Community that wanted to win the free charter, but I could only choose 1 winner. I didn’t like not choosing everyone who responded, so I thought of ways to award the others that were not selected, which led me to create Take a Warrior Fishing. In November 2022, I organized a free fishing tournament for the Military Community to take place at Shearon Harris Lake. To make the event happen, I needed the assistance of boat owners that were willing to donate their time and boats and take a Warrior fishing on their boat. I was able to secure 23 boaters who took 36 Warriors fishing along with 15 volunteers who helped ensure the event ran smoothly. The tournament consisted of 3categories: largest Bass, largest Catfish, and largest Panfish. Businesses and individuals were gracious enough to donate prizes for the winners of the categories and to be included in a free raffle at the event for the Warriors. The top categories prizes were: $500 Visa gift card (largest Catfish winner), 45 ct Yeti cooler (largest Bass winner), 50 ct Hooked cooler (largest panfish). In addition to the all the prizes, each participant received a “goodie box” filled with more coated prizes, and every participate was fed hotdogs donated by Carolina Packers and drinks donated by Cheerwine. The 2022 event went so well that I decided to pursue 501c3 non-profit status and was officially awarded the status in March 2023. Our official mission is to provide a means for active duty, reserve, retired, and military Veterans to fish for free. We have one event planned for 2023. We will expand to at least 2 events in 2024. We also offer a portal where the military community can submit their name throughout the year and be lined up with a fisherman that can take them fishing at any time. The ultimate goal is to offer events throughout the State of NC, in both fresh and saltwater, and maybe throughout the SE United States.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it has been easy because making TAWF successful takes a lot of effort and time. With the assistance of the TAWF Board, we are working very hard to secure sponsors, donations, volunteers while also planning the best events possible.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am US Coast Guard Veteran. When not planning TAWF events, I am the Director of Safety & Security for Wake County Government. My responsibilities include managing all the physical security and employee safety for all Wake County Gov buildings to include Parks, Libraries, Courts, Health & Human Services, and Wake County Court facilities; in addition, I am also the owner/Captain of Nautical Excursions, a boat charter on the local Wake County lakes and Cystal Coast waters. Here is a link to Nautical Excursions for more detail: https://www.nauticalexcursions.com
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The ultimate goal of TAWF is to offer fishing events throughout the State of NC, in both fresh and saltwater, and maybe throughout the SE United States. In addition, the goal is to have a long list of Boaters who can assist with the website portal, where Warriors can submit their name and be partnered with a boater to go fishing at any time throughout the year,
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.warriorfishing.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takeawarriorfishinginc/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Take-a-Warrior-Fishing-Inc/100090870502865/
Image Credits
Take a Warrior Fishing, Inc
