Club Mission: The Sea Trail Fishing Club (STFC) is a non-profit organization focused on promoting fishing and fellowship amongst its members. The Club accomplishes its mission through member social interactions, seminars, guest speakers, and Club outings. The Club advocates for, and encourages conservation by promoting strict adherence to local and Federal laws, by practicing catch-and-release if the catch is not to be consumed, and through member education. The Club takes an active role in the freshwater and saltwater fishing community with other similar organizations whose goals and objectives are aligned with STFC by providing and offering either membership in and/or support for common causes.
Club History: In December 2020, amid the COVID crisis, Steve Heins put out an inquiry to those that might be interested in establishing a fishing club near in Sea Trail Plantation at Sunset Beach NC. Surprisingly, over 30 people responded and therefore a core group came together linked by email. Subsequently a request for volunteers resulted in the beginnings of an organization. Alan Trojan and Mike Shannon joined Steve in the first meeting held in Sunset Beach Park on the 14th of January. Thereafter, subsequent meetings were conducted in the virtual format until the first member’s meeting was held in the Pink Palace on 15 April 2021. In June 2024, the club reached 150 members!
MEET YOUR BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIRPERSONS
President – Mike Shannon- As a boy, I learned to fish for catfish and carp along the Wabash River in Indiana. In my teens, I fished for trout in Tennessee’s Tellico River before the dam was built. Later, I learned to fly fish in rivers in several Western States. When I retired and moved to North Carolina, I discovered many new ways to fish for sea trout, redfish, flounder, black drum and striper. Now, I am an avid kayak angler in SE Brunswick County.
Vice President – Hello, I am Steve Pendergrass. When I moved to the Sunset Beach full-time in the Fall of 2020, I knew that I wanted to learn how to find and catch the edible fish that thrive in the Intercoastal Waterway and the surrounding wetlands. The only way to learn at that time was to hire on charter captains and go fishing. Then I learned about the Sea Trail Fishing Club and joined the Club and got involved with the Leaders to activate and grow the Club. Great Decision!!!
Secretary – Jim Baumgartner – Hey all y’all! After a long and varied career at AT&T / Lucent and CIT Bank where I was a systems engineer and auditor, I finally retired three years ago and moved to Sunset Beach with my wife, two springer spaniels, and the world’s most expensive mutt. I grew up fishing, starting in the backwoods of Northwest Jersey for trout, bass, and the ubiquitous sunfish. From there, I graduated to surf and bay fishing at the Jersey Shore for fluke and striped bass. The first thing I did when moving here was to join the fishing club to learn the nuances of primarily fishing the Intracoastal with an occasional foray offshore. Both my wife and I have made extensive use of some of the excellent charter captains the area has to offer and we also enjoy going out in our 17’ Whaler to fish, crab, or just cruise around.
Treasurer – Nick Leb. I look forward to joining the board of directors and assuming my role as the club’s treasurer. My background includes decades of experience in accounting and finance before I retired last March. My membership with the club began in February 2024, and I have not had a chance to meet many of the members. Please do me a favor and introduce yourself to me at the next meeting. I am always available to answer any questions. – Nick
Sargent-at-Arms – I’m Steve Bodenheimer, married to Daria, retired and live at Saltwater Palms in Ocean Isle Beach. We moved to OIB in 2022. Previously we lived on Lake Norman near Charlotte for 37 years where most of my fishing experience resides. I became interested in coastal back water fishing while vacationing in Florida for several years. I own a 24 ft CC I keep at Ocean Isle Marina. I follow numerous guides and attend a lot of George Poveromo seminars. Very excited about this club to learn how to fish this area and meet like-minded anglers
Board Member-at-Large and Tournament Chair – Hi – I’m Brian Brumbaugh. I grew up fishing freshwater in the Akron, OH area and worked at a bait and tackle store as a youth. I moved to Mt. Airy, NC and then Richmond, VA working for Hamilton Beach Brands (small kitchen appliances). While in VA, I primarily kayaked the rivers chasing smallmouth bass and migrating striped bass – then caught the saltwater bug about 10 years ago! Speckled trout, red drum, flounder and cobia have been my primary targets. I retired in 2018 and moved to OIB in 2022. Contact Brian: Tourney.STFC@gmail.com
Board Member-at Large – Hi, I’m Buddy Wilder. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida where I learned to fish both salt and fresh water. Spent 4 years in the U.S. Navy. I met my first wife and lived for 40 years in Rhode Island. Fished mostly in saltwater chasing striped bass. Moved to Raleigh, N.C. in 2014. I moved to O.I.B in 2021 with my 2nd wife. We both love to fish. Joined STFC in 2022. I fish from an 18 ft CC in the ICW and creeks
Club Founder – Hi. I’m Steve Heins. When I moved to the Sunset Beach area I had a lot of questions about fishing the local inshore and offshore areas. Not to mention surf and pier opportunities. Before retirement I was a Federal and Interstate Fisheries Management Coordinator for the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, I have had a lifetime interest in all aspects of fishing. Since I could find no local fishing club, I decided to start one. The club is now over 170 members strong and growing. Please join us as either a new member or our guest!
Contact us at: SeaTrailFishingClub@gmail.com
Read: Sea Trail Fishing Club Policy and Procedures
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Sea Trail Fishing Club 