WATERFRONT
O
mie Tillet was born to be a fisherman. At just 10 years
old he could be found working the water with his fa-
ther and by 20 he was running his own boat. By the
ripe age of 31, Tillet and business partner Warren
O’Neal began construction on their first battlewagon,
a Rybovich-inspired wooden boat that would become the blueprint
for the modern Carolina sportfishermen.
“Omie Tillet and Warren O’Neal built a completely different boat
for the charter fishing business. They were visionaries,” said Jar-
rett Bay Founder and President Randy Ramsey in a 2016 interview
with Anglers Journal. “They really stepped out. Every day they were
breaking new ground.”
Tillet passed away at the age of 90.
While he is best known for the boats he built and inspired over the
decades, what many sportfishermen will remember about Tillet is
his voice. For years Tillet would read hand-written, 12-plus-minute
prayers over the VHF to the fleet at the Big Rock Tournament.
“What a legend Capt. Omie was,” wrote Lyn Kennedy Tayloe on
Facebook. “He was the kindest and the sweetest man and one of true
faith. I sure missed his Big Rock prayer to the fleet these past few years.”
While most Carolina builders are quick to praise Tillet as a pio-
neer of the industry, his influence was perhaps the most significant
around the founding of Jarrett Bay. In 2011, Ramsey recognized Til-
let for his contributions not just to his company but to the Carolinasportfishing community:
I was fortunate enough to meet Capt. Omie when I fished with
him in 1982 on Sportsman. We traveled to the Oregon Inlet Fishing
Center that fall, and while we were anxious to take part in the white
marlin fishing, Capt. Omie wanted a “few fish for the dock.” Little did I
know that his definition of a few fish was having a box full! When we
started in, the wind breezed up and I was amazed by the way the boat
handled in the sea and how well she did compared to the boats I had
run. Soon after that trip, we set our goals to build a similar boat that
we would use in our charter business.
As time passed, we got to know Omie better and in the fall of 1986, we
set out with a plan to build Sensation. We went to see Omie and he told
us as much as he could about how he built his boats. He gave us advice
about methods, materials, and shared his life lesson ‘nuggets’ along
the way. We soon started Sensation and Omie was open and helpful
throughout the entire process. For many years, I have been proud to say
our boats have a direct lineage to Sportsman Boatworks.
Over the years Omie has become a wonderful friend and I am proud
that he kids with me and calls me his son. He is a favorite at the Big
Rock, and many people are inspired by his morning prayer on the
radio. He always makes time to share his knowledge, give you a hug,
and let you know he “loves you.” Omie’s generosity and sense of family
has been a guiding force in all we do at Jarrett Bay, and we are proud
that he is part of our lineage. —Daniel Harding Jr.Omie Tillet (1929-2019)
A Carolina sportfishing legend, Omie Tillet leaves a legacy of craftsmanship
and camaraderie in his wake.Legendary fisherman and boatbuilder, Omie Tillet was known for many things. In the end, he’ll likely be remembered for his generous spirit.
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