However, that all changed when they met Bluewater’s Joe Green at the 2023 Miami International Boat Show. “We checked out the newest Everglades at the show and my wife and I fell in love,” Liam exclaims. “Joe is a great guy and he’s become a friend. Plus the crew at Bluewater has been a great help through the purchase and ownership process,” he reports. The connection made with Green in Miami quickly led to an order being placed for a brand-new Everglades 285CC. Options checked on the order form include Gemlux outriggers and an upgraded Garmin electronics package. “One special option we got that we love are Zipwake auto trim tabs,” Liam says. “We were on the fence about spending the extra money for the system, but it is a fantastic option and we’re so happy we got it!” Technically these Zipwake products are called interceptors, an innovation on traditional trim tabs that have a lower profile and much faster adjustment speeds up and down. Electronically controlled, the system can be pre-programmed to automatically fine-tune plane and trim settings during regular operation. The Fitzpatricks took delivery of the boat in June 2023, in time for Independence Day, and quickly set out enjoying cruises to Southport restaurants and throughout the Wrightsville Beach area. “We like to cruise the ICW to sight-see and go up the Cape Fear River to Wilmington and get close to the USS North Carolina battleship in residence there,” Liam says. He also points out a favorite spot outside of Southport where you can see three lighthouses at the same time. “Visible is the Oak Island Lighthouse, still in use, the Bald Head Island Lighthouse, affectionately known as ‘Old Baldy’, which is no longer in use but open for visitors. And finally, the third is Price’s Creek Lighthouse, which is no longer in use and is now situated on private property. The best way to view this light house is from the water,” explains Liam. Price’s Creek Lighthouse is a pre-Civil War era lighthouse and the only one still standing out of eight that were authorized for construction by the US Congress in 1848 along a 25-mile stretch of the Cape Fear River from Oak Island to Wilmington. The Miss Fitz III crew enjoys fishing these same waters for red drum and black drum throughout the year while chasing spanish mackerel and kingfish in the summertime. Although most of their fishing is inshore and along the coast, they occasionally venture out 10-15 miles and catch some mahi. “One of the bigger challenges going offshore in North Carolina is rough waters, but the Everglades handles the water so well,” Liam says. “The Everglades is a heavier boat, so she hugs the water which makes for a nice ride.” The 285CC offers yacht quality materials and amenities which provide a comfortable experience for guests, while also showing off its versatility as a fishing machine. “We can be fishing or trolling, and others are relaxing and hanging out,” Liam says. “The Everglades is really a great fishing boat and has plenty of room for our three children and their friends to come along.” He notes it’s also big enough to host a respectable head inside the console. As in years past, the all-new Miss Fitz III fished in the US Open King Mackerel tournament the first week of October. Although they did not place in the 2023 tournament, fishing with six people on board for two days straight certainly produced some great memories. Future adventures for the Miss Fitz III may include a trip down the ICW to Charleston, South Carolina or perhaps a return trip northward to Beaufort where they originally took delivery of their Everglades 285CC. “When we took delivery of the boat from Bluewater, Joe [Green] joined us for a test ride and brought us throughMorehead City during the excitement of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament,” Liam recalls. From leisurely cruising the Intracoastal to thrilling offshore fishing experiences in the Atlantic, the new Miss Fitz III has already brought great enjoyment and lasting memories to the Fitzpatrick family and their guests. 46 BLUEWATER
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