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Sitting Down with Salty Sol Sportfishing

  • 1 hour ago
  • 4 min read

At Our Epic Project we understand what it takes to make a leap of faith and take on the dream (and drama) of owning your own business. We love an entrepreneural spirit and we've found one in Marcus Burnett and Salty Sol Sportfishing.


If you’ve spent any time on the Outer Banks, you might already know Marcus Burnett. His first OBX job was running the go-kart track in Corolla. From there he’s been a familiar face at local spots like Cosmos Pizza, Barrier Island Bagels and OBX Brewing Station (he's even filled in on busy boil nites for Outer Banks Boil Company and was instrumental in our efforts to assist Western NC after Hurricaine Helen).


A few weeks ago Matt sat down with Marcus on his boat to talk about his journey to becoming a licensed charter captain and starting his own his own charter business.



"We are so excited to introduce Salty Sol Sportfishing and Captain Marcus Burnett as part of Our EPIC Project's mission to support our local OBX entrepreneurs! I have had the pleasure of knowing Captain Marcus for nearly 2 decades, dating back to our Cosmo's Pizza days. I have no doubt he and Salty Sol Sportfishing will have a very busy and successful inaugural summer and we are so happy and proud to support him on this journey. "


The Interview


Q: Tell us a little about your connection to the Outer Banks. How long have you lived here?


Marcus: Growing up in Virginia, the Outer Banks was always my home away from home. I always said as a kid that I was going to end up living here. I first moved to Corolla for four years, went back to VA for a bit, and now I’ve been back in Kill Devil Hills for eight years.


Q: You’ve had quite a few roles in the community before starting Salty Sol. What were some of those?


Marcus: When I first moved to Corolla, I worked at a go-kart track and then Cosmos Pizza, which really changed my life—that’s where I met Matt. Back at that time Matt was just getting started with the boil business. Later, I was the front-of-house manager at Barrier Island Bagels and eventually helped start up the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kitty Hawk.


Q: What made you finally decide to start your own charter business?


Marcus: I’ve owned boats since I was 18, and fishing was all I could focus on daily. When the pandemic hit in 2020, I decided it was finally time to stop dreaming and start doing! After running other people’s boats for a few years, I realized it was time to get behind my own helm. Getting the opportunity to start my own business has been a total blessing.


Q: Tell us about the boat. It has a pretty cool backstory, right?


Marcus: It’s a 1963 Iconic 31 Bertram. My dad always dreamed of owning one, so it started as his project. We took it down to the core—upgrading it with reliable Cummins diesel engines and a fiberglass deck so there’s no rot in the future. Now, with the front windows fiberglassed in, it’s a rock-solid fishing machine built for our waters.



Q: What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned while starting from scratch?


Marcus: The fishing part is easy; it’s the business side that’s a challenge! I call it "controlled chaos." Having everything organized and filed correctly is the top priority. I’m lucky to have friends who know a little more about business set up and computers than I do to help me through the overwhelming parts.

Epic has been a huge help. When I was just getting started and didn't know where to begin, I reached out to Matt. He shared this amazing opportunity to help kickstart the business. Their dedication has made me feel so much more comfortable and confident as an owner.


Q: What do you want people to know about a day out with Salty Sol?


Marcus: My goal is a safe, fun, and memorable time. Whether it's seeing a kid catch their first fish or heading offshore for mahi and marlin, I’m going to put my heart and "Sol" into every trip. I obsess over the weather, currents, and tides to make sure we’re heading in the right direction for a great day.


At Our Epic Project, we love seeing young entrepreneurs like Marcus turn their passion into a reality. When you book a trip with Salty Sol, you’re supporting a local business owner who is truly invested in our community.

Every bit of local support helps build a stronger future for the OBX!



Ready to fish with Marcus? We are too! As of this post, Marcus is in Elbow Kay, Bahamas to help mate on a friend's fishing charter through late April. This guy doesnt miss a chance to fish! The boat left the OBX in late March and made the 4 day trip to Elbow Kay returning to the OBX in early May.


"Cobia fishing should be hot right when we get back! I can still get calls and texts for bookings so don't hesitate and miss out on prime dates for prime fishing. See everyone soon and let's get on the water to get rid of these winter cold blues. "

 
 
 

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