Passing of one of our 'old salts'

Haven’t posted on here in a long time and I know its the wrong forum but I felt like the ‘old Charleston guys’ would like to know about this information. Capt. Buster Melton of Murrells Inlet passed away Tuesday after a long illness. Those of us who have been around for a long while, like myself, remember Buster as one of the early pioneers of high speed trolling with plastics and large jethead lures for marlin back in the 70’s. I know more than one of us probably said a few choice words or two around the Georgetown Hole when Buster would come through the fleet at 12 knots with all of that splashing of lures following close behind. More often than not, that splashing was followed by a hookup with even larger splashes of a marling trying to throw the double hooked konahead or chrome jethead lures. We all were scratching our heads as to why a marlin would hit something made of plastic and at those speeds. I mean, weren’t billfish supposed to hit a swimming mullet, ladyfish or horse ballyhoo carefuly rigged and sewn so as to look ike a natural fish? Guess not as Buster proved us all wrong time after time! Anyway, Buster won many Governer’s Cup tournaments and would celebrate after each sucessful day…well, I guess you could say he would celebrate regardless as being on the ocean was his life and favorite pastime. I cannot remember all of the stories (who could) concerning Buster and his good times over the years. I am sure this will stir up some memories of runaway golf carts, wheelbarrows, hangovers and throwing shot glasses between the pilings at the old bar upstairs at Bohicket!
Bottom line is that we have lost one of “the good ones” and I intend to pay my respects and then celebrate his life as he would have wanted all of us to do.

Cheers Captain Buster Melton
With respect, Captain Lanny Ard

The first time I went offshore was with Buster, I was probably 12 years old and I remember sitting up in the bridge and seeing a blue marlin rip through our spread. He was a great person and not to mention a marlin magnet!

Glorious,if you are who i think you are,i believe you are responsible for the only marlin i have ever caught…

Thank you for sharing this story.

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Before the Governors Cup, it was the Red Cross Billfishing series. Capt’n Buster’s boat was dominant. Believe he ran a big Bertram called Bubba, right ? I will always remember jumping off the boat and walking down the dock wearing cowboy boots.

High toast, Captain !

Sorry to hear, I have fished with him a few times out of Marlin Quay Marina on the Bubba. The Bubba was registered out of Coolio Texas, and I believe the Owner of the Bubba was one the Ryan Restaurant founders. My friends dad was friends with the owner, he would call him up and say hey my boy and his friends want to go fishing on the Bubba, man what good times we had. Caught my biggest Wahoo ever at 76lbs on the Bubba.

I too spent time around Marlin Quay marina and knew Buster from my time there! I am sorry to hear of his passing, Buster for sure was one of the good guys! I can,t say I ever fished with Buster but I did share a lot of stories and beer at the Marlin Quay Bar. Thoughts and prayers to his family. In leu of cards and flowers I and a few others have been making contributions to the fund the reef to memorialize our fishing friends.

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Buster will be missed by lots of us old salts. I do believe he goes all the way back to the old GULF STREAM MARINA

And don’t forget he Pabst Blue Ribbon billfish tournament and the Arthur Smith at the Gulf Stream marina. That’s where I first met him.

Back in those days he would drink a nice cold PBR