>> WELCOME TO DETECTIVE CONNECTION ON LOCATION FROM OCEAN CITY MARYLAND.

STORIES FROM BEACH CONTROL AND FISH TALES MAYBE FROM THE WHITE MARLIN OPEN.

LET'S BEGIN.

WE ARE JOINED BY THE LONG TIME MAYOR OF OCEAN CITY.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US AND THANKS FOR SUNNY AND WHAT IS THIS, 80ISH?

>> IT'S GREAT BEACH WEATHER HERE IN OCEAN CITY.

>> YOU ARE BACK TO FULL SPEED HERE IN TERMS OF ACTIVITY, PANDEMIC STUFF BEHIND YOU.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYTHING IS WIDE OPEN BACK TO BRINGING BACK OUR FESTIVALS AND DIFFERENT EVENTS.

EVERYTHING IS GOING ON AS IT DID PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, SO WE ARE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT AT THE BEACH.

>> RIGHT NOW THEY'RE SETTING UP FOR HERE AT THE INLET AND THEY'RE SETTING UP FOR A WHITE MARLIN FESTIVAL HERE, WHICH IS A NEW THING.

>> YES.

THEY DID IT LAST YEAR AT THE THIRD STREET BALL FIELDS, MOVED IT DOWN TO THE BEACH.

IT'S A FESTIVAL BUT IT'S REALLY PART OF THE WHITE MARLIN OPEN TOURNAMENT AND THAT STARTED TODAY.

I MEAN THAT'S JUST THE LARGEST TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD.

408 BOATS ARE REGISTERED.

PRIZE MONEY AROUND... >> INCREDIBLE PRIZE MONEY.

>> 8.6 MILLION.

THE WHOLE EVENT, THE TOURNAMENT TAKES PLACE, THE WEIGH INS AT HARBOR ISLAND.

I THINK 290 BOATS WENT OUT TODAY OR SOMETHING.

SO STARTING AT 4:00 AT THE HARBOR ISLAND, THEY'RE GOING TO >> WE WILL BE OVER AT HARBOR ISLAND LATER FOR MORE ON THAT.

ONE THING I NOTICED DRIVING DOWN TODAY, PRICE OF GAS ALL ALONG ROUTE 50, UNDER FOUR BUCKS.

THAT'S GOT TO MAKE YOU HAPPY.

>> IT DOES AND FOR EVERYBODY, SO THEY KNOW, IT GETS CHEAPER THE CLOSER YOU GET TO OCEAN CITY.

>> I DIDN'T NOTICE THAT.

>> IF YOU NOTICE THAT, THAT'S THE PROGRESSION.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

THAT DOES AFFECT US TO SOME DEGREE.

I MEAN EVERYBODY WANTS THE GAS PRICES TO BE A LITTLE BIT LOWER.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE OUR LOCATION, WE ARE NOT THAT FAR.

YOU KNOW, FROM OUR BIG MARKET AREAS BUT STILL THAT'S A GREAT SITE TO SEE THOSE GAS PRICES GO DOWN.

>> HAVING COME DOWN HERE A MILLION YEARS, ANOTHER THING I NOTICED IS THAT ROUTE 50, AS YOU APPROACH THE BRIDGE INTO OCEAN CITY, HAS GOTTEN INCREDIBLY BUILT UP.

IT LOOKS LIKE COASTAL HIGHWAY.

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, AND SO MUCH HOUSING, YOU KNOW, ON THE MAIN LAND NOW IT'S ALMOST LIKE OCEAN CITY IS ITS OWN METRO AREA.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WEST OCEAN CITY, NOT ACTUALLY PART OF OCEAN CITY BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

THAT'S DEVELOPED, THAT'S BECOME A SERVICE AREA FOR OCEAN CITY AS WELL.

THERE ARE A LOT OF STORES, A LOT OF SERVICES OUT OF WEST OCEAN CITY.

SOME HOTELS OUT THERE NOW, A LOT OF NICE RESTAURANTS.

IT'S REALLY HELPED EXPAND THE VACATION EXPERIENCE HERE IN OCEAN CITY.

>> IS IT A SIGN OF LIKE BEING OUT OF ROOM TO GROW IN OCEAN CITY?

ITSELF.

THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH TRAFFIC COASTAL HIGHWAY CAN HAM?

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY UNDEVELOPED LOTS HERE DO YOU?

>> WE HAVE A FEW AND WHAT WE DO SEE WE SEE OLDER BUILDINGS OR OLDER HOTELS BEING TORN DOWN OCCASIONALLY AND NEWER FACILITIES BEING BUILT.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.

OUR CITY DIDN'T GET OLD.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REBUILD OUR CITY SO IT'S A MODERN RESORT COMMUNITY.

BUT STILL HAS THAT SAME TRADITIONAL CHARM.

THAT'S BEEN OUR GOAL.

>> ONE SERIOUS THING TO ASK ABOUT AND IT WAS A CLEAR AGO THAT OCEAN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT MADE NATIONAL NEWS, AN INCIDENT ON THE BOARD WALK, A YOUNG MAN WAS TASERED, THE VIRAL VIDEO CLIP FROM THAT WENT NATIONAL AND A LOT OF CRITICISM WITHIN THE STATE AND BEYOND.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE INCIDENT BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE?

IS ANYTHING DIFFERENT THIS SUMMER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE WAY IT OPERATES?

>> ONCE INCIDENT IS TOO MANY AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.

NOT TIP QAL WHAT YOU SEE HERE IN OCEAN CITY BUT WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO BE BETTER AND WE TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AFTER THAT AND WE DID IMPLEMENT SOME NEW THINGS.

THERE IS A MANDATE FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT STATE TO HAVE BODY CAMS ON ALL OF THEIR OFFICERS BY 2025.

JUST ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO IT RIGHT AWAY FOR THE SUMMER OF 2022.

SEEMED LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK WITH TEFERG YOU HAD TO DO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE FEEL THAT HELPS KEEP EVERYBODY SAFER.

OUR RESIDENTS, OUR VISITORS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> THEY SAY THE CAMERA ON AN OFFICER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OFFICER TELLS PEOPLE, I'M RECORDING, IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY'S BEHAVIOR A LITTLE BIT, INCLUDING THE OFFICERS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEING RECORDED FOR POSTERITY AND THE OTHER PART TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S A SEASONAL TOWN.

YOU HAVE 10 TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE HERE IN THE SUMMER AS DO YOU IN THE WINTER SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF SEASONAL OFFICERS AND THE TRAINING IS A CHALLENGE.

>> YES, BUT THEY RECEIVE THE TRAINING THAT'S RURRED AND SUPPORTED BY THE MARYLAND STATE TRAINING COMMISSION, THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE AND THEY GET FULL TRAINING.

AND THEY GET AS MUCH FIREARMS TRAINING AS SFUL-TIME OFFICERS THAT ARE TRAINED THROUGHOUT THE STATE GET SO IT'S A VERY RIGOROUS TRAIN CAN THAT THEY GO THROUGH.

BUT YES, WE HAVE ABOUT 45 SEASONAL OFFICERS.

MANY OF THEM ARE RETURN OFFICERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN RETRAINED ONE TIME.

THEY DO A GREAT JOB AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM TO SUPPLEMENT OUR YEAR ROUND POLICE FORCE.

>> WE HAVE TALKED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO ADD WIND POWER, WIND TURBINES OFF THE COAST.

PEOPLE MAY BE ABLE TO TELL, THERE IS A BREEZE HERE AT THE OCEAN.

THE IDEA IS TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT FOR CREATING ENERGY.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?

AS SOMEBODY STANDS HERE ON THE BEACH AND LOOKS OUT WHEN THIS IS DONE.

>> "STAR WARS."

WE SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, WIND ENERGY AND THE STATE'S GOAL TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY BUT WE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THE EQUATION AS FAR AS HOW IT WILL AFFECT OCEAN CITY AND THEY KEEP GETTING BIGGER.

THEY'RE NOW ALMOST 900 FEET TALL.

THAT'S THREE TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE TALLEST BUILDING IN OCEAN CITY AND NOW THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER RATHER THAN FURTHER OUT.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE AS CLOSE AS 11.9 MILES FROM OUR BEACH.

ALL WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS GET THEM MOVED OUT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND HAVE THEM CONTINUE TO DEVELOP LEASE AREAS FURTHER OFFSHORE TO EXPAND THE PROJECTS AND ALSO TO MOVE THEM FURTHER FROM OUR VIEW SHED.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE THE WHOLE BEACH FROM HERE TO THE 140s WHEREVER YOU LOOK.

>> WHEREVER YOU LOOK YOU ARE GOING SEE THEM PARTICULARLY AT 'SUP RISE, SUNRISE WILL NEVER LOOK THE SAME.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE.

IN VIRGINIA BEACH AND OFF THE CAROLINA BEACHES, THEY'RE 26 TO 30 MILES OFFSHORE AND THEY PROTECTED THEIR VIEW SHED.

WE JUST HAD ASKED THAT THEY DO THE SAME THUNK.

NOT JUST FOR THE MARYLAND BEACHES BUT WE ARE HEARING THE SAME THING FROM OUR OTHER RESORTS, BEACH RESORT IN DELAWARE.

>> YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY IS AT A STRANGE POINT WHERE EVERYBODY SEES A RECESSION COMING.

BUT UNEMPLOYMENT IS REALLY LOW.

I'M WONDERING WHAT THE IMPACT OF THAT IS ON THE BUSINESSES HERE THAT HIRE SEASONAL WORKERS.

IF COMPANIES OFFERING FULL-TIME JOBS YEAR ROUND ARE HAVING TROUBLE FILLING THEM, WHAT IS IT LIKES FOR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO LAST 10 WEEKS?

>> IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

NOT JUST FOR THE CITY BUT FOR OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

WE STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN BACK THE FULL COMPLEMENT OF J1 STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT COME HERE FOR THAT PROGRAM AND WORK IN OCEAN CITY.

WE PROBABLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE J1 STUDENTS WE HAD BACK IN 2019.

THAT HAS A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS BZ BUT I GIVE THEM A LOT OF CREDIT.

THEY'VE ACCLIMATED TO IT, ADJUSTED HOURS AND THE WAY THEY'VE DONE BUSINESS AND THEY'RE HERE TO SERVICE EVERYBODY THAT COMES AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

>> RUMOR HAS IT YOU KNOW A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET.

>> I DO.

>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER THE YEARS.

TALK US THROUGH THE LAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HIT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN RESORT COMMUNITIES, IF THERE WAS GOOD INTERNET, TOOK OFF.

DID YOU SEE THAT HERE?

>> WE DID.

AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE CAME TO THAT ALREADY OWNED PROPERTY HERE CAME AND TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT, STARTED TO WORK FROM HOME LIKE SO MANY HAVE DONE.

PEOPLE RELOCATED HERE.

PEOPLE WERE PURCHASING CONDOS WITH THE IDEA TO BE ABLE TO WORK REMOTELY.

AND IT CERTAINLY DID HELP, YOU KNOW, THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.

YOU KNOW IT'S BEEN A ROW ROBUST MARKET HERE LIKE IT HAS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS IT HAS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S SHIFTED MORE OF I NEUTRAL MARKET MORE THAN A SELLER'S MARKET BUT IT'S STILL VERY BUSY AND VERY ACTIVE MARKET IN OCEAN CITY.

>> MORTGAGE RATES HAVE DOUBLED.

>> MORTGAGE RATES HAVE GONE UP SIGNIFICANTLY BUT 5.35% IS STILL A TERRIFIC RATE.

>> IF THERE WAS A TYPICAL TWO BEDROOM OCEAN CITY CONDO, LIKE WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THE PRICE WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AT THE PEAK AND HAS IT BACKED OFF ANY.

>> IT'S HAS PROBABLY NEUTRALIZED BUT OUR PRICES RESET.

THEY REALLY DID AND MAYBE 15 YEARS AGO WE WERE A LITTLE UNDER VALUED AND WE REACHED THAT MARK BUT WHEREAS BEFORE YOU MAYBE FIND A 2 BEDROOM2 BATH IN THE 350 RANGE, IT WILL BE 450 NOW AND YOU CAN SEE THAT EVENLY ACROSS THE BOARD ALL AREAS OF TOWN.

IT HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

>> IF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC GETTING HERE THE BAY BRIDGE, OF COURSE, UNDER DISCUSSION BUT ROUTE 90 GETTING SOME ATTENTION.

>> WE HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN THE FACT THAT WE THINK ROUTE 90 NEEDS TO BE DUALIZED.

IT'S JUST TWO LANES.

ONE LANE COMING IN AND ONE LANE GOING OUT.

IT'S NOT JUST TO FACILITATE THE TRAFFIC THAT WE SEE ON A SEASONAL OR DAILY BASIS BUT ALSO FOR EVACUATION PURPOSES.

AN ACCIDENT LAST NIGHT SHUT DOWN BOTH LANES F. THAT HAPPENED DURING AN EVACUATION, THAT WOULD BE CRITICAL THE OTHER PROBLEM IS GETTING OUR AMBULANCES IN AND OUT OF TOWN, NOT JUST TO THE HOSPITAL BUT GETTING THEM BACK IN TOWN SO THEY'RE HERE TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEXT PATIENT.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT SAFETY AND VACATIONERS WHO MAYBE WHEN YOU ARE IN VACATION MODE YOU DON'T PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS ABOUT WHERE TO CROSS COASTAL HIGHWAY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LIFE GUARDS WHICH WE WILL MINUTE BUT YOUR CONCERN FOR PEOPLE HAVING FUN BUT DOING IT SAFELY.

>> I UNDERSTAND.

YOU ARE IN OCEAN CITY AND YOU ARE ON VACATION.

YOU ARE JUST LOOKING AROUND.

YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME, BUT WE WANT EVERYBODY AND WE DO A LOT OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ACT LIKE YOU ARE AT HOME.

STOP, LOOK BOTH WAYS, USE THE CROSSWALKS, GRAB THE KIDS BY THE HAND.

DON'T JUMP OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BECAUSE IT'S JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY ACROSS THE BOARD AND WE WANT EVERYBODY TO TRAVEL HERE SAFELY, BE SAFE WHILE HERE THEY'RE AND RETURN HOME SAFELY.

>> AMS A PLEASURE TO BE ON THE BEACH FULLY DRESSED.

>> I'M IN BEACH MAYOR MODE TODAY.

>> THANKS, JEFF.

>> THE OCEAN CITY BEACH PATROL DATES TO THE 1930S BUT ONE CONSTANT HERE FOR LAST 15 YEARS HAS BEEN THE PRESENCE OF BUTCH ARBAN, CAPTAIN OF THE BEACH PATROL CELEBRATING 50 YEARS, NOT RETIRING.

>> I STARTED IN 1973, SO I JUST AM COMPLETING MY 50th SEASON IN OCEAN CITY.

>> PLANS TO KEEP DOING IT?

>> YES, AS FAR AS I CAN.

YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL COULD HAVE A DIFFERENT IDEA BUT AS LONG AS I'M EFFECTIVE AND CAN KEEP DOING IT, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP DOING IT.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE YOUNG MAN WHO STARTED HERE 50 YEARS AGO.

I'M SEEING A PICTURE.

YOU HAD SOME HAIR.

SERIOUS HAIR.

>> YEAH, WELL, IT WAS THE 70s.

BUT FROM BALTIMORE, FROM PARKVILLE, GRADUATED PARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

WHILE I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS DOWN HERE, BECAME INTERESTED IN THE BEACH PATROL AND WAS ON A FAMILY VACATION WHEN I EVENTUALLY PASSED THE TEST AND MY FAMILY DROVE BACK TO BALTIMORE.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

MY MOM CRIED THE WHOLE WAY HOME.

THEY LEFT ME AT OCEAN CITY AT 15 AND I HAVE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

>> I DID A STORY DECADES AGO ABOUT THE TEST THAT PEOPLE AT THE TIME HAD TO PASS, MAYBE IT'S DIFFERENT.

I THINK YOU WOULD JUMP IN THE WATER HERE, SWIM TO THE PIER AND RUN BACK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S STILL THE SAME TEST AND WE WILL BE TESTING FOR NEXT SUMMER STARTING THIS SATURDAY AUGUST 13.

>> THERE IS A TIME HAVE YOU TO HIT?

>> YES.

THE TIME FOR SWIMMING IS 10 MINUTES FROM THE ROCK PILE WHICH IS RIGHT BEHIND US, DOWN AROUND THE PIER AND BE ON THE BEACH PAST THE FINISH LINE IN 10 MINUTES OR LESS.

THAT IS THE SECOND THING.

THE FIRST THING WE DO NOW WHICH IS A CHANGE FROM WHEN YOU DID IT, THEY START WITH THE 300-METER RUN AND 65 SECONDS OR LESS IN THE SOFT SAND.

>> WELL, I NEVER TRIED THE TEST.

I WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED THE TEST.

THE LARGEST BODY OF WATER I WAS EVER A LIFE GUARD FOR HAD CHLORINE IN IT.

I ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO YOU GUYS.

IT IS A TOUGH JOB.

>> IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU NOW.

AS LONG AS YOU CAN PASS OUR TEST, WE'LL HIRE YOU.

>> IT IS TOO LATE.

I COULD BE AN HONORARY GUARD MAYBE.

ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES, I MEAN IT LOOKS GREAT.

YOU ARE OUT IN THE SUN, ESPECIALLY IN GREAT WEATHER YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION THE WHOLE SHIFT.

>> THAT IS DIFFICULT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT SKILL THE LIFE GUARD HAS IS WHAT WE CALL THE SCAN UNLIKE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE PEOPLE CALL IN AND TELL TO YOU GO TO AN EMERGENCY OR GO TO THIS EVENT, THE LIFE GUARDS HAVE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS GOING ON,MAKE A DECISION WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO INTERVENE.

WE MOVE PEOPLE FAR OUT OF DANGER FAR MORE OFTEN THAN WHEN WE GO IN THE WATER BUT WE RESCUE BETWEEN TWO AND 4 HOW PEOPLE.

THAT'S A BIG RANGE OF NUMBERS BUT THAT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THE CONDITIONS.

NOT THE CROWDS IN OCEAN CITY, RIP CURRENTS LAST YEAR WERE THE SECOND LEADING CAUTION OF WEATHER RELATED DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S IN FRONT OF HURRICANES, IN FRONT OF TORNADOES, IN FRONT OF ALL KINDS OF THINGS EXCEPT HEAT RELATED ILLNESS BUT THE SCAN IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND THE GUARDS HAVE TO STAY ALERT ALL DAY LONG FROM THE TIME THEY GET HERE AT 10:00 A.M. TO 5:30.

>> GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW SOMEBODY CAN SURVIVE A RIP CURRENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY THINKS INTELLECTUALLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN ONE.

I KNOW YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FIGHT IT.

YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SWIM SIDEWAYS.

THEY'RE NOT THAT WIDE.

BUT IN PRACTICE, YOU PANIC.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, AND YOU ARE RIGHT.

MANY TIMES PEOPLE END UP DROWNING AROUND THE WORLD I'M TALKING ABOUT, ARE PEOPLE THAT CAN SWIM.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY PANIC AND RIGHT AWAY THEY START TO SWIM STRAIGHT IN.

RIP CURRENT IS LIKE A TREAD MILL.

I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD A RUNNER YOU ARE, EVENTUALLY YOU CAN'T KEEP UP WITH A TREAD MILL BECAUSE YOU GET TIRED.

RIP CURRENT FLOWING FAST FLOWS FASTER THAN AN OLYMPIC SWIMMER CAN SWITCH SO MICHAEL PHELPS COULDN'T SWIM STRAIGHT IN AGAINST A STRONG RIP CURRENT BECAUSE HE IS MOVING BACK MORE THAN COMING IN.

WE HAVE A SAYING FOR RIP, RELAX, DON'T PANIC, I, I NEED HELP AND P, PARALLEL.

THE NUMBER ONE ROOL RULE IS SWIM WHILE WE ARE ON DUTY.

WE'RE NOT GREAT AT RESCUING PEOPLE IF WE ARE NOT ON THE BEACH AND PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY, 98% OF ALL DROWNINGS THAT OCCUR IN OCEAN CITY OCCUR WHEN WE ARE NOT ON DUTY WHICH LEADS TO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFER WHILE WE ARE ON DUTY.

IF YOU ARE IN A RIP CURRENT AND FEEL YOURSELF, THEY'RE NOT VERY WIDE.

THEY ONLY GO AS FAR AS THE SAND BAR, WON'T TAKE TO YOU ENGLAND AND THEY DON'T PULL YOU UNDER.

THEY JUST MOVE YOU OUT.

IF YOU DON'T PANIC, RELAX, SWIM ACROSS AND MAKE YOUR WAY IN.

IF WE ARE WORKING, SAY COME GET ME.

>> THE HAZARD ON THE BEACH THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS THIS SUMMER ALONG THE ATLANTIC SEA BOARD HAS BEEN SHARKS.

SIGHTINGS AND, YOU KNOW, LIFE GUARDS PULLING EVERYBODY OUT OF THE WATER.

ANY OF THAT THIS YEAR?

>> NO.

AND IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE USED TO BE DISCOVERY CHANNEL HAD SHARK WEEK.

THIS YEAR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HAS SHARK MONTH.

SO EVERY DAY EVERY NIGHT THEY'RE SHOWING THESE STORIES ABOUT SHARKS AND PEOPLE START THINKING ABOUT THEM BUT THIS SUMMER WE HAVE NOT HEARD THE COMPLAINTS.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD THE SIGHTINGS.

THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE NEWS RECENTLY WHERE SOME PEOPLE CAUGHT A SHARK AND WERE UNHOOKING IT, BUT THAT WASN'T EVEN CLOSE.

IT WASN'T DURING THE TIME WE WERE ON DUTY.

BUT NOW BEE WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.

>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR DAY JOB.

THIS MAY LOOK LIKE A YEAR ROUND PROFESSION, BUT YOU ARE NOT HERE IN THE WINTER.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> WELL, I'M BEGINNING MY 46th YEAR WITH CHARLES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I'VE DONE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

I STARTED OUT IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION, TAUGHT AEROSPACE ENGINEERING, TAUGHT COURSES FOR THEIST OF MARYLAND.

I WAS IN THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT FOR A WHILE BUT RIGHT NOW WE BUILT A SCIENCE CENTER IN CHARLES COUNTY AND WITH IS UNOF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PLAN TEAR PLANETARIUMS.

IT'S AN I MAX THEATER AND 360 MOVIE THEATER EVERY DAY.

WE BRING KIDS IN FROM FIELD TRIPS.

WE'LL SEE 32,000 KIDS A YEAR WHERE WE HAVE HANDS ON ACTIVITIES AND MOVIES.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF A JOB BUT GOING BACK FOR MY 46th YEAR.

>> CHARLES COUNTY IS NOT DOWN THE STREET FROM-- YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE BAY BRIDGE A LOT I'M GUESSING.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

>> UNLESS YOU DON'T SWIM ACROSS THE BAY.

>> THAT COULD WORK, BUT NO, IT'S UNFORTUNATELY ON FRIDAYS WHEN I LEAVE, WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, IT'S OFTEN A SIX-HOUR DRIVE DOWN HERE SUNDAY NIGHTS USUALLY.

NOT MORE THAN FOUR BECAUSE BY THE TIME I LEAVE, EVERYBODY ELSE HAS GONE BUT I WILL DO WEEKENDS FROM ALL OF MAY, HALF OF JUNE, THEN I MOVE DOWN HERE PRETTY MUCH STAY HERE THE SUMMER AND TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, I WILL BE STARTING THE WEEKEND TRIPS AND I'LL DO IT UNTIL OCTOBER.

>> TELL ME BEFORE WE GO IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE OCEAN CITY BEACH PATROL.

THE ONE THING ON MY MIND IS IF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WORK IN THE STAND ARE OUT HERE BAKING IN THE SUN DO YOU GUYS HAVE A RECOMMENDED BRAND OF SUNSCREEN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A COUPLE THINGS.

PANAMA JACK WHICH IS THEY'RE GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO PROVIDE IT FOR US THE GUARDS HAVE AS MUCH PANAMA JACK SUN SCREEN AS THEY WANT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUY IT AND WE CAN KEEP REPLENISHING IT.

ALSO THIS SUMMER WE HAVE A SUN GLASS SPONSOR WHO GAVE ALL THE GUARDS HIGH QUALITY SUNGLASSES.

HOOK OPTICS AND THE CLOTHING WE ARE BUYING IS SPF CLOTHING.

IF ANYBODY IS INTERESTED IN THIS JOB, WE ARE ALREADY HIRING, RECRUITING FOR THE 2023 SEASON.

THE THING PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS WE DON'T REQUIRE ANY CERTIFICATIONS OR EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR US WHICH PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED BECAUSE YOU NEED THAT... >> I THOUGHT THERE WAS A RED CROSS THING A MILLION YEARS AGO.

>> THE PROBLEM IS THE RED CROSS-- AND THEY'LL TELL YOU THEY DO NOT TRAIN PEOPLE FOR THIS ENVIRONMENT.

IF A PERSON CAN RUN AND SWIM, WE'LL TEST THEM.

WE'LL HIRE THEM AND WE HAVE A PAID TRAINING.

NEXT SUMMER WE ARE GOING TO BE PAYING 18.44 WHILE THEY'RE IN THE TRAINING ACADEMY.

WE GIVE THEM THE CERTIFICATIONS AND TRAINING THEY NEED AND ALL THE SUPPORT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE WORK FOR US SO IT'S-- WE ARE ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST AND BUSIEST BEACH PATROLS.

>> CAPTAIN BUTCH ARBAN.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR STICKING IT OUT IN THIS WHO IS TILE ENVIRONMENT FOR 50 YEARS.

>> IT'S A TOUGH JOB BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT AND IT COULD BE YOU ONE DAY.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE MARLIN OPEN.

WE ARE NOW AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE TOURNAMENT WITH MADELINE ROWAN, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR JOIN CAN US.

>> THAWPTION FOR ASKING ME TO COME ON.

>> GIVE ME THE QUICK HISTORY OF HOW THIS GOT STARTED.

>> SO MY DAD STARTED THIS.

THIS IS OUR 49th YEAR.

HE WAS A MATE ON THE BOATS, PUT HIMSELF THROUGH COLLEGE, LOVED BEING OUT ON THE WATER, BECAME A REALLY GREAT ANGLER, GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND HAD A JOB AT BANK IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE AND REALIZED AFTER ONE SUMMER THAT WAS NOT FOR HIM.

CAME DOWN TO OCEAN CITY, DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE AND BE ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING AT IT.

AT THAT POINT GOLF HAD JUST STARTED WITH GUARANTEED PRIZES AND HE THOUGHT WHAT ABOUT A FISHING TOURNAMENT WITH GUARANTEED PRIZES SO HE STARTED IT.

FIRST YEAR WE HAD 57 BOATS AND NOW WE HAVE 408.

>> THE GROWTH IS REMARKABLE.

WAS THERE A MAGIC MOMENT WHERE ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TOOK OFF?

>> A REAL BIG TURNING POINT FOR US WAS WHEN SUNSET MARINA AND WEST OCEAN CITY WAS DEVELOPED.

THEY CREATED OVER 200 MORE BOAT SLIPS SO WHEN HAVE YOU A LOT OF BOATS COMING OUT OF TOWN, THEY NEED A PLACE TO STAY.

SO WHEN THE ADDITION OF ALL THOSE EXTRA BOAT SLIPS CAME INTO PLAY, IT WAS A BIG JUMP FOR US.

>> WHERE DO YOU DRAW FROM?

>> EVERYWHERE.

SO MOST BOATS WE GO ALL THE WAY FROM SOUTH FLORIDA UP TO NEW YORK.

WE HAVE ANGER-- ANGLERS THAT FLY FROM FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> AND WHERE THEY ARE FISHING AND WHAT ARE THEY FISHING FOR?

>> SO WE HAVE-- >> IT'S NOT JUST WHITE MARLIN, RIGHT?

>> NO.

THE SPECIES WE WEIGH ARE WHITE, BLUE MARLIN, TUNA SWORD FISH AND THEY'RE ALLOWED TO FISH ANYWHERE WITHIN 100-MILE RADIUS OF THE SEA BUOY OF OCEAN CITY.

>> TELL ME A FISH STORY.

WHO HAS THE BEST STORY FROM ALL THESE YEARS OF THE TOURNAMENT OR THE BIGGEST FISH?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD FISH STORIES.

ONE OF THE GREATEST IS A LOCAL TEACHER TOMMY HINKLE, THE ONLY PERSON TO WIN FIRST PLACE WHITE MARLIN IN THE WHITE OPEN TWICE.

SO REALLY EXCITING.

AWESOME THAT IT'S A LOCAL GUY.

REALLY FANTASTIC PERSON.

MAYBE HE WILL MAKE IT THREE THIS YEAR.

WE WILL SEE.

>> I READ A QUOTE AND I'M AND IT WAS A QUOTE FROM MICHAEL JORDAN, THE MICHAEL JORDAN WHO IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PERSON AND TALKED ABOUT COMPETITIVE INSTINCT.

THE THING HE LIKED ABOUT THIS THERE IS SOMETHING TO DO TO MAKE THE FISH BITE BUT YOU HAVE TO BE READY THE INSTANT THE FISH DOES.

YOU ARE NOT A SPORTS FISHERMAN EITHER.

>> I'M NOT.

I GET SEA SICK.

MY DAD AND MY SISTER ARE THE FISHERMEN IN THE FAMILY.

>> SO WHAT OTHER RECORDS HAVE YOU HAD?

I MEAN ANYTHING WEIGH WAY OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

>> FOR YEARS WE HELD THE STATE RECORD BLUE MARLIN OVER A THOUSAND POUNDS.

TWO BLUE MARLIN WEIGHED OVER A THOUSAND POUNDS: SEVERAL YEARS WHERE WE CAUGHT AND RELEASED OVER 1400, AND 1600 BILL FISH.

LOTS OF BIG NUMBERS.

>> YEAH, I SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE ARE STANDING NEXT TO THE CUTTING TABLES.

WHERE THE FISH CAN BE CUT OFF.

WHAT BECOMES OF THE FISH CAUGHT AND WEIGHED.

>> THE FISH THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THE SCALES, MOST OF THE TIME THE ANGLERS DONATE THEM TO THE FOOD BANK.

WE ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL COMPANY CALLED CATCH AND CARRY.

THEY HAVE SOMEBODY SET UP HERE.

THEY FILET EVERYTHING AND IT GETS DONATED TO THE MARYLAND FOOD BANK.

>> TELL ME ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE INLET.

THIS HAS BEEN YOUR HEADQUARTERS FOR A WHILE.

>> IT IS.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING SINCE 1974.

WE WERE ACTUALLY HERE BEFORE ANY OF THE CONDOS WERE.

LAST YEAR WE STARTED A SISTER EVENT CALLED MARLIN FEST.

HARBOR ISLAND GETS REALLY PACKED AND WE WANTED TO OFFER ANOTHER VENUE FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH THE WEIGH INS ON A LIVE STREAM.

WE ARE DOWN AT THE INLET.

WE HAVE ON THE BEACH WE HAVE A BIG SCREEN WHERE THE WEIGH-INS WILL BE STREAMED LIVE.

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, VENDORS, FOOD, DRINKS, A GREAT TIME.

>> AN INTERESTING EVENT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE WHERE THE ACTION IS.

RIGHT?

THE ACTION IS OUT ON A BOAT AND IN THOSE CAN BE LONG STRUGGLES TO LAND A FISH.

WHAT TIME DO THE BOATS GO OUT?

>> SO THEY CAN LEAVE THE INLET STARTING AT 4 A.M., LINES IN AT 8 A.M.

SO IT GIVES THEM FOUR HOURS TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION.

LINES OUT AT 3:30 AND THEY HEAD BACK.

>> HOW DO THEY KNOW IF THEY'VE GOT A FISH THAT WILL BE IN CONTENTION WHETHER TO LAND IT OR BRING IT IN TO BE WEIGHED?

>> SO THERE IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT GOES INTO THAT.

THERE IS A FORMULA FOR BILL FISH WHERE YOU CAN TAKE AN ESTIMATE OF THEIR LENGTH AND THEIR GIRTH AND THEN THERE IS THE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA THAT YOU CAN ESTIMATE THE WEIGHT FROM THAT.

A LOT OF IT IS JUST A LOT OF THESE CAPTAINS HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOREVER.

THEY SEE THAT FISH IN THE WATER AND THEY KNOW IF THEY THINK THEY HAVE A WINNER.

>> DOES EVERYBODY GO TO ONE PLACE OFFSHORE OR EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT IDEA OF WHERE THEY MIGHT BE BITING.

>> IT IS ALWAYS A VERY, VERY WELL KEPT SECRET.

IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH THE WINNING FISH, NOBODY WANTS TO TELL WHERE THEY CAUGHT THE WIN WINNING FISH.

>> THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

>> NOBODY IS COMING OFF OF THAT INTEL THIS WEEK.

>> THANKS TO MADELINE ROWAN OF THE WHITE MARLIN OPEN.

THAT IS DIRECT CONNECTION FOR THIS WEEK.

BACK FRIDAY WITH STATE CIRCLE AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

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NOW FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.