- Double fatality involving Center Console vessel and bass boat
- Victims included tournament participant and local residents
- Incident occurred during pro fishing competition’s second day
- Recovery effort lasted 12 hours in 80-foot-deep waters
The morning of April 16, 2025, marked one of Alabama’s darkest maritime incidents when two vessels collided on Smith Lake’s fog-shrouded waters. Emergency responders recovered three bodies following the 7:15 AM crash, including 58-year-old Joey Broom who sustained critical impact injuries. Local authorities confirmed two other victims – John Clark and Jeffrey Little – succumbed to drowning after being ejected from their Center Console boat.
Major League Fishing officials halted the Tackle Warehouse Invitational immediately, canceling Thursday’s championship rounds. The organization’s VP Kathy Fennel called the crash “a devastating blow to our tight-knit angling community” in an emotional press statement. Preliminary ALEA reports indicate the Nitro bass boat struck the victims’ vessel at estimated speeds of 45 mph, though alcohol tests remain pending.
Regional safety experts highlight three critical industry insights following the tragedy. First, tournament organizers typically require 100-foot separation zones between watercraft – protocols potentially strained during morning launch periods. Second, modern fish-finding sonar systems can create navigation distractions in low-visibility conditions. Third, Alabama’s 2023 boating safety report showed a 17% increase in collisions during competitive events statewide.
A 2022 case study from neighboring Tennessee’s Center Hill Lake reveals similar challenges. That incident involving charter fishing groups prompted mandatory pre-dawn radar reflector installations – a measure now under consideration by Alabama marine regulators. Smith Lake’s narrow channels and sudden weather shifts have previously caused 14 documented collision near-misses since 2020, per Coast Guard auxiliary records.
Recovery teams utilized side-scan sonar to locate Little’s body in 73 feet of water, while Clark’s remains were found entangled in submerged brush. The ALEA’s ongoing investigation focuses on potential mechanical failure, operator error, and tournament scheduling pressures. Final reports could influence national boating event regulations ahead of summer’s peak fishing season.
