Lightning Strike Damages Mt. Pleasant Seafood Boat, Owner Faces Costly Repairs
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC — A local seafood business is recovering after its only fishing boat was struck by lightning over the weekend, causing severe equipment damage and forcing a long, dangerous return trip for the crew.
Abundant Seafood, located on Shem Creek, now faces an estimated $20,000–$25,000 in repairs before their boat, the Amy Marie, can return to the water.
A lightning strike 55 miles from Charleston
Captain Mark Marhefka, the boat’s longtime owner, was at the wheel with two crew members when the lightning hit around 55 miles east of Charleston. The strike knocked out all electronics on board and left Marhefka temporarily stunned.
“The initial hit was a very loud bang,” Marhefka said. “All electronics just went blank. Buttons came flying out of the VHF and hit me in the head.”
Despite the scare, no one was seriously injured, and the team endured a 20-hour journey back to shore.
As reported by ABC News 4, Marhefka called the moment a first in nearly five decades of fishing — though he’s often weathered storms, nothing had directly hit him until now.
The cost of recovery and the value of community
The most serious losses were to the navigation system, mapping equipment, and antenna — gear that held decades of stored fishing data and locations.
“The navigation system has all my numbers on it,” Marhefka said. “They’re fishing spots we historically go back to. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to retain those.”
Still, by Monday morning, he was back at his dock, greeting customers and selling fresh Grouper caught before the storm. Regulars praised the business, including Mary Tomaszewski, who said, “He’s a great guy, and he sells great fish — very fresh.”
Marhefka said the community’s support has been overwhelming and gives him hope to be back out by mid-July, pending repairs.
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