More than 30 boats and 300 people gathered Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Homer’s Seafarer’s Memorial to give a fisherman’s send off for local charter captain Josh Brooks. Brooks, 45, died of a sudden heart attack in Mexico on Oct. 11, 2021, while on vacation at a fishing tournament there.

A long-time charter captain and commercial fisherman, Brooks ran his boat, the Huntress, year-round, targeting halibut and salmon. Boat captains fired off expired distress flares and radioed Josh as “missing” in the community’s farewell to a well-loved son.