Community members in Murrells Inlet are mourning the loss of Big Dave’s Bait and Tackle Shop owner David Altman.
Altman, better known as ‘Big Dave’, passed away suddenly at his home on Thursday, January 18th. He was 60 years old “He’s a staple of the inlet. He’s the true essence of Murrells Inlet,” said Capt. Ned Campbell, owner of Murrells Inlet Outpost. Even though he sold fishing supplies just down the the road from Big Dave’s, Campbell said, “Even as a competing business, first and foremost, we were just friend. Always willing to help you at any moment.”
“We call him Big Dave because he’s a man big in stature but, after I thought about it for a while, I think maybe Big Dave’s name comes from his heart. He had a big heart,” said Capt. Ron Baily with Seven Seas Seafood in Murrells Inlet. Bailey was one of many fishermen in the area who Big Dave offered guidance to over the years. However, Bailey said they didn’t just come to the shop for bait, “It was always a good place to stop in for a cup of coffee and chat for a few minutes.” Everette Brown, Altman’s lifelong friend, added, “Everybody would just come by to see him. Even if they didn’t buy anything. We got in the way of his business but he never minded.”
Brown grew up with Big Dave in Murrells Inlet just a couple miles down from the shop, and said “David was never down. He was always smiling. He meant a lot to a lot of people. He was a good guy.” With Altman’s passing, and the recent death of Perry’s Bait and Tackle owner Jessica Hill, Campbell said,”It’s been tough, a lot of change. Some people don’t know what to do.” Bailey agreed, saying “The Inlet has taken a pretty good beating, in the last year, really. We’ve lost several fishermen, a lot of good friend. and we just hope it’s over for now.”
There will be a graveside service for Big Dave at Belin Memorial United Methodist Cemetery at 2 P.M. on Monday, January 22nd.