Florida Queen, Star Queen charter headboats a total loss after Hurricane Michael

PANAMA CITY — At least two iconic fishing headboats — the Florida Queen and Star Queen — won't be running again after Hurricane Michael, as their owners announced Wednesday they are a total loss.

"Due to Hurricane Michael, the boats both received damage causing them to be totaled by the insurance company," Hall Queen Fleet Deep Sea Fishing posted on their Facebook page. "Though we only owned these two iconic vessels for one year, it was our privilege to run this company."

Both boats ran out of Capt. Anderson's Marina and have been fishing staples in the area for decades.

Numerous people were sad to see the boats go and recalled memories of fishing on the boats, including Scott Worley, who took his first deep sea fishing trips as a young kid with his dad in the 1970s on them.

"When my son was ready, I had planned on taking him on his first deep sea trip as my dad had taken me on the Star Queen," said Worley. "The continuation of a short family tradition, I guess you could say. To me, the loss of the boats is more than just the loss of a boat but the loss of a dream and the loss of those memories with my dad generated when I'd see those boats cruising through the marina."

Last year was the first time going deep sea fishing on the Star Queen for Melina Mccurley.

"I had the best time. Our deck hand was the funniest," said Mccurley. "I can't remember his name but he was an older man. He had jokes all morning and afternoon. He went to the snack bar and got a Snickers bar while he was cutting up our bait and he would dip his snickers bar in the squid and eat it."