Fishing tournament turns deadly when NC angler falls overboard, TN searchers say

An experienced North Carolina angler died for reasons unknown after he fell overboard at a bass tournament in western Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

The body of 36-year-old Alexander C. Luster of Boone was recovered late Friday from Watauga Lake, the TWRA said in a May 9 news release.

An autopsy will be performed to determine Luster’s cause of death, officials said.

“On Friday ... at approximately 7 p.m., TWRA dispatch was notified of a boating incident on Watauga Lake at Rat Branch boat ramp. The caller stated that the operator of a vessel had fallen overboard in the no wake zone and did not resurface,” the TWRA said.

“The victim ... was participating in a bass tournament and fell overboard prior to the start of the event.”

Wardens and first responders launched a search of the water, and resorted to using a remotely operated vehicle after sunset.

Luster’s body was recovered by divers around 11:35 p.m., officials said.

Friends of Luster report he was an electrician who dreamed of being a professional fisherman.

The incident happened in the Hampton area, about a 40-mile drive northwest from Luster’s home in Boone, maps show.

Watauga Lake covers about 10 square miles in the Cherokee National Forest, and some spots are as much as 305 feet deep, according to Wataugalaketennessee.org.

This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 6:55 AM with the headline "Fishing tournament turns deadly when NC angler falls overboard, TN searchers say."