Hi friends. Reef the fox here with your weekly “Reef’s Report”.
The waters off Key Largo carried a powerful tribute on Sept. 27. Family, friends and customers of the Sailors Choice party fishing boat set out to lay boat captain Joe Hall to rest on the ocean he loved so deeply.
A fleet of boats formed a moving procession to White Banks Reef, where Joe had proposed to his wife, Devi, years earlier. More than 100 people gathered as his ashes were lowered into the water in a biodegradable urn, a fitting farewell to a man whose life was inseparable from the sea.
Hall wasn’t just a captain; he was a friend, a helper and a fixture in our community. He would stop by the sanctuary to lend a hand whenever we needed it, even taking drone footage of our fox enclosures when the insurance company requested it. That was Joe — kind, funny and always willing to help without hesitation. His life was stolen far too soon in a senseless act of violence, and the loss ripples through everyone who knew him.
The man accused of taking Joe’s life, Jaden Alexander Harris, is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 7. As we remember Joe, I’m asking readers to join me in a united, respectful call for justice. You can help by sending a brief email to Judge Melanie Chase’s assistant, urging that Harris not be granted bond while awaiting trial.
Hall lived every day as an example of compassion and service. Let’s honor his memory not only with our words, but with action. Together, we can help ensure justice for captain Joe Hall.
