RedactedNarrative: Unit 1 while traveling out of Charleston Harbor to offshore fish struck at approximately 0455 hours buoy #24 near the Ft. Sumter range.  Operator stated that a fishing rod fell from the storage overhead.  This distracted the operator's attention from operating the vessel.  Then the vessel struck the buoy #24 while traveling at 26 knots.  The vessel struck the buoy and partially ran over it.  Damage was sustained to the port bow and port quarter below the water line.