2008 Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Captured By ‘Cerveza’
August 11, 2008
“Cerveza” is the 2008 S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series’ Outstanding Billfish Boat, with the catch and release of 21 sailfish throughout the Series’ tournaments.
After fishing in only the last three of the five tournaments of the 2008 season, the crew of “Cerveza” took the top honors accruing 4,275 points, with competitors “Roulette” and “Daymaker” following closely behind, each with 3,775 points. The Series began May 14 and featured five tournaments that spanned through July 26. Participating boats earned points for tagged or released billfish, including blue marlin (600 points), white marlin (300) and sailfish (200).
Visit the Web site at http://govcup.dnr.sc.gov/
to learn more about the S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series.
This year’s Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series marked the 20th anniversary, a sequence established by Gov. Carroll Campbell in 1988 to promote the state’s billfishing tournament industry, increase coastal tourism and encourage the conservation of ocean resources through the tagging and release of billfish. This year, the Series reached a notable accolade with a 100 percent release rate of billfish caught during the Series. The program is coordinated by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), with Wallace Jenkins serving as the program coordinator, and Amy Dukes as the tournament coordinator. The Series has accomplished much towards the enhancement of marine resources conservation, and serves a critical role towards ensuring the health and future of pelagic fisheries with the promotion of management and preservation of these stocks for future generations.
This year’s winner, “Cerveza,” based out of Pirates Cove, N.C., is owned by Thomas Russell of Reston Va., and captained by Butch Davis. Prior to fishing in the South Carolina Series, “Cerveza” took top honors in the Bahamas Billfish Championship in June. The Bahamas championship has a similar structure to the S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, in regards to accumulation of points through a series of tournaments. “Cerveza’s” crew comprised mostly of family members including Russell’s father, James, brother, Jeff, and his three children, Matthew, 15, Nicole, 13, and Jessica, 9. All of the children received awards during the Series for Outstanding Youth Anglers, and Nicole and Jessica were also recognized as Outstanding Lady Anglers.
The battle for this year’s title of Outstanding Billfish Boat began at the Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament. Bad weather only allowed boats to fish one out of the three tournaments days, with “Hoy Boyz,” owned by John Hoy and captained by Jack Hoy, securing the win with a release of a blue marlin and earning 600 points. Just two weeks later, “Rouelette” surged past the field with an impressive two days of fishing at the Georgetown Marina Blue Marlin Tournament. The boat, owned by Richard Pingree of Beaufort, and captained by Mike Glaesner successfully released three blue marlin, one white marlin and one sailfish, to earn 2,300 points.
The Series moved to the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina Billfish Tournament, where “Cerveza” released 11 sailfish during the event, earning the boat 2,200 points. “Rascal,” owned by Norman Pulliam and captained by Mark Rodgers, provided “Cerveza” with tough competition with the release of nine sailfish and one white marlin, earning the boat 2,100 points. “Daymaker,” owned by Mark Daniel of Georgetown and captained by Jay Weaver, had a good showing at the Charleston Harbor tournament with the release of six sailfish to add to their boat’s one white marlin and one sailfish, both released at Georgetown earning the boat 1,700 points. At the MegaDock Series tournament, “Cerveza” once again dominated with a notable six sailfish released, pushing their tally of accumulated points to 3,400. “Daymaker,” “Roulette” and “Rascal” each released three sailfish, bringing “Roulette” up to 2,900 points,“Rascal” to 2,700 points, and “Daymaker” to 2,300 points.
This set the stage for the last tournament of the Series, the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament. “Cerveza,” “Daymaker” and “Rascal” fished on Thursday, and “Cerveza” released four sailfish pushing the point lead to 4,200, and “Daymaker” and “Rascal” each released three sailfish, giving “Daymaker” 2,900 points and “Rascal” 3,300 points. “Cerveza” decided to fish on Friday along with “Roulette,” but only the “Roulette” was successful with the release of two sailfish making its point total 3,300. Now with the “Cerveza” fished out and holding the lead with 4,200 points, it had to wait it out with “Daymaker,” “Rascal” and “Roulette” all fishing on Saturday to either end the Series with a win or a defeat. “Rascal” did not release any additional billfish; “Roulette” released two sailfish; and “Daymaker” released four sailfish to win the Bohicket Tournament. Both contenders fell just short of overtaking “Cerveza” to win the overall Series.
Additional award winners for the 2008 S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series include “Summer Girl” as the Blue Water Conservationist with the tag and release of 27 dolphin; “Daymaker” and angler Ryan Riggs winning the Outstanding Dolphin award; “Legal Holiday” and angler Fred Bergen Jr. earning the Outstanding Tuna award; and “Blessed Adventure” and angler Ruby Robbe with the Outstanding Wahoo honors. Of particular note to DNR coordinators, this year marks the first in Series history that no yellowfin tuna were landed over the course of the slated tournaments. Additionally, the Outstanding Tuna was not awarded for the catch of a yellowfin tuna, a species internationally distributed and federally managed. As such, the S.C. Natural Resources Board has asked staff to look into the paucity of catch rates for yellowfin tuna, which may be attributed to fluctuations in temperature.
At the close of the 2008 S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, Dukes and Jenkins thanked the sponsors and their support towards DNR’s coordination of the annual Series: our corporate sponsor Palmetto Ford Inc., and major sponsors HMY Yacht Sales, W.W. Williams, The Charleston Angler, The Charleston Visitor Bureau, and Wachovia Wealth Management as well as contributions from the Advisory Board of Directors. DNR also thanks newsletter sponsors, Albury Brothers Boats, Blanchard Power Systems, CCA of S.C., Cannon Container, Haddrell’s Point Tackle and Supply, Hanckel Marine, MegaDock Billfishing Tournament, Palmetto Props, and Spencer Yachts Inc.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, or to inquire about future sponsorship and support, contact Jenkins at (843) 953-9835 or JenkinsW [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov, and Dukes at (843) 953-9365 or DukesA [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Report - 7/20/2008
July 20, 2008
Northern District Dare, Hyde, Currituck, & Beaufort Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Ocean: Catches slowed this week, with offshore anglers catching small amounts of dolphin, wahoo and various tunas. Billfish catches have been the exception, with sailfish, blue and white marlin being caught most of the time by anglers targeting them. Midrange catches have been light, with only a few triggerfish, black seabass, and an occasional striped bass being caught King mackerel and a few cobia continue to be caught about 8 to10-miles offshore. Inshore anglers had the best success rates in the ocean with some very nice flounder being caught in the 0 to 2-mile range. Most were legal keeping size and a few were in the 4 lb range. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were also caught in this same range, but were tough to access in the near shore surf zone due to rough seas. Atlantic sharpnose sharks, assorted skates and rays, and kingfish were also caught.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Flounder catch rates were the best news for anglers in these waters, with success rates similar to those fishing the inshore ocean range. Weakfish and spotted seatrout were caught by early morning anglers at Oregon Inlet’s Green Island Slough. Plenty of large croaker were caught throughout the area with kingfish and spot mixed in.
Piers/Shore: Flounder catches improved for these anglers also with results similar to those listed above. Spanish mackerel were caught in the very near-shore surf zone by anglers working the surface with assorted spoons and lures. Bluefish, kingfish, croaker, spot, weakfish, skates, sharks, and a host of others were also caught. Red drum catches from Avon southward have improved on a steady basis. Cobia catches from piers were moderate to good most of the time, especially at night.
General Overview: Tropical storm Cristobal will keep waters stirred up in the early part of the week but will depart quickly and should have a positive effect on fishing.
Central District Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Ocean: King mackerel were caught around the 14 buoy, the sea buoys and Atlas tanker. Nice wahoo were caught at the Atlas tanker. Dolphin were the main catch on the charterboats. Anglers caught Spanish mackerel around both Beaufort and Bogue Inlets and down the beaches in 10 feet of water. They also caught them around the Cape.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Reports from New River showed very good catches of spotted seatrout. Sheepshead were around all the bridge pilings in the county, and anglers did great catching them. Several 6-pound flounder were hooked in the turning basin at the port. Anglers were using mullet minnows.
Piers/Shore: The pier beside the Morehead-Beaufort high-rise bridge surprised and pleased anglers who landed some very nice sea mullet. Fishermen were catching more than four per person and they were all 12 inches or longer. Those fishing from shore were also hooking kingfish.
Southern District Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Ocean: Typical summer time fishing. Bottom fishing in the 30 to 55-mile range has been producing lots of red groupers along with some gags, and scamps. King mackerel fishing has been a little slow over the last couple of weeks. The shark hole has been the most consistent place to fish of late. Sailfish have moved close to the beach and boats targeting king mackerel typically catch them this time of year. Flounder fishing on the near/shore reefs has been good. The reefs off Brunswick County are a good place to fish this time of year, with anglers often landing large red drum and spadefish.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing has been good. The trout are biting well around the Southport/Oak Island area. There are also a decent numbers of flounder being landed, with some up to 8 pounds. Sheepshead and black drum are biting well. The rock jetties at Little River and Masonboro Inlet are good places to try as well as the ADM dock and Snow’s Cut. I haven’t heard anybody fishing for them, but tarpon fishing on the shoals is another option this time of year.
Piers/Shore: Fishing was a little slow. The tropical system that passed through the area slowed fishing. Area piers are seeing pompano, sea mullet, bluefish, and some flounder. Shore anglers using sand fleas are catching some nice pompano.
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North Carolina Saltwater Fishing Reports - 6/23/2008
June 23, 2008
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters. Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Ocean: Offshore catches were moderate-good, with limits of dolphin, along with some yellow and blackfin tuna, amberjack, wahoo, king mackerel, and assorted sharks. Billfish catches were much improved, with nice specimens of blue and white marlin being caught. A few sailfish were also caught. Midrange catches consisted of amberjack in the 30-35 lb. range along with large quantities of blueline tilefish and triggerfish. These fish were all caught in the same general area - about 4 miles offshore near the artificial reef AR-160 (Zane Gray). Black seabass, red drum, and striped bass were also caught in these same waters. Inshore action was somewhat slow, but nice catches of bluefish and spotted seatrout were caught in the near-shore surf zone when it is accessible on calm days.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Spotted seatrout and red drum were the most abundant species throughout the area with early morning hours at the Melvin Daniels Bridge being the best time to catch them. Flounder catches were much-improved throughout these waters with some citation size specimens caught in the shallow waters around the islands and land masses at Oregon Inlet. Keeper ratios were very good with well over 50% of them being legal keeping size. There were some nice catches of spotted seatrout and weakfish in this same area.
Piers/Shore: Spanish mackerel and bluefish catches were nothing short of fantastic if you are were at the right time for some short-term/high-volume action. I observed limits of both caught by anglers in less than 20 minutes in one location, where all those with a line in the water caught them. These fish were caught by pier and shore anglers using assorted spoons and jigs. Most were hooked in the near-shore surf zone on. Atlantic croaker, kingfish, puffers, flounder, burrfish, weakfish, spot, and assorted others were also caught.
General Overview: Favorable weather conditions allowed anglers to have fair-good success rates in all the fishing zones. Water temps in the surf are in the mid-70’s throughout the Outer Banks. Weather conditions are predicted favorable for the coming week.
Central District: Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, & Onslow Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Ocean: Dolphin and king mackerel were found at Buoy #14, West Rock, Big 10-Little 10, 240 Rock and the Atlas tanker. Dolphin were thick in the Gulf Stream - ( both gaffers and shingles). Quite a few billfish were reported. Headboats caught seabass, snapper and grouper. The Cape Lookout Shoals were thick with Spanish and, of course, bluefish are everywhere. Chopper blues are still around the Beaufort Inlet and off Shackleford.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Fishing the inside waters was rather slow. Anglers looking for sea trout had a hard time, and most came in with one or none at all. The same goes for the flounder fishermen. There were many released, undersized flounder reported. The Turning Basin at the port saw some nice sized pigfish and an occasional sea mullet. This area is also full of lizardfish and small shark. Red Drum and a few spotted seatrout were found at the east and west end of Bear Island, and Eastman’s Creek
Piers/Shore: Tarpon were caught off the piers at Topsail along with blues and Spanish. In Carteret County there are small spot, croaker, sea mullet and pompano. Blues and Spanish can be hooked at the far end of the piers.
Southern District: Pender, New Hanover, & Brunswick Counties
For the 2008 fishing year, all owners/operators of vessels recreationally fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling permit. This permit has replaced the Atlantic tunas Angling category permit. In North Carolina, additional HMS harvest reporting requirements are also in place.
Please Note: Anglers sometimes confuse small king mackerel with Spanish mackerel. King mackerel and spanish mackerel have different size and catch limits. Make SURE you properly identify the mackerel you are catching. (Tips here)
A recreational Recreational Fishing License went into effect Jan. 1, 2007 for all of the state’s coastal and ocean waters.
Tagged Red Drum: Download PDF with reward details.
Ocean: Fishing has really slowed down. Not much was caught in the stream last week. It has been a good year on the dolphin and wahoo, but the tuna were a no-show this year. Bottom fishing has been good the last couple of months. Plenty of red groupers, along with some scamps and gags. The reds are biting from 30 to 55-mile offshore while the gags can be found much closer. Most ledges and wrecks in the 15 to 20-mile range are holding amberjack, king mackerel, and some nice gags. The dolphin have really moved closer to the beach with some gaffers as close as 8 miles out. The shark hole gave up some big king mackerel last week, and earlier in the week there was a decent bite at Yaupon. Speaking of Yaupon, the flounder should start showing up there in the next 2 to 3 weeks. Spanish have been biting well along the area beaches.
Inlets/Sounds/Bays: Not much change from last week. Flounder are still being caught in the Cape Fear as well as Lockwood. Sight fishing for drum around Topsail has been outstanding with the clear water conditions, and some nice trout are still coming from the creeks and bays around Bald Head Island and Oak Island. Early and late have been the times to catch the trout.
Piers/Shore: Brunswick County piers are doing outstanding on the trout in the morning hours. Live shrimp is the hot bait. Along with the trout there are some keeper flounder, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, pompano, spots, and sea mullet. New Hanover and Pender County piers are doing well on the Spanish mackerel, pompano, sea mullet, some keeper flounder, and they also had some king mackerel catches as well. Surf fishing is yielding some sea mullet and pompanos.
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Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Reports Successful Second Tourney
June 9, 2008
The second tournament in the 20th season of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series took place at the 41st Annual Georgetown Landing Marina Billfish Tournament over the last weekend in May.
Wallace Jenkins, Series Program Coordinator for S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR), noted that, “The weather conditions were excellent for offshore fishing and we had three great days of fishing. Ricky Ferdon and all of the Georgetown Landing Marina staff once again were top notch and a great time was had by all.” Amy Dukes, Series Tournament Coordinator for DNR added that a total of 53 boats participated in the tournament with 34 billfish releases including 21 blue marlin, 4 white marlin and 9 sailfish. No billfish were landed.
The Outstanding Billfish Boat was awarded to “Roulette,” owned by Richard Pingree and captained by Mike Glaesner. The boat crew caught and released a sailfish on Thursday and 3 blue marlin and 1 white marlin on Saturday, accruing 2300 points.
Second place for Outstanding Billfish Boat went to “Dem Boys,” owned by Tommy Hancock. Reid Bost captained the boat and caught and released a 2 blue marlin on Thursday to accumulate 1200 release points.
”Overspray” won third place for Outstanding Billfish Boat, the boat is owned by Foster McKissick. Mike McClamrock is the captain and the boat crew also caught and released two blue marlin to earn 1200 points.
Outstanding Dolphin was awarded to “El Tejano,” owned by John Hill and captained by David Redd. Angler Kathy Baxley landed a 59.9-pound dolphin to earn top honors, and secured her position to win top female angler in the tournament as well.
”Due Course” won the Outstanding Tuna award, with a 14.1-pound blackfin tuna caught by angler and boat owner, Richard Gaton. The boat is captained by Jamie Brown.
The Outstanding Wahoo award went to “Artemis,” owned by John Darby. Canty Smith was the angler with the 49.4-pound catch and David “Bucky” Copleston captained the winning wahoo boat.
Second place for Outstanding Female Angler went to Jenny Walker on “Frenzy” who caught a 48.6-pound wahoo.
Becca Hancock won third place Outstanding Female Angler on “Dem Boys” for her 31.8-pound dolphin catch.
Lauren Leasure won first place for Outstanding Youth Angler for a 31.1-pound dolphin catch aboard “Summer Girl.” Lauren was the only youth angler to receive an award at the tournament.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series contact Jenkins at (843) 953-9835 or JenkinsW [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov, and Dukes at (843) 953-9365 or DukesA [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov.
Remaining tournament dates and contacts for the 2008 S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series are:
- June 25-28, Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina Billfish Tournament, contact Deidre Menefee, (843) 345-0369, dpmenefee [at] aol [dot] com
- July 9-12, HMY/Viking MEGADOCK Billfishing Tournament, contact McKenzie Estes, (843) 278-4920
* July 23-26, Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament, contact Deidre Menefee.
Boats participating in the Series amass points for billfish either landed or caught and released. Tagging is optional and not required for Series points. Anglers compete for four major awards: Outstanding Billfish (single heaviest billfish), Outstanding Billfish Boat (most accumulated points) and Outstanding Billfish Conservationist (most points for tagged or released fish), and the Blue Water Conservation Award (most accumulated tag and release points for dolphin, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna).
By encouraging live tag and release, the Series has focused attention on the population status of Atlantic billfish and encouraged conservation of all marine resources.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
Related posts
1st Round Results 2008 Governor’s Cup–Edisto Marina
May 27, 2008
The 2008 South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series got underway last weekend at the annual Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament.
This year commemorates the 20th season of the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, a program coordinated by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that has accomplished much towards the promotion and enhancement of marine resources conservation, most notably the 99% release rate of billfish caught and tagged during the Series. The Series consists of five tournaments along the coast, including the initial Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament this past weekend and concluding July 26 with the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament.
Despite small craft advisories that prevented fishing on two days of the tournament’s docket, fishing took place on Thursday with 27 boats participating in this Series tournament. Wally Jenkins and Amy Dukes, DNR employees taking over the reigns this year as the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Program Director and Program Coordinator, respectively, said that the windy conditions did not dampen the enthusiasm of the tournament committee, the participating anglers and residents of Edisto Island. “Even though we only had one day of fishing during this tournament, its success has helped our 20th season of the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series get off to a great start,” according to Dukes.
Jenkins and Dukes recorded 5 billfish caught and released by participating anglers during the day on Thursday, including 2 blue marlin, 1 white marlin and 2 sailfish. A total of 79 dolphin were landed during the course of the day, as well as 3 tuna and 6 wahoo.
Points and awards are accrued during the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Series tournaments and include: 600 points for a blue marlin released in good condition, 300 points for a white marlin released, and 200 points for a sailfish released. Additionally, boats are awarded 25 participation points for each Series tournament entered up to a maximum of three events.
The Outstanding Billfish Boat was awarded to “Hoy Boys,” owned by Joe Hoy and captained by Johnny Hoy. Angler Jack Hoy caught and released a blue marlin, accruing 600 points. “Hoy Boys” also earned top honors as the Outstanding Billfish Conservationist boat for the blue marlin release.
Second place for Outstanding Billfish Boat went to “Dough Boy,” owned by Ben and Cynthia Dantzler. Ben Dantzler Jr. captained the boat and angler Kasey Dantzler caught and released a blue marlin. Kasey Dantzler, with her release of the blue marlin, currently holds first place in the Series for
Outstanding Female Angler and Outstanding Youth Angler.
“Bentley’s Best” won third place for Outstanding Billfish Boat, the boat is owned by Steve Deese. Jim Moore was captain; t and angler Niall Kennedy caught and released a white marlin to earn the honors.
Outstanding Dolphin was awarded to “Jabez,” owned by Carl Ulm and captained by Ben Polk. Angler Bobby Mims landed a 32-pound dolphin to earn top honors.
“Trashman” won the Outstanding Tuna award, with a 15.2-pound catch by angler Alex Marshall, Sr. “Trashman” is owned by Cannon Containers and captained by Robert Hollingsworth.
The Outstanding Wahoo award went to “Blessed Adventure,” for owner and angler Ruby Robbe’s 82.8-pound catch. Jim Bost captained the winning wahoo boat.
Alex Marshall, Jr. won second place for Outstanding Youth Angler for a 30.3-pound dolphin catch aboard “Trashman.”
Third place for Outstanding Youth Angler went to Cal Young for reeling in a 25.6-pound dolphin aboard “Finaddict,” owned and captained by Danny Massalon.
Second place for Outstanding Female Angler in the Series points went to Jane Furrh on “Finaddict” who caught and released a sailfish to earn the honors.
Kelly Strickland won third place Outstanding Female Angler on “Hoy Boys” for her 24.5-pound dolphin catch.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series contact Jenkins at (843) 953-9835 or JenkinsW [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov, and Dukes at (843) 953-9365 or DukesA [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov.
Remaining tournament dates and contacts for the 2008 S.C. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series are:
May 28-31, 41st Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, contact Ricky Ferdon, (843) 546-1776, glmarina [at] sc [dot] rr [dot] com
June 25-28, Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina Billfish Tournament, contact Deidre Menefee, (843) 345-0369, dpmenefee [at] aol [dot] com
July 9-12, HMY/Viking MEGADOCK Billfishing Tournament, contact McKenzie Estes, (843) 278-4920
July 23-26, Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament, contact Deidre Menefee.
Boats participating in the Series amass points for billfish either landed or caught and released. Tagging is optional and not required for Series points. Anglers compete for four major awards: Outstanding Billfish (single heaviest billfish), Outstanding Billfish Boat (most accumulated points) and Outstanding Billfish Conservationist (most points for tagged or released fish), and the Blue Water Conservation Award (most accumulated tag and release points for dolphin, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna).
By encouraging live tag and release, the Series has focused attention on the population status of Atlantic billfish and encouraged conservation of all marine resources.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.
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