05-20-2004, 03:44 AM
The 16th Annual South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series recently wrapped up the second out of five tournaments, the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament May 6-8. "Lock n' Load," owned by Skipper Jellison of Seabrook Island, captured the Best Billfish Boat award. Angler Vince Boyer of Hollywood released the only blue marlin of the tournament to earn "Lock n' Load" 300 points.
"The weather was beautiful, and Damien Zanetti and all of the marina staff did an excellent job coordinating the tournament," said Tom DuPre' of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, who coordinates the tournament series, speaking of the Bohicket event. "The food, which was catered by Marvin's Meats, was delicious and there was a different band every night so the crowd had a great time."
One billfish, a blue marlin, was released during the tournament. All of the 22 boats that participated in the tournament fished two out of the three days. There were no second or third place boats because only one billfish was caught during the tournament. Funds from each tournament are used to support a broad range of marine fisheries research and conservation efforts each year.
The largest wahoo of the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament was caught by the angler who is the first-place youth angler. The 45-pound wahoo caught aboard "Petrel," owned by Harry Johnson of Charleston, earning 13-year-old angler Rob Johnson of Mount Pleasant the Biggest Wahoo Award and the Outstanding Youth Angler Award.
The Biggest Tuna Award went to Robbie Renkin of Charleston, who reeled in a 49.5-pound yellowfin tuna aboard "Second Love III," owned by Swygert Shipyards of Johns Island. Biggest Dolphin Award went to angler John Destefano of Charleston, who caught a 30.4-pound dolphin aboard "Petrel," owned by Harry Johnson of Charleston.
The Outstanding Female Angler Award went to Ann Brady Moore of Spartanburg, who reeled in a 20.7-pound dolphin. Moore hooked the fish aboard "Rascal," owned by Norman Pulliam, also of Spartanburg.
After the first two tournaments, the award standings are as follows: Billfish boat: 325 points - "Lock n' Load," owned and captained by Skipper Jellison of Seabrook Island. Conservation Award: "Summer Girl," with 2,400 points for tagging 43 dolphin, one yellowfin tuna and one wahoo. Points for Governor's Cup tournaments are awarded as follows: 300 points for a tagged or released blue marlin, 200 points for a tagged or released white marlin, and 150 points for a tagged or released sailfish.
The Governor's Cup Board of Directors took an unprecedented step this year by making "tagging" an optional part of the tournament series. Now points can be accumulated for properly catching and releasing billfish, so tagging is no longer required to receive release points. Anglers are still encouraged to tag tuna, dolphin and wahoo as part of the bluewater conservation endeavor, and to help support on-going studies of these species.
The top five boats from the South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia Governor's Cup Series will be showcased in a prestigious, all-tag-and-release event called The Carolinas Shootout. The Shootout for the 2004 Governor's Cup Series will be held during May 16-22 in conjunction with the Charleston Harbor HMY Viking Billfish Tournament.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series contact Tom DuPre' of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources by e-mail at [url "mailto:dupret@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us"][#0000ff]dupret@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us[/#0000ff][/url] or by phone at (843) 953-9365 in Charleston. Visit the Web site at [url "http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/govcup/govcup.html"][#0000ff]http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/govcup/govcup.html[/#0000ff][/url] to learn more about the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series and to keep up with the standings.
- Written by Jennie R. Davis -
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"The weather was beautiful, and Damien Zanetti and all of the marina staff did an excellent job coordinating the tournament," said Tom DuPre' of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, who coordinates the tournament series, speaking of the Bohicket event. "The food, which was catered by Marvin's Meats, was delicious and there was a different band every night so the crowd had a great time."
One billfish, a blue marlin, was released during the tournament. All of the 22 boats that participated in the tournament fished two out of the three days. There were no second or third place boats because only one billfish was caught during the tournament. Funds from each tournament are used to support a broad range of marine fisheries research and conservation efforts each year.
The largest wahoo of the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament was caught by the angler who is the first-place youth angler. The 45-pound wahoo caught aboard "Petrel," owned by Harry Johnson of Charleston, earning 13-year-old angler Rob Johnson of Mount Pleasant the Biggest Wahoo Award and the Outstanding Youth Angler Award.
The Biggest Tuna Award went to Robbie Renkin of Charleston, who reeled in a 49.5-pound yellowfin tuna aboard "Second Love III," owned by Swygert Shipyards of Johns Island. Biggest Dolphin Award went to angler John Destefano of Charleston, who caught a 30.4-pound dolphin aboard "Petrel," owned by Harry Johnson of Charleston.
The Outstanding Female Angler Award went to Ann Brady Moore of Spartanburg, who reeled in a 20.7-pound dolphin. Moore hooked the fish aboard "Rascal," owned by Norman Pulliam, also of Spartanburg.
After the first two tournaments, the award standings are as follows: Billfish boat: 325 points - "Lock n' Load," owned and captained by Skipper Jellison of Seabrook Island. Conservation Award: "Summer Girl," with 2,400 points for tagging 43 dolphin, one yellowfin tuna and one wahoo. Points for Governor's Cup tournaments are awarded as follows: 300 points for a tagged or released blue marlin, 200 points for a tagged or released white marlin, and 150 points for a tagged or released sailfish.
The Governor's Cup Board of Directors took an unprecedented step this year by making "tagging" an optional part of the tournament series. Now points can be accumulated for properly catching and releasing billfish, so tagging is no longer required to receive release points. Anglers are still encouraged to tag tuna, dolphin and wahoo as part of the bluewater conservation endeavor, and to help support on-going studies of these species.
The top five boats from the South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia Governor's Cup Series will be showcased in a prestigious, all-tag-and-release event called The Carolinas Shootout. The Shootout for the 2004 Governor's Cup Series will be held during May 16-22 in conjunction with the Charleston Harbor HMY Viking Billfish Tournament.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series contact Tom DuPre' of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources by e-mail at [url "mailto:dupret@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us"][#0000ff]dupret@mrd.dnr.state.sc.us[/#0000ff][/url] or by phone at (843) 953-9365 in Charleston. Visit the Web site at [url "http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/govcup/govcup.html"][#0000ff]http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/etc/govcup/govcup.html[/#0000ff][/url] to learn more about the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series and to keep up with the standings.
- Written by Jennie R. Davis -
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