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"Capitol^s Gain," owned by Paul Sanders of West Columbia, won the Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament leg of the S.C. Governor^s Cup Billfishing Series held July 21-24 at Edisto Beach.
Angler Kate Creech landed a 414.6-pound blue marlin, the largest of the tournament, to win the Outstanding Female Angler award and secure the win for "Capitol^s Gain." "Capitol^s Gain" also released two sailfish en route to earning 614.6 points and the win.
Finishing in second place at Edisto with 600 points for tagging and releasing two blue marlin on Friday, the second day of fishing, was "Producer," owned by David Morgan of Sullivan^s Island. "Laid Back," owned by Perry Bullard of Edisto Beach, also tagged and released two blue marlin on Saturday to place third in the tournament. "Laid Back" placed third behind "Producer," which caught its fish earlier in the tournament.
In this last event of the seven-tournament Governor^s Cup series, 61 boats participated in three days of fishing. A blue marlin with a South Carolina tag was recaptured by "High Cotton," owned by Ed Norris of Murrells Inlet. The fish was implanted with another scientific tag and released, and the original tag will be traced by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to determine who placed it and where it was first captured. Tagging is the primary tool used by scientists to learn more about this and other highly migratory game fish species.
Edisto^s Outstanding Female Angler was Kate Creech with her 414.6-pound blue marlin. Preston Merriman, 14, won Edisto^s Outstanding Youth Angler award with one of the two blue marlin tagged and released on the "Laid Back."
Sandra Love landed the largest wahoo at Edisto, 59.2 pounds, on the "Lady S," owned by Woody Smith of Mt. Pleasant. Bobby Hood Jr. caught the largest dolphin of the tournament at 39.8 pounds aboard the "Compromise IV," owned by Robert Hood of Charleston. The largest yellowfin tuna, a 56.6-pound fish, was caught by angler Reeves Gressette aboard "Yellowfin," owned by Bill Cox of Orangeburg.
"Rookie IV," owned by Eddie Buck Sr. of Charleston, leads the 1999 Series^ point standings and has the Outstanding Billfish with a blue marlin weighing 479 pounds. "High Cotton," owned by Ed Norris of Garden City, is second and leads the Billfish Conservationist category. "Mar Jen," owned by Ron Motley of Charleston, is third. Leading the Bluewater Conservation category for tagging and releasing the most tuna, dolphin and wahoo is "Lucky Devil," owned by Lin Smith of Murrells Inlet.
Teresa Gabrish, fishing aboard "Trouble Maker," is the Outstanding Female Angler leader, and Billy Tysinger IV, 12, fishing on "Over Time," leads the Youth Angler field. Greg Roumillatt has the largest dolphin at 60 pounds, caught aboard "Never Enough." Lucas Drake, fishing aboard "Done Deal," has the largest tuna at 72.4 pounds, and Grant Bentley has the largest wahoo, a 93.4-pound fish, caught aboard "Blue Boy."
A total of 164 boats participated in the 11th Annual 1999 South Carolina Governor^s Cup Series, hooking more than 300 billfish, catching 187, and releasing all but seven for a 96 percent release rate. The Series encourages tag and release angling, conservation of South Carolina^s marine resources and promotes coastal tourism. The top five boats, plus one alternate boat, will compete as a team against team winners of the North Carolina and Georgia Governor^s Cup tournaments. The annual competition, called the Carolinas Shootout, determines the best offshore anglers of the competing states. The Carolinas Shootout will be held Sept. 23-25 at Charleston Harbor Resort Marina in Mt. Pleasant.
Uploaded: 8/1/1999
Uploaded: 8/1/1999