In most cases, the bait and the pelagic species of gamefish that consume them begin to stir in May and stay active all summer long. Participation in billfishing tournaments is a great way to get recreational anglers involved in the offshore game. What better way to test your metal than loading up a sportfisher boat with fishing gear and fishing friends in order to pursue a blue marlin on the open ocean.
While some billfish tournaments are steeped in rich tradition such as this year’s 47th Annual Blue Marlin Tournament in Georgetown, S.C., others have a more modern face with the best possible website and entertainment value such as the Blue Marlin Grand Championship in Alabama. The North Carolina Governor’s Cup awards billfish release points to each individual angler, while the S.C. version only awards release points to a boat or fishing team.
These friendly competitions do turn serious when the big money is on the line, but for the most part everyone is competing for the right to hoist a burgee flag once back in port. The upside down representation of a billfish signals that a billfish was hooked up, handled and released on that day. See a listing of some of the top tourneys from the Southeast Atlantic to the Gulf Coast below.
NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S CUP
Hatteras Village Offshore Open
May 13 – 17
Hatteras
http://hatterasonmymind.com/HVCA/HVOO/
Swansboro Rotary Memorial Day Blue Water Tournament
May 23 – 25
Swansboro
Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament
May 28 – 31
Wrightsville Beach
http://www.capefearbluemarlintournament.com/
Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament
June 6 – 14
Morehead City
http://www.thebigrock.com/
Hatteras Grand Slam Tournament
July 9 – 12
Hatteras
http://www.hatterasgrandslam.com/
Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament
July 17 – 19
Beaufort
http://www.bartabillfish.com/
Ducks Unlimited Billfish Tournament
July 24 – 26
Morehead City
http://www.ncdubillfish.com/
Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament
August 11 – 15
Manteo
http://www.pcbgt.com/
SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR’S CUP
Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament
May 21 – 24
Georgetown
http://georgetownlandingmarina.com/fishing-tournaments/
Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament
June 4 – 7
John’s Island
http://bohicket.com/events/billfish-invitational/
Carolina Billfish Classic
June 18 – 21
Mount Pleasant
http://www.fishcbc.com/
Megadock Billfishing Tournament
July 9 – 12
Charleston
http://www.megadocktournament.com/
Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament
July 23 – 26
Edisto Island
http://govcup.edistomarinasc.com/
BAHAMAS BILLFISH CHALLENGE
Guana Cay Championship
May 7 – 10
Guana Cay, Abacos
http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/
Green Turtle Cay Championship
May 21 – 24
Green Turtle Cay, Abacos
http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/
Treasure Cay Championship
June 4 – 7
Treasure Cay, Abacos
http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/
Marsh Harbour Championship
June 18 – 21
Marsh Harbour, Abacos
http://www.bahamasbillfish.com/
FLORIDA BILLFISH TOURNAMENTS
Blue Water Fishing Classic
May 29 – June 1
Miami
http://www.bluewaterfishingclassic.com/
Emerald Coast Billfish Classic
June 18 – 22
Destin
http://www.fishecbc.com/
Pensacola International Billfish Tournament
July 2 – July 6
Pensacola
Key West Marlin Tournament
July 16 – 19
Key West
http://www.keywestmarlin.com/
ALABAMA BILLFISH TOURNAMENTS
Orange Beach Billfish Classic
May 14 – 18
Orange Beach
http://www.orangebeachbillfishclassic.com/
Blue Marlin Grand Championship of the Gulf
July 8 – 13
Orange Beach
http://www.thewharfmarina.com/BMGC/
MISSISSIPPI BILLFISH TOURNAMENTS
Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic
June 2 – 8
Biloxi
http://mgcbc.com/
LOUSIANA BILLFISH TOURNAMENTS
Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
May 27 – June 1
Venice
New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament
June 12 – 14
Port Eads
http://www.nobgfc.com/
TEXAS BILLFISH TOURNAMENTS
Texas Billfish Championship
June 25 – 28
Freeport
http://www.texasbillfishchampionship.com/
BERMUDA TRIPLE CROWN
Bermuda Billfish Blast
July 3 – 7
Hamilton
http://www.bermudabillfishblast.com/
Bermuda Big Game Classic
July 9 – 13
Hamilton
http://www.bermudabiggameclassic.com/
Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament
July 16 – 20
Hamilton
http://www.bermudatriplecrown.com/seahorse.jsp
