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- Lynne Zachrich from Reel Patience with a fine dolphin at Bohicket Marina. Photo By Jeff Dennis
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- Youth angler Rivers Simmons releases his first ever blue marlin and wins award. Photo By Jeff Dennis
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- Charles Ragsdale shows off his 34.7-pound mahi to the crowd at Edisto Marina. Photo By Jeff Dennis
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- Capt. Mullins McLeod and crew celebrate a good day of fishing. Photo By Jeff Dennis
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- McKenzie Hutaf can’t wait for sushi from John Crislip’s blackfin tuna. Photo By Jeff Dennis
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- Angler Kirkley Russell with his 71.8-pound wahoo at the MegaDock. Photo By Jeff Dennis
This summer saw the 25th anniversary season of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, a five-tournament event spanning from May to July. The 62-foot Spencer Showtime!, out of Stuart, Fla., earned the title of Best Billfish Boat after winning two of the events and taking home more than $16,000.
An average of 30 boats fished each event, and the Governor’s Cup fleet released a total of 64 blue marlin, 14 white marlin and 100 sailfish over the series. Showtime! owner Fred Hardwick, Captain Wink Doerzbacher and crew won at Bohicket Marina on June 6-8 by releasing three blue marlin and one sailfish, good for a $10,000 payday, and they closed the series strong, winning the final event at Edisto Marina on July 26-28. They released two blue marlin and two sailfish there for a $6,860 top prize.
Finishing second in the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Series was Rascal, based out of Georgetown, S.C. Rascal currently holds the South Carolina state record for blue marlin. Third place went to Sportin’ Life out of Charleston, S.C. Angler Dixon Pearce pf Sportin’ Life weighed a 534.2-pound blue marlin at the Georgetown tournament on May 24.
