2018 marks the 30th anniversary of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, which kicked off at Bohicket Marina at Johns Island on May 9, 2018. A tournament-record-setting 43 teams competed for first shot at the series championship, which finishes up on July 21st in Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
Each of the Bohicket teams fished two of the possible three days, tallying 24 blue marlin, one white marlin and eight sailfish releases for the tournament.
Mister Pete‘s Capt. Alan Neiford finished second in the 2017 event, but his team of anglers aboard the 58-foot C&L Yacht capitalized on their opportunities on Day Three of this year’s event, releasing three blue marlin to win first place with a total of four blue marlin releases and 2,400 points for owners Bob and Rusty McClam. The team aboard Full Pull came up just one blue marlin short at lines out for a close second-place finish, and John Darby’s Artemis finished a mere 100 points behind second place to take home third-place honors in the event.
Holly McAlhany on the Viking Yachts Syked Out won the top Outstanding Female Angler award, releasing her team’s only blue marlin of the tournament, and Will Morrow brought a nice 28.2-pound dolphin to the scales which took first-place youth angler for the Grander.
Leg two of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series – the 51st Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament – will take place over Memorial Day weekend.
