While the weather didn’t fully cooperate, the 2017 Carolina Billfish Classic did feature excellent fishing for the 38 participating teams, who collectively released 78 sailfish, nine blue marlin and one white marlin in two days of fishing off Charleston, South Carolina.
Due to a small-craft advisory, the tournament cancelled the third day of fishing. The day two leaders on Toast, a 57-foot Dean Johnson owned by Ron Martin and captained by Newt Cagle, were declared the winners with their two blue marlin and seven sailfish releases. Second place fell to Micabe, a 55-foot Jarrett Bay, with one blue marlin and five sailfish releases, while Palmetto Guard won third with two blues and one sailfish.
The winning dolphin was a 44.9-pounder landed on Sportsmann, a 56-foot Paul Mann. Home Run had the largest wahoo at 29.7 pounds and High Maintenance won the tuna category with a 25-pound blackfin.
Home Run‘s Hope Bentley was the top lady angler with one blue marlin and three sailfish releases, and Chandler Griffin on Gryphon was the top junior angler with five sailfish releases.
In the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series standings, Gryphon leads with 3,675 points. Toast is second with 2,625 points and Chasin is third with 2,450 points. The next event in the series is the Megadock Billfishing Tournament, slated for July 5-8, 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina.
