NEWS RELEASE MAY 5, 2001
DNR News (803) 734-3952
EDISTO BEACH, S.C.

HOME RUN STRIKES FIRST TO WIN FIRST GOVERNOR'S CUP BILLFISHING SERIES EVENT AT EDISTO

The 13th Annual South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series got off to a great start May 3rd at Edisto Beach. Six of the forty-one boats registered to fish caught, tagged and released billfish, including four blue marlin and two white marlin.

"Home Run," owned by Steven Mungo of Columbia tagged and released the first blue marlin of the first fishing day, hooking up at 8:10 a.m., and won the tournament because of the early catch. "Home Run's" early catch also earned it the tournament's Best Billfish Boat and Conservation awards.

Other boats catching blue marlin on the first day were "Mistress," owned by Scott Boyd of Columbia, "Holy Mackerel," owned by Doug Batchelor of Evans, Georgia, and "Finaddict," owned by Danny Massalon of Camden.

Two white marlin were also tagged and released the first day, one by "Rascal," owned by Norman Pulliam of Spartanburg and one by "Aut-Top-Sea," owned by Dell Dembosky of Bennettsville.

Most boats stayed in port to rest and re-rig on Friday, opting to fish the final day. Two boats caught billfish on Saturday; "Big Game," owned by Terrell Rhye of Florence and "Sportin' Life," owned by Manley Eubank of Charleston, each tagged and released one blue marlin.

A sixty-nine pound wahoo, caught by Richard Corbin fishing aboard "Risky Business," owned by Ken Cannon of Johns Island, won the Largest Wahoo award. The Largest Dolphin award went to youth angler Thomas Plumb, age 9, for his 36.0 pound fish caught aboard "Gamecock," owned by Fisher Walter of Edisto Island. Ward Mungo, age 11, fishing aboard "Home Run," took the tournament's Largest Tuna award with his 39.8 pound yellowfin. Ward also captured Edisto's Youth Angler award with his tuna and added a 29.2 pound dolphin for insurance.

Edisto's Female Angler award went to Mary Brooke Sligh for her 36.0 pound yellowfin tuna caught aboard "Legal Holiday," owned by Fred Bergen of Savannah, Georgia.

Several boats tagged and released tuna, dolphin and wahoo, including "Cookie Monster," owned by William Ravenel of Mt. Pleasant, "Team Pursuit," owned by Bert Pooser of Columbia, "Diamond II," owned by Furman Cullum of Charleston, "Legal Holiday," and "Risky Business." Boats tagging and releasing tuna, dolphin and wahoo qualify to win the S.C. Governor's Cup Blue Water Conservation Award, given to the boat earning the most annual points for tagging and releasing these three species.

Edisto is the first event of the six-tournament series beginning in May and ending in July. The Series encourages tag and release angling, conservation of South Carolina's marine resources and promotes coastal tourism. The next S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Series tournament will be held May 16-20 at Bohicket Marina, Johns Island. For more information call Damien Zanetti, Bohicket Marina, 843-768-1280.

- Written By Jim Goller -