SCDNR NEWS RELEASE
August 27, 2001
For information contact: (843) 762-5076

Written by Jennie R. Davis, SCDNR

SPORTIN' LIFE" WINS 2001 S.C. GOVERNOR'S CUP BILLFISHING TOURNAMENT SERIES

"Sportin' Life," owned by Manly Eubank of Charleston, is the overall winner of the 2001 S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Tournament Series as the Outstanding Billfish Boat with 1,150 total points in the tournament series. "Sportin' Life" tagged and released three blue marlin and one white marlin, securing them the first place position.

The Outstanding Female Angler award goes to Nancy Ravenel of Mt. Pleasant. Ravenel tagged and released a white marlin aboard "Cookie Monster," owned by Nancy and her husband, Chris. Second place for the Outstanding Female Angler goes to Kimberly Smith of Walterboro, who tagged and released a sailfish on "Summer Girl," owned by Steven Leasure of Charleston and John Smith of Walterboro. The third place Outstanding Female Angler is Allison Lockwood of Mt. Pleasant who tagged and released a sailfish on "ALI-L," owned by Joe Gilchrist and Jerry Lockwood of Mt. Pleasant.

As for the Outstanding Youth Angler, first place goes to 12-year-old J. C. Darby of Mt. Pleasant, who tagged and released a white marlin on "Hot Shot," owned by Eric Burn of Charleston. The second place Outstanding Youth Angler is Royall Shore of Mt. Pleasant, age 10, who caught a 113.6-pound wahoo on board "Chasin'," owned by Smyth McKissick of Greenville, South Carolina. The third place award for the Outstanding Youth Angler goes to 14-year-old Wil Thornhill of Sullivans Island, who landed a 67.7-pound dolphin on "Mar Jen," owned by Romo, Inc. of Mt. Pleasant.

In the biggest fish categories, it is impressive that two of the three awards this year go to youth anglers. The second place Outstanding Youth Angler, Royall Shore, also wins the Biggest Wahoo Award for his 113.6-pound fish. Wil Thornhill gets the Biggest Dolphin Award, in addition to being the third place Outstanding Youth Angler, for his 67.7- pound dolphin. The largest yellowfin tuna, an 86.6-pound fish was caught by James Bigby of Columbia aboard "Good Buddy," owned by Tommy Goodson of Hartsville.

The S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, in its 13th season, is an umbrella event encompassing billfishing tournaments along the Palmetto State's coast. The Series encourages tag and release angling, conservation of South Carolina's marine resources and promotes coastal tourism. It has been recognized internationally for its efforts to conserve billfish and other species through tag and release.

The "Carolinas Shootout" has been scheduled for April, 2002 and will be held in South Carolina. Exact dates and location have not yet been determined. "The 'Carolinas Shootout,' a total tag and release billfish event, pits a team of the five best boats from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia against the each other for bragging rights as the best billfish anglers," said Wayne Waltz, assistant director for the Office of Fisheries Management in the Marine Resources Division of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources coordinates the S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Series through its Office of Fisheries Management in the Marine Resources Division.