DNR News
** Archived Article - please check for current information. **
July 30, 2014
Rascal captures the 26th Annual South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing series
The 26th SC Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series was completed on July 26th during a tournament held at Edisto Beach. After five competitions over the course of 10 weeks, the top boats in the Billfishing Series were decided based on billfish points accrued during the season. Points for the five Governor's Cup tournaments are awarded for released billfish (600 points for blue marlin, 300 points for white marlin, and 200 points for sailfish) and for weighted blue marlin (one point per pound). Boats can also obtain participation points of 25 per event up to a total of 75 points.
When the cumulative points were tallied on Saturday night Rascal, owned by Foster McKissick of Greenville and Norman Pulliam of Spartanburg and captained by Mark Rogers of Pawley’s Island, had
maintained their Series lead finishing the season with 3,875 points.
In accomplishing this feat, Rascal became one of only a handful of boats to have captured the crown more than once during the history of this prestigious event. “While Rascal did not win any of the individual tournaments this summer, they were very consistent, placing among the top boats in every event. This consistency is what prevailed at the end of the day,” said Program Director Wallace Jenkins.
The second place Series boat was Trick’Em, owned by Curtis Whitaker of Atlanta and captained by Robert Stalcup, which accumulated 3,050 points. Trick’Em won both the MegaDock and Edisto Marina Tournaments but was unable to pass Rascal’s commanding lead. The third and fourth place boats, Mister Pete and Petrel respectively, each ended the season with 2,675 points with the tie breaker going to the boat which accrued the final total first. Mister Pete, is owned by Bob McClam of Little Mountain, SC and captained by Alan Neiford. Interestingly, it was Mister Pete’s first season competing in the Series, while in contrast, Petrel, owned by Harry Johnson of Mount Pleasant and captained by Thomas Wynne, has competed in the Series since its inception. Syked Out, owned by David Sykes of the Isle of Palms and captained by Dan Woody, rounded out the top five by accumulating 2,475 points. Sportin’ Life, owned by Manly and Graham Eubank of Charleston and captained Mike Glaesner, was the only participating boat to land a blue marlin. The big fish was landed during the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament and weighted in at 448.2 pounds.
After the results are certified by the SC Governor’s Cup Advisory Board during their September meeting, awards will be handed out at the Series’ Annual Awards Reception in October. Boats participating in the Series amass points for billfish either landed or caught and released. Tagging is optional and not required for Series points. Anglers compete for four major awards: Outstanding Billfish (single heaviest billfish), Outstanding Billfish Boat (most accumulated points) and Outstanding Billfish Conservationist (most points for tagged or released fish), and the Blue Water Conservation Award (most accumulated tag and release points for dolphin, wahoo, and tuna). In addition, awards are made for heaviest tuna, wahoo and dolphin landed during the Series events as well as Outstanding Lady and Youth Anglers.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, contact Wallace Jenkins at (843) 953-9835 or JenkinsW@dnr.sc.gov, and Amy Dukes at (843) 953-9365 or DukesA@dnr.sc.gov.
By encouraging live tag and release, the Series has focused attention on the population status of Atlantic billfish and encouraged conservation of all marine resources.
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