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'Artemis' Wins Bohicket Tournament in South Carolina |
BOHICKET MARINA, SC (SCDNR)- The 19th Annual South Carolina Governor's
Cup Billfishing Series concluded over the weekend with 'Artemis' taking
top honors at the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament.
Series coordinator Tom DuPré with the S. C. Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) said, "The tournament went smoothly except for the seas
rolling in on Saturday. The tournament facility and staff were great
again this year. The weather attempted to impact participation but held
off and only as a light drizzle during the awards ceremony. The weather
did nothing to dampen the spirits of all of the winners." Over the
course of the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish tournament, 30
boats participated and caught and released 21 sailfish, 5 blue marlin
and one white marlin.
Points for Governor's Cup tournaments are awarded as follows: 600
points for a tagged or released blue marlin, 200 points for a tagged or
released white marlin, and 100 points for a tagged or released
sailfish. In addition, boats are awarded 25 participation points for
each Series tournament entered up to a maximum of three events.
For more information on the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing
Series contact Tom DuPré by e-mail at
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or check the
Website at http://govcup.dnr.sc.gov/.
Outstanding Billfish Boat was awarded to 'Artemis,' owned by John Darby
of Mt.Pleasant and captained by David Copleston. The crew of 'Artemis'
caught and released 3 blue marlin and 1 sailfish during the tournament
to amass 1900 points and take the lead. 'Artemis' also took home the
Outstanding Billfish Conservationist.
Second place Outstanding Billfish Boat went to 'Game On,' owned by
Victor O. Roof, Jr. of Lexington and captained by Dennis Brookshire.
'Game On' caught and released 2 blue marlin to earn 1200 points and
second place.
'Heavy Iron' won third place Outstanding Billfish Boat. Gregg Malphrus,
of Hilton Head Island, owns 'Heavy Iron' and Trey McMillan is captain.
The crew caught and released 6 sailfish to garner 600 points during the
tournament and third place honors.
The Outstanding Dolphin award went to 'Mutts & Jeff,' owned by Tom
Stanek of Charlotte and captained by Heath Hackett. Jason Corley was
the winning angler for reeling in a 41.6-pound dolphin.
The Outstanding Tuna award was won by angler Keegan Kennedy, of
Hollywood, for a 29-pound blackfin tuna catch. Kennedy caught the
winning fish aboard 'Sea Trace,'owned by A.J. Kennedy, also of
Hollywood. Keegan Kennedy also won third place honors as Outstanding
Female Angler for this catch.
Palmer Owings caught the winning wahoo to earn the Outstanding Wahoo
award. Owings caught a 45.5-pound wahoo aboard 'Northstar,' owned by
Anthony McAlister of Mt.Pleasant, and captained by John McNamara.
Cole Malphrus, 13, of Hilton Head Island, took home the Outstanding
Youth Angler award for catching and releasing 5 sailfish. Malphrus
fished aboard 'Heavy Iron,' owned by Gregg Malphrus, also of Hilton
Head Island and captained by Trey McMillan.
Joseph Barrow, Jr., 15, of Savannah, won second place honors for
Outstanding Youth Angler. Barrow caught and released a sailfish as well
as a 37.8-pound wahoo on 'Legal Holiday,' owned by Fred Bergen of
Savannah and captained by Matt Key.
Caroline Turner, 12, of Valdosta Georgia, won third place Outstanding
Youth Angler. Bergen also fished on 'Legal Holiday' and won for the
catch and release of a sailfish. Additionally, Bergen took home first
place honors as the Outstanding Female Angler for the sailfish release.
Brooke Dixon won second place honors for Outstanding Female Angler. Dixon caught a 36.2-pound dolphin on 'Mutts & Jeff.'
Overall points awarded and the unofficial results at the end of the
19th Annual South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series after the
fifth and final tournament are: 'Artemis' 2875 points, 'Game On' 2625.6
points, 'Bentley's Best' 1575 points, 'Dough Boy' 1375 points, 'Major
Motion' 1250 points, 'Big Game' 1225 points, 'Northstar' 1075 points,
'Heavy Iron' 1075 points, 'Juncanewt' 1050 points and 'Cerveza' 1025
points.
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
yellowfin tuna).
By encouraging live tag and release, the Series has focused attention
on the sharp decline of Atlantic billfish and encouraged conservation
of all marine resources.
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