Georgetown reels in big-time fishing tournaments

Sel Hemingway is bursting at the seams with excitement over what could evolve into a much-needed boon for the City of Georgetown and Georgetown County.

Hemingway, the Georgetown County administrator, has been at the forefront of the push to attract competitive fishing tournaments to the City of Georgetown. And that work is paying off.

The Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex, which opened in 2010, has helped lure big tournaments to town, including the B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional Championship in April and the Inshore Fishing Association’s Redfish Tour, which made a stop here in May is returning for a tournament this weekend.

Georgetown has always been a versatile location for both fresh and saltwater fishermen.

Saltwater anglers can fish the main feature of the area, Winyah Bay, adjacent North Inlet or head south down the Intracoastal Waterway for many more options. Winyah Bay of course flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

There are also three main rivers - the Waccamaw, Pee Dee and Black - that flow into Winyah Bay, which is the third largest watershed on the East Coast, providing numerous fishing spots for freshwater fishermen.

But to become a viable option as a host site for regional or even national fishing tournaments, Georgetown needed a suitable venue.

When the Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex was completed in 2010, Georgetown had just the venue it needed. Then, Hemingway sprang into action, working to attract tournaments to the city.

“I humbly asked them to come to Georgetown and I would do everything I could to make it enjoyable,” said Hemingway. “I’m begging for you to come, but my goal is for you to beg to come back. I told them, if the community embraces tournaments the way I think it will, we hope your participants would want to come back.”

Situated adjacent to U.S. Hwy. 17 on the Sampit River, the Campbell Marine Complex offers quick access to Winyah Bay and all those other fishing areas.

Georgetown was suddenly in business, riding the coattails of its 20-acre facility with six boat launch ramps, an outdoor event stage and parking for 200 vehicles with trailers.

In the last 18 months, Georgetown has hosted a King Kat Tournament targeting catfish, a B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional Championship in April and two stops on the Inshore Fishing Association’s Redfish Tour, including the latest in May.

The city has established an especially strong relationship with the IFA Redfish Tour, which has five divisions and 10 tournaments in four states from South Carolina to Texas on the 2015 schedule.

Both events in the tour's Atlantic Division were scheduled for Georgetown, the event in May and the second coming up this weekend.

The IFA Redfish Tour has already scheduled two more tournaments for Georgetown in 2016, with the second one set to be televised, according to Hemingway.

The early returns for Georgetown as a fishing tournament destination are overwhelmingly positive.

“It became apparent to us that Georgetown was a premier tournament location our very first time there,’’ said Eric Shelby, IFA Tournament Director. “We have seen tremendous growth since partnering with Mr. Hemingway and Georgetown County. What really attracts us, as tournament organizers, are the quality facilities. With the construction of the Campbell Marine Complex, Georgetown does provide the perfect venue to hold elite level fishing tournaments.”

Shelby especially likes the urban location of the Campbell Complex, with numerous activities nearby in town and other areas of the county.

“The complex is located right in town which allows our anglers to quickly access the fishery,” Shelby said. “This minimizes travel costs and down time on both practice and tournament days. By being in town, we have seen some of our largest crowds at weigh-ins this season, which allows us to bring positive attention to our sport.

“Georgetown is also a favorite tournament among anglers to bring the whole family and enjoy great restaurants, shopping and beaches.”

The economic impact has been significant in town and the county.

The B.A.S.S. event pumped around a half-million dollars into the local economy through lodging, restaurants, fuel purchases and other spending by tournament participants and their families and guests.

“With the potential impact on tourism and the county's economy, these tournaments are indeed a blessing for our area,” said Hemingway.

The tournaments staged thus far at the Campbell Complex - named in honor of late South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell, an avid fisherman with heavy ties to the county - have been regional events. But that hasn’t kept local anglers from having huge success competing against anglers from across the Southeast.

In the B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional Championship in April, Conway angler John Proctor won the individual championship and his South Carolina team, featuring five more local anglers, claimed the team title.

In the first Redfish Tour Atlantic Division stop in May, the results were heartbreaking for the Georgetown team of Bub Mitchell and Tim Ward who missed out on winning the championship by the narrowest of margins.

A Florida-based team of JD Nobles and Kyle Craven weighed a two-redfish aggregate of 9.24 pounds, to nip the Mitchell-Ward two-fish aggregate of 9.23 pounds.

Obviously, there can be major drama at the weigh-ins, which the public is encouraged to attend.

This weekend's IFA Redfish Tour event features, as always, two separate tournaments - one for power boats and one for kayaks.

The power boat tournament's activities begin Friday with registration from 5 p.m. to7 p.m. followed by the captain's meeting at the Campbell Marine Complex.

Anglers will launch at safe light on Saturday. Check-in times will be assigned at Friday's captain's meeting with anglers returning to Campbell Marine Complex for the weigh-in at 3 p.m.

Registration for the kayak event is 6 p.m. to7 p.m. on Saturday with captains meeting to follow at the Campbell Marine Complex.

The kayak anglers will launch Sunday from the location of their choice. Weigh-in time and location is to be determined.

This story was originally published August 24, 2015 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Georgetown reels in big-time fishing tournaments."