Crew makes catch at ‘last minute’ to win SC series-opening Carolina Billfish Classic
Fishing time was winding down last Saturday in the Carolina Billfish Classic, the much-anticipated opener of the 2020 South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, and there was a deadlock at the top of the leaderboard.
The lines out time of 3 p.m. was looming and four boats among the field of 47 were tied with 1,200 release points in the tournament out of Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina.
Capt. Sean Dooley of the Grander, one of the boats in the deadlock, was working an area about 50 miles east-southeast of Charleston, and the crew had already released three sailfish on the day.
One more bite was what was needed, and the Grander crew was the one that came up with it, hooking up with another sailfish and releasing it at 2:20 p.m..
“We got lucky,” said Dooley. “It was tough fishing. We were able to squeak in the one we needed at the last minute.”
The last sailfish release bumped Grander up to 1,400 points, good enough to win the Governor’s Cup opener. Grander, a 62-foot Winter Custom Yacht owned by Terrell Rhye, also released a blue marlin last Friday to accumulate the 1,400 points.
Mister Pete finished second with 1,200 points for six sailfish releases and Reel Hook Up was third also with 1,200 points and six sail releases. Ties are broken based on which boat accumulates the total points first.
The 47-boat field released 54 sailfish and 10 blue marlin with no fish brought to the dock in the three days of offshore action.
“It was tough fishing,” said Dooley, who claimed his first win as a captain in a Governor’s Cup event. “There just weren’t a whole lot of bites for everybody. Each one really matters when you’re not getting a lot of bites.
“My guys were able to capitalize on every opportunity we had. I gave them opportunity and they took advantage. It’s the ultimate team sport and it took all of us to pull this one out.”
Dooley fished the same area both days, including last Friday when the crew recorded the blue marlin release.
“There was some scattered bait and a couple little temperature changes,” said Dooley. “That was about it.”
The captain pulled two lures and four naked ballyhoo, which have been commonplace in trolling spreads since the series began requiring circle hooks to be used with any natural bait in 2007.
“People have been doing it targeting sails, white marlin and even blue marlin now for a number of years,” said Dooley. “It’s a more productive way of fishing than lure fishing. When they went to mandatory circle hooks, you realized you’d better fish that way all the time. A naked bait is the most effective way to fish circle hooks.”
In the strange year that is 2020, there are only three tournaments in the series, and the Grander crew intends to fish them all.
Next up is the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament July 29-Aug. 1. The Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, set for Aug. 12-15 out of Georgetown Landing Marina, is the series finale, albeit much later in the year than normal.
“We’re looking forward to Bohicket and then Georgetown,” said Dooley. “It’s definitely going to be different. Usually most of us are gone to the Outer Banks, Virginia or New Jersey for that late in the summer.
“It’s going to present another challenge. Hopefully some sails will be around and a scattered marlin or two. Usually that time of year you’re running away from barracudas.”
Following are other award winners in the tournament:
- Outstanding Dolphin: Tucker Carmichael, Lights Out, 55.3 pounds.
- Outstanding Tuna: Dan Rimer, Fox Trot, 16.3-pound blackfin.
- Outstanding Wahoo: Mitch Avant, Groggy’s Girl, 81 pounds.
- Outstanding Youth Angler – 1st: Woods Herring, 11, Glazed, sailfish release.
- Outstanding Youth Angler – 2nd: Anna Gressette, 12, Man Cave, sailfish release.
- Outstanding Youth Angler – 3rd: Riley Overstreet, 14, Tighten Up, sailfish release.
- Outstanding Female Angler – 1st: Sara Gressett, Man Cave, blue marlin release.
- Outstanding Female Angler – 2nd: Holly McAlhany, Syked Out, two sailfish releases.
- Outstanding Female Angler – 3rd: Heather Olmr, Full Pull, sailfish release.
