This Georgetown County fishing tradition taking a 1-year hiatus as COVID-19 spread ensues
A Georgetown County tradition for over a half century will endure a one-year hiatus.
The 53rd annual edition of the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, the oldest billfishing tournament in South Carolina and one of the oldest along the East Coast, has been canceled for 2020 due to concerns related to COVID-19.
The tournament is traditionally held over Memorial Day weekend, but had been postponed to Aug. 12-15 before being canceled.
“We talked about it and it wasn’t an easy decision to make,” said Vernie Ogburn, Dockmaster of Georgetown Landing Marina, the host venue for the tournament. “To carry on with it would be socially irresponsible. To protect our customers, captains and ourselves, we decided to postpone it.
“It’s with great regret we’re doing this. However, we’re looking forward to next year and looking forward to our 53rd tournament then.”
In an open letter announcing the cancellation, Georgetown Landing Marina staff, including General Manager Ed Keelin, stated “as a business we don’t feel we could successfully adhere to the Governor’s Covid orders while hosting such a large number of participants. Additionally the potential exposure could adversely affect the continued operation of the marina, and the service provided to our valued customers.”
The tournament was founded by the late Wallace F. Pate in 1968, and has been a staple event in Georgetown ever since, being staged for 52 consecutive years at various locations in town.
The tournament was originally held on the waterfront behind the former Nautica Marina building on Front Street. It was held at Belle Isle Marina from 1978-81 before finding a permanent home at Georgetown Landing Marina since 1982.
The tournament has been a mainstay in the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series since its inception in 1988.
COVID-19 is taking a toll on the 2020 series, which originally had four tournaments on the schedule.
The Carolina Billfish Classic was held June 17-20 at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina in Mt. Pleasant, but the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament has also been canceled.
Only one tournament remains scheduled according to the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series website (http://govcup.dnr.sc.gov/), the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament set for July 29-Aug. 1.