Governor’s Cup title up for grabs at Edisto Billfish Tournament

Caramba will be trying to wrap up its second South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series title in three years at the Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament which begins today and continues through Saturday.

Approximately 30 boats are expected to fish the final event in the 2012 Governor’s Cup Series, with boats allowed to fish two out of three days, captain’s choice. Release scoring in Governor’s Cup events is 600 points for blue marlin, 300 points for white marlin and 200 for sailfish. Landed blue marlin that meet the Governor’s Cup minimum size standard score one point per pound.

Caramba, owned by Bob Faith and captained by Dale Lackey, won the 2010 Governor’s Cup series title and has amassed 4,175 points during four previous Governor’s Cup tournaments. Caramba has a 400-point lead over second-place Home Run. Sadie Beth is third with 3,775, followed by: Syked Out, 3,475; Reel Passion, 3,375; Sportin’ Life, 3,275; Blue Sky, 2,975; Rascal, 2,775; Micabe, 2,675; and Cotton Picker, 2,475. Of the top 10 boats, only Reel Passion and Blue Sky are not fishing the Edisto tournament.

Caramba’s lead is not insurmountable for any of the top 10 boats, especially with the 600 points for blue marlin releases. In the previous Governor’s Cup event, MegaDock, participants released 20 blue marlin. The blue marlin total for 2012 is 52, the highest since 2006 when 86 blue marlin were released.

Daily weigh-ins at Edisto are 5-8 p.m. today and Friday and 5-7 p.m. Saturday.