N.C. boat establishes early lead
By Tommy Braswell
Cerveza, which is homeported in Pirates Cove, N.C., continues to show the way in South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series events.
The 62-foot Paul Spencer custom sportfisherman owned by Tom Russell of Reston, Va., released three sailfish Thursday in the MegaDock Billfishing Tournament and is in first place based on time of release.
Also earning 600 points were Mutts and Jeff, which released a blue marlin, and Micabe, which released three sailfish.
First place, based on points, pays $20,000. Second pays $5,000, and the non-billfish categories pay $2,000 each. The tournament's total purse, including optional tournament within a tournament levels, total more than $550,000, and there is a $1 million entry category for a boat breaking the South Carolina blue marlin record of 881.8 pounds.
Cerveza ranks second in the Governor's Cup standings with 2,200 points even though it has fished only one previous event, winning the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina Billfish Tournament two weeks ago with 11 sailfish releases. Cerveza released its first sailfish at 8:42 a.m. Thursday, added another at 9:39 a.m. and its final sailfish at 12:52 p.m.
Mutts and Jeff, a 45-foot Cabo owned by Tom and Darlene Stanek of Kiawah Island and captained by
Heath Hackett, released its blue marlin at 1:46 p.m. Jeff Stanek, 19, was the angler on the fish which weighed an estimated 150 pounds.
Micabe, a 55-foot Jarrett Bay owned by Mike Larow of Hilton Head Island, released all three of its sailfish after 1 p.m. The catch included a doubleheader with the final sailfish released at 1:54 p.m.
The top non-billfish catch of the day was a 72.7-pound wahoo caught by Billy Ford aboard Palmetto Pride. David Sykes, aboard Syked Out, has the top dolphin, 40.3 pounds. Eddie Buck Jr., aboard Rookie IV, has the top tuna at 15.8 pounds.
Boats are allowed to fish two out of three days, captain's choice.
Weigh-ins today and Saturday run from 5-7:30 p.m. at the City Marina.
Reach Tommy Braswell at braswell@postandcourier.com or call 937-5591.
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CedarPosts (anonymous) says...
You can follow the action at the "Mega Dock" Tournament
at http://www.megadocktournament.com/
The web cam of the docks was added just this last week. You can also listen to reports over from VHF radios boat located far offshore at the above site.
July 11, 2008 at 2:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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