Cerveza early leader in Bohicket tourney

JOHNS ISLAND — If Cerveza is going to be caught in the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, it's going to take an extraordinary effort. The 62-foot Paul Spencer custom sportfisherman, owned by Tom Russell of Reston, Va., and captained by Butch Davis, has won the last two Governor's Cup tournaments and is at the top of the fleet after the opening day of the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament.

Cerveza, homeported at Pirate's Cove, N.C., released four sailfish Thursday for an 800-point total. Four boats finished the day with 600 points. El Tejano, a 57-foot Bertram owned by John Hill, released a blue marlin by angler Kathy Baxley, while Daymaker, owned by Mark Daniels, and Rascal, owned by Norman Pulliam, both released three sailfish.

The boat High Time, a 50-foot Viking owned by Bill Roper of Charlotte, was hooked up to a blue marlin at the 3 p.m. cutoff time. Because the fish was hooked before lines out, it was allowed to continue fishing. High Time released its blue marlin after a five-hour battle.

In addition to a solid billfish catch Thursday, a pending state record dolphin was caught by Ryan Riggs of Charleston. The 77.5-pound fish was caught aboard Daymaker, which is owned by Mark Daniels of Georgetown and captained by Jay Weaver. The previous record was a 74-pound, 6-ounce catch made by W.C. Etheredge in 1994.

Twenty-nine boats are fishing the tournament, which continues through Saturday with boats allowed to fish two out of three days, captain's choice.

Cerveza entered the Bohicket tournament with 3,450 points in the Governor's Cup. Roulette, which is second with 2,975, did not fish Thursday but will fish today and Saturday. Rascal is third with 2,775 and Daymaker third with 2,375.

Cerveza has now released 21 sailfish and a blue marlin in five days of tournament fishing in South Carolina, and Thursday's tally could have been even higher. The crew went 4 for 6 on sailfish and broke off a blue marlin late in the afternoon.

Russell said that less than 30 minutes before the 3 p.m. deadline for lines out of the water that a blue marlin came up on the dredge teasers. They finally managed to get the marlin hooked only to look to the other side of the boat where 10-year-old Beau Schmeusser had hooked a sailfish. At some point during the fight, the two lines crossed, cutting off the blue marlin. But Schmeusser managed to bring his second sailfish of the day to the boat at 2:55 p.m. to give Cerveza the lead.

"We're planning on fishing again (today)," Russell said. "We feel like we're on the fish so we should stay with them."

In the non-billfish categories, in addition to the state record dolphin, Riggs also landed the top wahoo of the day, a 45-pound fish. Schmeusser has the top tuna, a 10.9-pound catch.

Weigh-ins today and Saturday begin at 5 p.m.

Reach Tommy Braswell at (843) 937-5591 or braswell@postandcourier.com.