2012 G'town Gov. Cup - Blue Marlin boated by Wildlife

Crew of Wildlife with blue marlin

The second day of fishing at the Georgetown Governor's Cup tournament saw nearly the entire fleet go fishing again, due to a predicted tropical system in the area on Saturday. A good number of billfish releases were recorded on Day Two. The meatfish bite was less than Day One, and all the previous meatfish leaders held up on Day Two. The marina was consumed with 'dock talk' all afternoon as friends and family of the boat named Wildlife reported that a blue marlin was onboard and headed to the scales. Georgetown marina manager John Horton made preparations to receive the sportfisher and the blue marlin at the fuel dock. Upon arriving, SCDNR officials went aboard to measure the blue marlin, which must be 105-inches in order to be accepted by Governor's Cup rules. The fish was deemed to measure less than 105-inches (unofficially it was 104-inches) and was not eligible to be accepted in the Governor's Cup tournament. In fact, the rules stipulate that the undersized fish be registered as 'minus 600' points for the points total for Wildlife. The blue marlin weighed 348-pounds. Since the federal guidelines for a legal harvest of a blue marlin is 99-inches, the crew of the Wildlife still have a whopper of a fish story to tell. The crowds that gathered at the Georgetown marina were appreciative of the big fish, and SCDNR removed biological samples from the blue marlin.

Wildlife unloads a blue marlin

Close up of a blue marlin

Blue marlin on the scales

For past blog entries about the 2012 Governor's Cup click here.