2012 Big Rock Tourney - Flybuoy Wins

Owner Gary Davis, Captain Hollingsworth,
Angler Todd Baxley and Kathy with the 
winning blue marlin at the 54th Big Rock

Once again, a sportfisher based out of Charleston, S.C. has won The Big Rock blue marlin tournament.  A fleet of 120-boats fishing out of Morehead City, N.C. elect to fish four out of six days to determine the winner for heaviest blue marlin. With great weather on Day One, Monday June 11 the Flybuoy found a good fish, one that would exceed the tournament minimums of 400-pounds or 110-inches in length. Angler Todd Baxley was able to bring the blue marlin to the boat where his crew could successfully land it. After arriving back in port, the blue marlin weighed 499.3-pounds, and despite five more days of fishing, the Day One marlin held up to make Flybuoy the winners of the 54th edition of The Big Rock. Flybuoy is owned by Gary Davis, and the captain is Robert Hollingsworth. Angler Todd Baxley was the designated angler and wife Kathy was a part of the crew on Monday, and the Baxley's are a regular fixture at the S.C. Governor's Cup Billfishing Series. Other Charleston-based boats to win the Big Rock include Artemis (2008), Bak Bar (2007), Pipe Layer (1997), Diamond Girl (1989) and Summertime Blues (2000) which still holds the all-time heaviest blue marlin record at Big Rock with their 831-pound blue marlin! Over 50 billfish were caught and released by the Big Rock fleet and Benchmark out of Charleston recorded a Grand Slam by releasing a blue marlin, white marlin and a sailfish all on Day One, which is a rare feat.