No Rules tourney and S.C. Memorial Reef Update

Dealer's Choice with their ACE; the 59-pound winning dolphin

Butch Cooper and Stevie Leasure support the S.C. Memorial Reef

Fishing on May 18 out of Bennett’s Point, the annual No Rules Offshore fishing tournament added a new title. Now the event will also be known as the Billy Baldwin Memorial, marking the recent passing of the B&B Seafood founder and longtime tournament host. There are no rules for this event, except that the heaviest fish wins! Boats paid a $100 entry fee to fish, and the 46-foot Bertram named Dealer’s Choice brought back an Ace to play at the weigh-in. Their 59-pound dolphin was the overall winner, earning Scott Rizer and crew over $2500 in cash. Finding themselves flush, the Dealer’s Choice crew elected to donate a portion of their winnings to the S.C. Memorial Reef. The Billy Baldwin Memorial No Rules tourney had already decided that 2013 would be the year that they send money to the establishment of the South Carolina Memorial Reef, off the coast and in deepwater where offshore species thrive. Robbie Hooker explained that tourney sponsors, t-shirt sales, raffle ticket sales and other donations equaled about $3500. When the Dealer’s Choice crew finished playing their hand, the total donation from these Colletonians was $5000. The offshore fishing community has been holding fundraisers during the summer Governor’s Cup events, and this year the S.C. Memorial Reef annual auction is planned for June 22. Coinciding with the Carolina Billfish Classic at Toler’s Cover near Sullivan’s Island, the auction will be held at 7 p.m. at Gold Bug Island, and includes food, drink and a lively silent and live auction for the sake of bluewater conservation. Tickets are $30 apiece and $50 for a couple, and includes live music from Charleston Groove Factory.

To view the remainder of my feature story click on Colletonian.

To view past blog entries about saltwater offshore fishing click tourney or adventure.