2017 Edisto Billfish Tourney Raises Fish and Attendance

Whitney Arnold with winning mahi

The dog days of summer settled in over the Lowcountry just in time for the 2017 Edisto Billfish Tourney, with hot weather translating into calm seas. With the weather forecast for fishable seas locked in, the Marina at Edisto Beach reeled in a fleet of 38 boats to go offshore in search of billfish and meatfish. The town of Edisto Beach and many local businesses also came together for this multi-day event that is partially based out of Bay Creek Park. When the fishing was complete on Saturday, Wildlife claimed the Edisto title, while Gryphon wins the entire 2017 Governor’s Cup Series.

Bubba Simmons with winning Tuna

Plenty of boats released lots of billfish, and also had many more billfish get away, so it underscores that Wildlife was the most efficient given the ample opportunities that the ocean was yielding. For example, on Saturday alone the fishing fleet released 51 sailfish, 6 blue marlin and one white marlin. Any number of boat captains I spoke to on the docks said that they had a realistic chance at more billfish, but that they would not bite the lure or they got broke off during the fight. Saltwater anglers know they won’t catch and release every billfish they see, but everyone appreciates that the billfish were plentiful.

Angler Bolegs Warner with winning HOO!!

Anticipation also doubles up in the meatfish category, wining the top spot for both the heaviest dolphin and the heaviest tuna, for owner Paul Coury and Captain Harvey Shiflet. On Day One female angler Whitney Arnold weighed in a 45.3-pound mahi mahi for Anticipation, and she also released two sailfish during the tourney. Then on Saturday Bubba Simmons weighed in a 12-pound blackfin tuna for Anticipation , the only tuna brought to the scales at the 2017 event. The heaviest wahoo went to Bolegs Warner fishing on the Dealer’s Choice based out of Walterboro, with a 73.2 HOO brought in on Day One.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

Congrats to Wildlife for the WIN.

To view past blog entries from the Governor's Cup winners click on 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Edisto Music Festival - Lions Club Bingo - Business of the Year - Jim Bost Tourney - Summer Activities

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Afternoon Heat Relief - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

Mackenzi Truluck is all smiles after releasing sailfish!!!

Looking forward to the 2018 Tourney!