2024 S.C. Blue Marlin Invitational - Daymaker Wins

Daymaker with their winning blue marlin May 22

The newest offshore fishing tournament in S.C. is growing by tailwalking leaps and greyhounding splashes. In just its third year of existence, the S.C. Blue Marlin Invitational (SCBMI) out of Charleston had 41 boats sign up to fish, using the new-fangled idea of letting teams pick which days they want to fish. Their May 1 through June 8 dates are selected so that fishing teams can capitalize on migration peaks and full moon cycles along the way. A total of four blue marlin were brought to the scales and Daymaker’s 533.6-pound blue marlin claimed the First Place $252,600-dollar jackpot. 

The SCBMI has a special release category to promote conservation of blue marlin too, consisting of three cash prizes of $63,360. Sweet Spot out of Charleston, run by Captain Chris Kubik and owned by the McAlhany family, claimed the Day One award with four blue marlin releases. LIAHO out of Murrell’s Inlet, run by Capt. Worth Farrington and owned by Bill Choate, won the Day Two award with two blue marlin releases. Bench Mark out of Charleston, run by Capt. Jordan Parker and owned by Stephen Davis, won the Day Three prize with two blue marlin releases.

SCBMI donates $15K to SC Memorial Reef

Daymaker is a 58-foot BB Boatworks sportfisher with Bobby Krivohlavek serving as owner and Captain, and his son Michael serving as mate. They weighed in their blue marlin on May 22 at Toler’s Cover Marina in Charleston, and the angler was Joe Gorin. They had to wait until June 8 to see if they would hold on to first place, and that included seeing two more blue marlin weighed in by Double07 and Spray Rig, that did not top theirs. And another boat, Sportin’ Life out of Charleston, had a large blue marlin hooked up on June 2, but that fish broke off before they could measure or land it.

The SCBMI does award a second place for weighing in a blue marlin and Pipe Down claimed that $108,240-dollar prize with their 507.4-pound blue marlin. The 61-foot Paul Mann sportfisher is run by Capt. Jeffrey Crabtree and owned by Todd Luke and Heather Gonzales. The angler on that blue marlin was 16-year old Gavin Gonzales, and they weighed their fish at Toler’s Cove marina on May 17. Their fish did lead the SCBMI briefly, until Daymaker took the lead for good. Tournament organizer Chucky Moore is looking forward to growing the 2025 SCBMI tourney by adding more sponsors and fishing teams. For more information visit www.SCbluemarlininvitational.com on the Internet.