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Rockville Regatta
According to an article in last weeks News and Courier the number of boats per capita has increasing at a rate of almost 10% over the last couple of years. At last years boat show I spoke with one of Charleston’s most prominent dealers and they relayed to me that they were putting over 300 new boats in the water per year, and of those more than 50-percent of those were first time boat owners.
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'Atemis' Wins Bohicket Tournamment In Governor's Cup Series Event
     The 19th Annual South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series concluded over the weekend with 'Artemis' taking top honors at the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament.
     Series coordinator Tom DuPré with the S. C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said, "The tournament went smoothly except for the seas rolling in on Saturday. The tournament facility and staff were great again this year. The weather attempted to impact participation but held off and only as a light drizzle during the awards ceremony. The weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of all of the winners." Over the course of the Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish tournament, 30 boats participated and caught and released 21 sailfish, 5 blue marlin and one white marlin.
     Points for Governor's Cup tournaments are awarded as follows: 600 points for a tagged or released blue marlin, 200 points for a tagged or released white marlin, and 100 points for a tagged or released sailfish. In addition, boats are awarded 25 participation points for each Series tournament entered up to a maximum of three events.
     For more information on the South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing
Series contact Tom DuPré by e-mail at dupret@dnr.sc.gov or check the Website at http://govcup.dnr.sc.gov/.
     Outstanding Billfish Boat was awarded to 'Artemis,' owned by John Darby of Mt.Pleasant and captained by David Copleston. The crew of 'Artemis' caught and released 3 blue marlin and 1 sailfish during the tournament to amass 1900 points and take the lead. 'Artemis' also took home the Outstanding Billfish Conservationist.
Second place Outstanding Billfish Boat went to 'Game On,' owned by
Victor O. Roof, Jr. of Lexington and captained by Dennis Brookshire. 'Game On' caught and released 2 blue marlin to earn 1200 points and second place.
     'Heavy Iron' won third place Outstanding Billfish Boat. Gregg Malphrus, of Hilton Head Island, owns 'Heavy Iron' and Trey McMillan is captain. The crew caught and released 6 sailfish to garner 600 points during the tournament and third place honors.
     The Outstanding Dolphin award went to 'Mutts & Jeff,' owned by Tom Stanek of Charlotte and captained by Heath Hackett. Jason Corley was the winning angler for reeling in a 41.6-pound dolphin.
     The Outstanding Tuna award was won by angler Keegan Kennedy, of Hollywood, for a 29-pound blackfin tuna catch. Kennedy caught the winning fish aboard 'Sea Trace,' owned by A.J. Kennedy, also of Hollywood. Keegan Kennedy also won third place honors as Outstanding Female Angler for this catch. Palmer Owings caught the winning wahoo to earn the Outstanding Wahoo award. Owings caught a 45.5-pound wahoo aboard 'Northstar,' owned by Anthony McAlister of Mt.Pleasant, and captained by John McNamara.
     Cole Malphrus, 13, of Hilton Head Island, took home the Outstanding Youth Angler award for catching and releasing 5 sailfish. Malphrus fished aboard 'Heavy Iron,' owned by Gregg Malphrus, also of Hilton Head Island and captained by Trey McMillan.
     Joseph Barrow, Jr., 15, of Savannah, won second place honors for
Outstanding Youth Angler. Barrow caught and released a sailfish as well as a 37.8-pound wahoo on 'Legal Holiday,' owned by Fred Bergen of Savannah and captained by Matt Key.
     Caroline Turner, 12, of Valdosta Georgia, won third place Outstanding Youth Angler. Bergen also fished on 'Legal Holiday' and won for the catch and release of a sailfish. Additionally, Bergen took home first place honors as the Outstanding Female Angler for the sailfish release.
     Brooke Dixon won second place honors for Outstanding Female Angler. Dixon caught a 36.2-pound dolphin on 'Mutts & Jeff.'
    Overall points awarded and the unofficial results at the end of the 19th
Annual South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series after the fifth and final tournament are: 'Artemis' 2875 points, 'Game On' 2625.6 points, 'Bentley's Best' 1575 points, 'Dough Boy' 1375 points, 'Major Motion' 1250 points, 'Big Game' 1225 points, 'Northstar' 1075 points, 'Heavy Iron' 1075 points, 'Juncanewt' 1050 points and 'Cerveza' 1025 points.

The storms this past Saturday really made some people aware of the importance of practicing safe boating and having a plan in place if you are caught in a bad situation on the water. The storm moved in from the west and basically blocked all of the boats offshore from getting back into Charleston Harbor. Many experienced boaters commented on how quickly a beautiful ocean turned into a disorganized and dangerous mess with really high winds and waves. Overall the fishing was good. Some really nice King Mackerel were weighed in, with the top 9 fish all being over 30 pounds, in the King Fish Classic tournament, which means the bite is still on. Try live menhaden over areas of live bottom between 45’ and 90’ of water for the best results. There were some nice billfish caught in the Bohicket tournament and there was a really good wahoo bite along the ledge as well. Bottom fishing plugs along just fine and the spadefish are still out over the artificial reefs. Inshore the redfish are in full-summer form and are tailing in the early morning and evenings with the high tides in the marsh. The trout fishing is really good and a variety of artificial plastics are working well and top-water action is good in the early morning and evenings as well. Flounder fishing is really good using live mudminnows and the sheepshead fishing is good around the jetties and just about anywhere you can find a dock or other type of structure. There have also been a few scattered reports of tarpon and these should increase in the month of August. Have a safe weekend on the water and pay attention to the weather and the other boaters with the waterways more crowded than ever.

Tight lines…
Andy Pickett
CharlestonFishing.Com