InTheBite

  • Home
  • News
    • All News
    • Featured Stories
    • General News
    • Captain of the Year
    • Tournament Results
    • First Builds
    • Splash Reports
    • Old Salts Rule
    • Tackle Tips
    • Dock Talk
    • Crew Records
    • Conservation
  • Tournaments
    • Calendar
    • Captain of the Year
    • Champion’s Cup
  • Shop
    • All Products
    • Subscriptions
    • Back Issues
    • Shirts
    • Hats & Visors
    • Miscellaneous
    • Release Rulers
  • Classifieds
  • Job Board
  • Contact
    • Contact InTheBite
    • InTheBite Media Kit
  • Log in

Blue Sky Wins the Carolina Billfish Classic

June 30, 2022 By InTheBite Magazine

The Blue Sky with crew onboard.

The Blue Sky with crew onboard. (The Buckskin Billfish/Cameron J. Rhodes)

By Zachary Granat

The Carolina Billfish Classic, part of the South Carolina Governor’s Cup, concluded June 25 with The Blue Sky winning first place. In second was the Showtime, followed by the Buddy Rowe in third.

These were just three of the 53 boats that participated in the tournament, which lasted from Wednesday June 22 to Saturday June 25 at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina. Final registration ended on June 22, and the fishing itself lasted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day from June 23 to June 25.

The Top Three

The winner of the Carolina Billfish Classic, the Blue Sky, is a 60-foot Spencer owned by Greg Smith and captained by Jay Weaver, both residents of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. This is not their first time competing in the Billfish Classic, or their first time winning first place, which they did in 2019. Then, it caught two blue marlin and three sailfish for a total of 1,800 points. This time, it caught two blue marlin and seven sailfish for a total of 2,600 points.

Andrew Dupps owns the Showtime, a 62-foot Spencer captained by Jon Meade. Their boat caught one blue marlin and eight sailfish for a total of 2,200 points. Back in 2021, Capt. Meade and his crew generously hosted the InTheBite team during the 53rd Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament.

The Buddy Rowe, a 57-foot Sunny Briggs owned by Todd Wigfield and captained by Cords Lucas, caught the first sailfish of Day Three at 8:57 a.m. With one blue marlin and seven sailfish, the Buddy Rowe scored a total of 2,000 points.

Other Categories

The Micabe caught the largest dolphin, a 51.8-pounder, and the Pistol had the largest tuna, a blackfin weighing 23.2 pounds. Out of the wahoo, The Syked Out‘s 41.2-pound catch was the largest.

The Syked Out also had the top female angler, Holly McAlhany, who caught four sailfish. Natalia Carolina and Kelly Kirkpatrick, both onboard the Showtime, caught three sailfish and two sailfish respectively.

As for the youth anglers, Sidney Thomas of the Sa Fix performed the best, catching one blue marlin and three sailfish. Woods Herring of the Glazed was right behind him with one blue marlin, while Jack Eudy of the Black Jack caught two sailfish.

Over the course of the whole event, participants released 99 billfish—a new record for the Carolina Billfish Classic—including 16 blue marlin and 83 sailfish.

The crew of the Blue Sky and their family members posing with a check for $120,250.

The crew of the Blue Sky with their prize money. (The Buckskin Billfish/Cameron J. Rhodes)

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Do you have any comments or questions for us? We’d love to hear from you.

    Filed Under: Featured Stories, General News, News, Tournament Results, Tournaments Tagged With: atlantic billfish, Carolina Billfish Classic, Charleston, South Carolina Governors Cup, Tournament

    Recent News

    Weathering the Storm

    While nasty conditions offshore are generally unpleasant for anyone on any vessel, offshore fishing on an outboard-powered center console typically means that the captain and crew will be more exposed to the wind and seas than the crew of a larger … [Read More...]

    Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

    If you’ve ever headed offshore in search of dolphin under patches or lines of sargassum weed, you know the weed can be difficult to find at times. That seems to happen every time I fish a dolphin tournament at least! But all that may soon change. … [Read More...]

    Old Salt: Capt. Brian Phillips

    By Carol M. Bareuther, RD Some people dream their whole life of catching a billfish. Others dedicate their lives to the pursuit of these magnificent creatures, with the best boat and tackle money can buy. Still, others happen into it by accident. … [Read More...]

    How To Find the Right Topcoat

    Manufacturers of professional yacht coatings offer various solutions for the "final finish." But which choice is ideal—a PU (Polyurethane) topcoat, an acrylic system or a polyurethane high-solid base coat/clear coat layer structure? … [Read More...]

    IGFA Bestows 2023 Awards

    Dania Beach, Fla. — The International Game Fish Association (IGFA), a global nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices today announced the 2023 recipients of its p … [Read More...]

    Leave a Reply

    Connect With InTheBite

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Subscribe to InTheBite Magazine Today!

    InTheBite current cover image

    Our latest issue is hitting the docks now! Be sure to subscribe to the hottest bluewater mag on the market. Purchase or Subscribe »

    InTheBite Champion’s Cup

    InTheBite Champions Cup Logo

    New for 2022, the Champion’s Cup is an optional paid entry with a winner-takes-all prize format for teams who want to up the stakes in each division utilizing our longstanding tournament scoring formula.

    Captain of the Year Cup Standings

    COTY / ITB Cup Logo

    News

    • Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

      Massive Sargassum Weed Line Approaches Florida

      If you’ve ever headed offshore in search of dolphin under patches or lines of sargassum weed, you know the weed can be difficult to find at times. That seems to happen every time I fish a dolphin tournament at least! But all that may soon change. Sargassum, an algae that’s commonly mislabeled as a “weed,” is headed toward the U.S.... [Read More...]

    • InTheBite Hires Industry Veteran John Brownlee as Editor-in-Chief

      InTheBite Hires Industry Veteran John Brownlee as Editor-in-Chief

      Dale Wills, Founder and President of InTheBite, has announced the hiring of marine industry veteran, John Brownlee, as ITB’s new Editor-in-Chief. “Under Brownlee’s leadership in editorial and digital media, his intelligent perspectives and vast industry knowledge will move the brand forward with his long list of proven skill sets,” Wills said. “It’s only fitting as we move past our 20th... [Read More...]

    • Proposed 10-Knot Restrictions

      Proposed 10-Knot Restrictions

      It’s Not Over! The Viking Yacht Company and the marine industry’s grassroots campaign to stop the advancement of a proposed 10-knot restriction along the Eastern Seaboard continues into 2023. And now, thanks to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), we have a tool at our disposal that makes it super easy to make your voice heard. In one click, send a pre-written letter... [Read More...]

    • Old Salt: Capt. Eddie Herbert

      Old Salt: Capt. Eddie Herbert

      By Carol M. Bareuther, RD The moon and stars shone brightly in the pre-dawn night as Capt. Eddie Herbert started the engines on the 80-foot Merritt Reel Tight. His destination, the Virgin Islands’ North Drop. Reel Tight owner Jim Lambert Sr. took his passion for fishing seriously. He wanted to be first off the dock so he could catch and... [Read More...]

    • Splash Report: Bayliss Boatworks' Overtime

      Splash Report: Bayliss Boatworks' Overtime

      Every boat built by Bayliss Boatworks is a truly custom project. In the case of Overtime, the newest 67’ 6’’ build to hit the water, the sportfisher is the weapon of choice for a Cabo-San-Lucas-based program. With the help of the experienced captain and owner team, Bayliss Boatworks designed a sportfishing yacht unique enough to meet the demands of conquering... [Read More...]

    Search InTheBite

    Copyright © 2023 InTheBite, LLC · All Rights Reserved.