GOVERNOR’S CUP BILLFISHING SERIES ANNOUNCES CHANGES, 2007 SCHEDULE

November 2, 2006

The South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series has announced the dates for its 19th season. The 2007 Series will feature five tournaments along the coast beginning May 9 at Edisto Marina and finish up July 25 at Bohicket Marina. Boats participating in the Series earn points for billfish landed, tagged or released. Anglers compete for three major awards: Outstanding Billfish, Outstanding Billfish Boat and Outstanding Billfish Conservationist. The South Carolina Governor’s Cup Advisory Board and the Tournament Committee met last week and unanimously approved a 110-inch minimum size limit for blue marlin being weighed in. Currently, the federal size limit for blue marlin is 99 inches. Points awarded for billfish releases have also been modified by the Governor’s Cup Advisory Board. Points earned for white marlin releases will change from 150 to 200 points. Blue marlin releases will increase from 300 to 600 points. Points earned for sailfish released will remain the same for the upcoming season, at 100 points. For more information on the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, contact Tom DuPre of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources via e-mail: du****@dn*.gov. Visit the Web site at www.dnr.sc.gov/etc/govcup/govcup.html to learn more about the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, and to keep up with the points’ standings. Changes have also been rendered for Atlantic highly migratory fish set forth by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, billfish tournament participants in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Caribbean who use natural bait or natural bait and artificial lure combinations will be limited to using only circle hooks. This new regulation is part of a larger rule finalized this week by NOAA Fisheries Service for the conservation of Atlantic highly migratory species-billfish, tunas, swordfish and sharks. Tournament participants who use artificial baits not in combination with natural baits may continue using the traditional J-style fishing hooks since there is a high survival rate for fish that are caught and thrown back using this fishing method.

Tournament dates

Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament May 9-12

Deidre Menefee
19 Forde Row
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 345-0369 (voice)
(843) 406-4813 (fax)
dp*******@ao*.com (email) 40th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament May 23-26

Ricky Ferdon
P. O. Box 1704
Georgetown, SC 29442
(843) 546-1776 (voice)
(843) 546-7832 (fax)
gl******@sc.com (email)
www.georgetownlandingmarina.com (web) Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina Billfish Tournament June 27 – 30

Deidre Menefee
19 Forde Row
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 345-0369 (voice)
(843) 406-4813 (fax)
dp*******@ao*.com (email) HMY/Viking Megadock Billfishing Tournament July 11 – 14

KC Rennie
P. O. Box 759
Charleston, SC 29402
(843) 278-4914 (voice)
(843) 577-7704 (fax)
kc******@ch******************.com (email) Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament July 25 – 28

Deidre Menefee
19 Forde Row
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 345-0369 (voice)
(843) 406-4813 (fax)
dp*******@ao*.com (email) For More Information Contact

Tom DuPrÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â©, Program Coordinator
SCDNR/MRD Office of Fisheries Management
(843) 953-9365 (voice)
Du****@dn*.gov (email)

GOVERNOR’S CUP BILLFISHING SERIES ANNOUNCES CHANGES, 2007 SCHEDULE

Tournament dates

Edisto Marina Billfish Tournament May 9-12

Deidre Menefee
19 Forde Row
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 345-0369 (voice)
(843) 406-4813 (fax)
dp*******@ao*.com (email) 40th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament May 23-26

Deidre Menefee
19 Forde Row
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 345-0369 (voice)
(843) 406-4813 (fax)
dp*******@ao*.com (email) HMY/Viking Megadock Billfishing Tournament July 11 – 14

KC Rennie
P. O. Box 759
Charleston, SC 29402
(843) 278-4914 (voice)
(843) 577-7704 (fax)
kc******@ch******************.com (email) Bohicket Marina Invitational Billfish Tournament July 25 – 28

Deidre Menefee
19 Forde Row
Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 345-0369 (voice)
(843) 406-4813 (fax)
dp*******@ao*.com (email) For More Information Contact

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