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43rd Annual Tournament Within a Tournament Final.doc
43RD Annual Schedule of Activities Final.doc
Tournament Sponsorship Opportunities .pdf
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The Annual Blue Marlin Tournament
By Bony Peace
The Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament had its beginning in 1968. It had been four years since the first blue marlin had been caught off of South Carolina, and since that time there have been a good number with catches from Georgetown as well as other ports in the state. The wasn’t a billfish tournament between Hatteras and South Florida, so Wallace F Pate decided that it was time to have a tournament at Georgetown.
Wallace owned two charter boats, the Nautica I and Nautica II, he had recently opened a new business on Front Street in Georgetown. The business was Nautica Marine Center, which sold boats, motors, tackle and marine supplies.
The interest in marlin fishing was intense enough for Wallace to start the tournament and intense enough through out the state to produce 25 entrants in the first event.
The first tournament did not have an easy beginning. It was first scheduled for June because of bad weather it was cancelled and finally rescheduled for Labor Day weekend. The winning boat was Frank Cayce’s K-Sea and the winning angler was Mac Quattlebaum. Two sailfish were caught in the tournament.
What the first tournament lacked in weather and results, the second one made up for. There were eight blues and two whites caught, and the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament was off and running.
In 1969, Jim Johnston bought Nautica Marine Center from Wallace and inherited the tournament. In 1971, Bony Peace became a partner in the business and began sharing the tournament duties with Jim. The two have been with the tournament since that time.
Those early tournaments were based in the of the old Nautica Marine building. The boats would tie up at Nautica and at the adjacent Gulf docks. Often when there were a lot of boats there would be rafting up to three boats deep. That always made for interesting early mornings. In the back of the old store tables would be set up for awards, food, and the bar. The bar semed to always take more tables.
The two tournament chairmen would leave and go fishing each day. The running of the business and tournament chores fell to tireless and patient Nan Johnston and Dianne Peace.
The tournament rules have evolved through the years with the aim of being as concise and easily understood as possible.
The tournament of 1977 saw a major rule change. The concerns of killing fish in tournament competition were growing. Jim and Bony thought there could be a way to release some of the smaller marlin that were being hooked and caught in the tournament. The release clauses that were implemented that year are still the tournament rules. They were the first such in South Carolina and the format is used in many South Carolina tournaments today.
With the coming of more tournaments in the state there appeared to be a trend toward more money. Tournament cash prizes and Calcutta’s over the years have gone way up. Outside sponsors have to some extent made it possible but usually most of the money comes from the entrants themselves in the form of fees and Calcutta’s. The Georgetown tournament has tried to keep the original purpose of friendly competition in mind while also offering some cash prizes. The tournament wants everyone to have fun whether they win or not.
As the tournament grew it was decided that the old store facilities were inadequate. It moved to Belle Isle Marine and the tournament was there between 1978 and 1981. Ed Branyard, his wife Lois, and the staff at Belle Isle were gracious hosts during those years.
In 1982, upon it completion, the Georgetown Landing Marina and Lands End Restaurant became the tournament’s home. Owners, Jerry Bradshaw and Guy Hutchins, opened their doors and rolled out the carpet. Marshall Truluck, the marina manager, became the tournament director, and since then it has only gotten better.
The tournament has continued to grow in events and activities. The 20th Annual in 1987 brought back many “old-timers” who helped pioneer the event throughout the years. Special programs and displays presented many old photographs and memorabilia for everyone to enjoy.
The tournament record Blue Marlin, weighing 526 lb. 8 oz., was caught in 1988 by the Earl`s Girl. This fish topped the 516 lb. Blue Marlin caught aboard the Pilgrim during the 20th Annual in 1987. The Jolly Mon, owned and crewed by the Bony Peace family, was the first boat to ever win the tournament with a tagged and released billfish. The 23rd Annual tournament saw all three places in the event won by tagged and released fish. The 24th edition saw a total of eighteen billfish caught, with thirteen of those being released.
Tag and Release is here to stay!
Below are a few images from the '09 Tournament. Looking forward to those warm days and some good fishin'!
