The South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series is gearing up for its climactic finale, the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament, with the championship still very much in the balance. This year's race is shaping up to be a nail-biter, mirroring last year's thrilling conclusion where two boats, Claytime and Bull Pen, finished with identical point totals, ultimately deciding the winner based on time. Claytime, owned by Jon Clay and skippered by Phillip Fender, claimed the title with a sailfish caught at 12:03 p.m. on July 19, 2025, while Bull Pen, owned by Todd Wigfield and captained by Cordes Lucas, secured the same score at 2:47 p.m. on the same day with a blue marlin release.
This year, Star Fish, owned by Star Fish Marine LLC and captained by Randy Estes, leads the pack with 7,075 points, closely followed by Claytime, also with 7,075 points. Star Fish has released six blue marlin and 17 sailfish this season, while Claytime has released five blue marlin, one white marlin, and 19 sailfish. The competition is fierce, with several boats vying for the top spots, including Rascal, Game On, Bull Pen, Viking 64, Mister Pete, 56 Freeman, Redemption, and Bench Mark.
The 2025 Edisto tournament saw 42 entries release 17 blue marlin (600 points) and 104 sailfish (200 points), contributing to the overall excitement. Looking back, Governor's Cup boats brought in fish for weighing in 2022 during the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament, a rare occurrence. The lady angler standings are led by Cynthia Starosta aboard Star Fish, with 3,800 points for releasing three blue marlin and 10 sailfish, followed by Kirsten Jennings and Holly McAlhany.
Among youth anglers, Ford Schlicksup aboard Undue Risk leads with 1,600 points for one blue marlin and five sailfish, followed by Julia Gressette and Reef Simmons. In the meatfish categories, Joe Kehoe aboard Legal Holiday takes the top spot for dolphin with 53.9 pounds, Stratton Pollitzer on On The Hook leads for wahoo with 58.3 pounds, and John Waite aboard Bellabroka holds the tuna category with a 23-pound catch.
The Carolina Kingfish Classic, set for August 7-8, promises an exciting fishing tournament out of Charleston Harbor Marina, with Pole Dancer winning the 2025 edition with a 53-pound king mackerel. Bassmaster Magazine's annual list of America's 100 Best Bass Lakes places Santee Cooper Lakes at No. 4, highlighting the lake's fishing prowess. Additionally, changes to red drum regulations, effective July 1, aim to rebuild the population of South Carolina's most popular inshore fish, with recreational anglers now limited to one red drum per person per day and a boat limit of two per day.
In conclusion, the Governor's Cup Billfishing Series is a testament to the competitive spirit of South Carolina's fishing community, with the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament poised to crown a new champion. The series showcases the diversity of fishing pursuits, from billfishing to bass lakes and red drum regulations, all contributing to the rich tapestry of South Carolina's aquatic sports.
