Billfishing Series event taking place in three SC locations

Deidre Menefee was simply looking for a way to expand a sport she's grown to love. And after talking with colleagues about the third leg of this year's South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series, she found one -- establishing South Carolina's first multi-port billfishing tournament.

This week, she gets the chance to see how it all works out.

The Carolina Billfish Classic will include satellite locations this year for the first time in history, and Harbour Town Yacht Basin has been selected as one of the sites. The fishing tournament will begin Thursday and conclude Saturday.

The event's headquarters will be at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina -- the state's largest marina -- and there will be an additional satellite at Georgetown Landing Marina.

"We really wanted to change it up and provide something more convenient for people all over the state," said Menefee, the tournament director. "This is a great opportunity for all anglers to take part in the Governor's Cup."

Fifty boats have registered for the tournament, Menefee said Tuesday. Registration closes today at 6 p.m., and those still interested can register at any of the three sites.

The Carolina Billfish Classic also has expanded to include a 40-foot-and-under boat division for the first time.

Each boat will consist of up to six anglers, who can compete separately on two of the three designated fishing days for first-place cash prizes for the top billfish, dolphin, yellowfin tuna and wahoo. Also, they all will have the opportunity to win $1 million by setting a state record in any of those categories.

Participants from all three locations will compete for the same first-place prizes, though each will have its own weigh-in station. The weigh-ins at each site can be seen live on the tournament's website, www.FishCBC.com.

"It should be an exciting week of fishing," Menefee said. "We'll have a great mixture of anglers and boats. We hope to have a good turnout."

CAROLINA BILLFISH CLASSIC

First-place prizes

Billfish

$20,000

Dolphin

$2,000

Yellowfin Tuna

$2,000

Wahoo

$2,000

Other prizes

State record in any category

$1,000,000

40-foot and under boat division

$10,000

Second-place billfish

$10,000