‘Put up or shut up’: Pros will be chasing signature redfish and $16,000 at Port Royal
Up to 40 teams of fishermen will blast off from Sands Beach in Port Royal Saturday in search of a fierce fighter that’s also tasty table fare — the highly regarded redfish.
Money and bragging rights are on the line.
The Southern Redfish Cup, billed as the Lowcountry’s premiere professional tournament, is the first professional redfish tournament in the Beaufort area since 2020, said Rob Wells, CEO and President of Visit Beaufort, which pursued the tournament. The purse is $16,000.
The tournament is run by professional fishermen who are dedicated to preserving the redfish.
“Simply put, these are the tournaments where you show up, or shut up,” tournament organizers say.
The Lowcountry’s signature fish, also known as red drum and spottail sea bass, is a predator that’s known to cruise shallow areas feeding on fish, shrimp and crabs. Its distinctive tail fin, which has a black dot, will sometimes break the surface of the water as they feed, firing up fisherman and allowing them to fish by sight.
“The redfish will get up in the grasses in these shallow flats and you’ll see tailing red fish,” said Rob Wells, president and CEO of Visit Beaufort. “That’s a natural draw from anglers from all over to come in to the area.”
Fishermen will be after keeper sizes from 15-23 inches. The average size is 18 inches and 2.6 pounds, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, but there’s “hogs” swimming around out there. The South Carolina state record, set in 1965, is 75 pounds.
“It’s a good fighting fish,” Wells said.
Port Royal was picked this year as one of three tournament locations in South Carolina. Visit Beaufort reached out to the organizers and asked if the circuit could include the Beaufort area, Wells said.
September is a slower month for the area for visitors. “So we’re looking to build some demand,” said Wells, and promote the area’s fishing.
Local fisherman should have the advantage, said Wells, but 20 to 30 teams from outside of the area expected to compete, too.
All lines must be out out of the water by 3:30 p.m. A public weigh-in will be from 2-3:30 p.m. at Shellring Ale Works in Port Royal.
For more info
Register for the tournament at southernredfishcup.com. Get a look at the catch at the public weigh-in from 2-3:30 p.m. at Shellring Ale Works, 1111 11th St. An awards ceremony will follow.
