Several years ago Steve Leasure and a hand full of his good friends from Ripley Light Marina put together a fun fishing Wahoo & Dolphin Tournament. The tournament started small with just a few boats out of the marina meeting the night before, throwing some cash into a hat, then fishing for the prize money the next day. The prize money was then split in half for the largest Wahoo and Dolphin caught.
Now, jump forward to the 21st Century and the Fifty-Fifty Tournament entry now boasts between 40 and 55 boats and over 27 sponsors. All of us have seen tournaments grow like this over the years; however, the Fifty-Fifty Tournament is different. Steve and the tournament committee have never lost focus of their goal: Keep the rules simple, have a relaxed tournament with a good friendly rivalry and simply have a good time. Steve is a family man, and he believes a fishing tournament should be an event the entire family should be able to come and enjoy. With the growth of the tournament the tournament committee has added live entertainment, food and drinks, and even a jump castle for the kids.
This years tournament registration will be held at the Charleston Maritime Center on May 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 with food, drinks, raffles, and entertainment by Plane Jane lasting until 9:00. The tournament will be held on May 24th with weigh in between 5 and 7:30 at the City Marina. Awards will be presented at the Maritime Center at 8 PM on May 27th. Entry fee for level I of the tournament is $300 with 100% pay out as follows 60% for largest Dolphin, 60% for largest Wahoo, 40% for 2nd place Dolphin and 40% for 2nd place Wahoo.
In 2002 The Fifty-Fifty Tournament Committee broadened the horizons of the tournament with the Harry Johnson Conservation Award-The Petrel Trophy for Billfish. For those unfamiliar with Mr. Johnson, he is a pioneer in tag and release fishing, is the founder of the Taggers Association, and was a Trident Tournament Ecology Award winner. Mr. Johnson, and his crew aboard his boat Petr