Just out of curiosity, how many of y’all are fishing any Governor’s Cup tournaments this year or have fished them in the past? If you’ve stopped, why did you stop? Just so you know, I’m not looking for a ride; just trying to get (what I think could be) a cool conversation started. Holler back…
We are not fishing it but I heard some really good things about you in the local tackle shop the other day. Hope you find what you are looking for!
Set the trap boys, we going to pass through them again!!
Scoutin,
I appreciate your kind words. I’m not really looking for anything; I’m just trying to get a conversation started. I love to fish and I have a couple of buddies who plan to fish or have fished the series in the past, and I think it’s cool to hear from others with similar experience.
We used to fish it years ago when my family owned a Battle Wagon. I have never fished it in my boat. Too expensive and it seems to be geared toward very large boats with rich owners.
I’ve fished it a couple years and It always is a blast. Yes it is expensive and is essentially gambling, but I’ve never had to pay to fish in them, I worked so I have a little different perspective. The sad part is now that expenses have risen, less and less youth anglers are being taken out in these tournaments because boats can get paying team mates instead and they dont want to risk loosing valuable points to error, but everyone makes mistakes. These tournaments are some of the highlights of my summers and always prove to be a good time whether watching the weigh ins, fishing in them, or drinking on the docks at night with the crews. Some say the pressure of the money and tournament takes the fun out of fishing, if this is true, you dont have a good crew. Yea it sucks to loose a big money fish but it happens and just gotta enjoy yourself and do the best you can.
strip…strip…FISH ON!
Fly,
Thanks for your post; that’s the kind of response I’m looking for. My bossman’s old boss/mentor caught his first blue marlin on my bossman’s first trip out with him. The “good luck” he brought to the boat got him a ride on the Big Game for several Governor’s Cup tournaments. It’s been several years, but he still talks about how cool the experiences were. C’mon, nobody else?..
Come fish a good time is had by all. I agree the cost is high but a lot of that goes into the “refreshments” and restaurant quality meals they serve all 4 nights. Each boat gets 6 tickets to each evening’s events. Several tournaments have categories for outboards. I believe the freeman 33 might have won some large money at mega dock last year.
We fish them. Last year we fished 4 out of 5. I personally enjoy competition fishing. Fishing against the VHF is a great experience especially if the tournament is close. Riding in with a meatfish that might place and the excitement of carrying it to the scales is an experience everyone should have once in their lifetime.
The atmosphere around a tournament is great. DNR and each marina really go out of their way to make it fun.
It is not cheap!
We do encourage youth anglers during these tournaments and had Rance Jennings (6yr old) place in several tournaments and end the year 2nd overall in the youth angler division.
It would be good if a rod could be passed once. It is hard to ask someone without circlehook experience to put money in for the tournament and just ride or clear lines and take pictures.
All in all, I personally love the tournaments. Not just the Gov cup but there are several other tournaments locally that are fun.
My two cents.
www.sadiebethsportfishing.com
53 Paul Mann (Sadie Beth)
270 Outrage (Mellen)
It is my understanding that PASSING THE ROD to anyone once will be the new rule this year. I think other IGFA Rules still apply.
You cannot be just rich to fish these tournament’s. You must be Wealthy! Big bucks!
I would love to fish them. They are a great time. You either need have a large sport fish, or know some one who does and will let you tag along.
Fished them for many years. A lot of fun. Problem is that there is not enough fishing them these days to make the bet worthwhile. The boat I fished on won a few and was the top boat in 2000. The same boat also won big rock that year. I was only on the boat a few times that year.
Pro teams have taken over these days. No longer the same.
Marlin Al is still running a big Meritt.
big dog
I fish them and enjoy every minute of it. Basic entry fees aren’t that expensive and meat calcuttas aren’t to bad either, all the billfish calcuttas start adding up fast though. I think that more of these tournaments are making categories for boats with a tighter budget, for the most part you pay for atmosphere, food and fun. I believe that pass the rod once is coming back this year which should hopefully draw in more youth anglers and give people with guests from out of town a chance to reel in some points. Carolina Billfish classic should have some good divisions. Either way you’ll have some good stories to be told for a long time when it’s all over- I can promise you that
Atlantic Game and Tackle
843-881-6900
I’ve fished a few G.C. tournaments as a mate over the last couple of years and had a blast. The atmosphere around the dock during tournament days is awesome, the parties and dinners are great, and you meet a lot of very cool people who share your passion of fishing. I certainly could not afford to enter these events on my own boat but I’m very grateful for the opprotunity to participate as a crew member. It looks like this year I’ll be fishing at least 4 of the tournaments as a mate aboard “Lucky Hooker” a 42 Yellowfin based out of Hilton Head.
quote:
Originally posted by Nauti HookerI’ve fished a few G.C. tournaments as a mate over the last couple of years and had a blast. The atmosphere around the dock during tournament days is awesome, the parties and dinners are great, and you meet a lot of very cool people who share your passion of fishing. I certainly could not afford to enter these events on my own boat but I’m very grateful for the opprotunity to participate as a crew member. It looks like this year I’ll be fishing at least 4 of the tournaments as a mate aboard “Lucky Hooker” a 42 Yellowfin based out of Hilton Head.
Nice. That’s a pretty awesome opportunity. Good luck when the time comes.
I have never fished these tournaments because it is to expensive for a boat my size. I love fishing tournaments but the cost is just getting to tough. I fish the FFM with 2 youth anglers.
Fishb8 (Fish Bait)
23 Sea Hunt “My Last Boat V”
If you can’t stand behind our soldiers, try standing in front of them.
What kind of expensive are we talking about here? Am I missing a $50k Calcutta or something? The last few I looked at were $2k for entry and that included food for 6 and a slip for the week. While that is not chump change, that number plus gas is within range of a lot of 6 member teams on this site.
I have a 35 Bertram that some could fish if we could put together an all-star team. I’m not going to fish them, because I know I can’t compete with guys that get paid to fish and do it everyday.
The way I see it, the only tournament a intermediate like myself would be able to win, would be the first one. The first tournament is always won by one or two fish. When you start seeing 10-15 sails a day, you have to be on your game. I’m dead meat against some of these guys.