By Pamela Brownstein
Fishermen and their families and friends gathered Saturday evening, June 2, at The Shed in Port Royal after a long day at sea with food, music and an awards ceremony.
Captain Bert Harvey and his crew on the boat “Juggernaut” caught the biggest kingfish at 20 pounds and won the $10,000 grand prize.
There were 38 offshore vessels and 18 inshore boats that participated in the 57th Beaufort Water Festival’s annual fishing tournament. This year, the event was associated with the Southern Kingfish Association (SKA) and was the first Division 3 tournament of the season.
The Water Festival’s Water and Air Coordinator Erin “Tank” Morris was busy tallying results from the tournament before the dinner. He said he thought the event was a big success and was proud to be partnering with SKA.
The delicious smell of barbecue filled The Shed on Parris Avenue as “Cooking Just For Fun” prepared the food just outside. Families filed in and chatted and ate at long tables while local musician Eric Daubert played the guitar on stage.
Water Festival Marketing Coordinator Stacey Canaday said there are exciting events slated for almost every weekend this summer before the big festival in July and encourages community members to be a part of it.
Here are some more results from the fishing tournament:
• Second place, offshore division: Team Old School, 16.2 pound king mackerel, winning $2,500. Captain Richard Jennings, with junior angler Grant Jennings making the big catch. Grant also won the junior angler division.
• Cobia: First place: Nomad, captain Simons Hane. Weight of 33.1 pounds. $250 cash prize.
In-Shore Tournament
Red fish
• First and female winner: “Banana Boat,” captain Lee Greene. Weight 4.5 pounds. $500 cash prize.
• Second: “Tan Clan,” captain Alex Pennekarys. Weight of 4.1 pounds. $250 cash prize.
• Third: “Salty Nutz,” captain Lucas Posey. Weight of 3.38 pounds. $150 cash prize.
Sheepshead
• First: “Tan Clan,” captain Alex Pennekarys. $500 cash prize.
• Second: “Salty Nutz,” captain Lucas Posey. $$150 cash prize.
Flounder
• First: “Rauger One,” captain Billy Plair. Weight 2.42 pounds. $500 cash prize.
• Second: “Banana Boat,” captain Lee Greene. Weight 1.08 pounds. $250 cash prize.
The many sponsors included Easy Rentals, Southern Drawl Outfitters (which provided rods and reels for the youngest of anglers), Barrier Island Marine, East Coast Residential Builders, Beaufort Boat and Dock Supply, Low Country Enterprises, Spro Corporation, Port Royal Landing Marina, Beaufort Downtown Marina, Town of Port Royal, Rhonda Marek with Ballenger Realty, Palmetto Insurance, Interstate Towing, West Marine, O’Brien’s Professional Auto Service, Bay Street Jewelers, Sea Angle Gear.
