ATLANTIC

DAY 1 RECAP — 2026 Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament: Mister Pete's Seven Sailfish Releases Lead a 76-Billfish Opening Day

July 16, 2026

Atlantic

Science of Fishing Editorial

Crowd lines the docks at The Marina at Edisto Beach as the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament fleet returns on Day 1.

The final leg of the 2026 South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series opened with a bang at The Marina at Edisto Beach on Thursday, as the fleet turned in 76 billfish releases on Day 1 of the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament — 71 sailfish and five blue marlin, every one of them released.

Leading the release board is Mister Pete, which stitched together seven sailfish releases for 1,400 points to sit atop the Billfish Release Points standings. Retriever is right behind at 1,200 points on six sailfish, while Geddy Up and Claytime share third at 1,000 points apiece — each pairing a blue marlin release with a pair of sailfish. A logjam of boats sits at 800 points, including Sandman, Sola Fide, SPORTIN' LIFE, Rookie IV, Honda and Rascal. Under Gov Cup scoring, a released sailfish is worth 200 points and a released blue marlin 600.

A gamefish hangs on the scale under the weigh-station tent at the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament on Day 1. — The scales stayed busy at Edisto Beach on Day 1, with dolphin, wahoo and blackfin tuna crossing the stage alongside the day's billfish releases. Photo: South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series.

Five blue marlin came tight across the fleet, with Rookie IV raising the day's first blue at 8:49 a.m. to top the standalone Blue Marlin Release Points category. Every blue was released.

The meat-fish board delivered the day's eye-opener: a 64.4-pound dolphin (mahi) weighed by Ricky Anderson aboard Bad Becky — a genuine slob — to claim the Heaviest Dolphin lead. Jasper Fun put Hay Fever on top of the wahoo category with a 46.8-pounder, and George Dunlap's 25.1-pound blackfin tuna paced the tuna board for Sea Tiger. In the youth ranks, Ford Schlicksup of Undue Risk released a sailfish to lead the Top Junior Angler race.

Spectators and anglers gather dockside beside the sportfishing fleet at The Marina at Edisto Beach during Day 1 of the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament. — Spectators pack the docks at The Marina at Edisto Beach for the opening-day weigh-in. Photo: South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series.

As the Governor's Cup season finale, Edisto crowns both the tournament winner and the year-long series champions across all five legs. The event runs a captain's-choice, fish-two-of-three format, so most crews still have two fishing days in hand (Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18). Expect the release board to tighten quickly.

Standings are unofficial and reflect live Reel Time scoring as of the close of Day 1; please refer to tournament officials for official results. Source: Reel Time live leaderboard; South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfishing Series.