July 10 - 13, 2013

"Welcome to the Rodeo!"

Bennett Hospitality invites you to fish the 2013 Megadock Tournament

Maritime Events is pleased to announce that Bennett Hospitality has signed on as the title sponsor of the 2013 MEGADOCK Billfishing Tournament. This is the second year that Mike Bennett and his team have supported the event. Up to 75 sportfishing boats travel from all over the east coast to compete for the title of MEGADOCK Champion. The tournament is South Carolina's largest billfishing event and part of the state's Governor's Cup Billfishing Series. Since its start in 2003, the tournament has broken the state billfish release record, for an individual event, three times. The purse for tournament winners can reach over $500,000.

The fun begins Wednesday, July 10 with a Captain's meeting in Bennett Hospitality's historic Rice Mill building located at the Charleston City Marina and concludes, Saturday, July 13 with an awards ceremony. Participants may fish two out of three days between Thursday, July 11 and Saturday, July 13. Each evening, family, friends, and crew are invited to enjoy dinner and drinks in the Rice Mill served by Bennett Hospitality's acclaimed restaurants such as Rue de Jean, Coast, Virginia's on King, and Good Food Catering. Sponsors such as Jarrett Bay, Blanchard CAT, and the City Boatyard are on hand each day of the tournament to show off the latest trends in the sport fishing world and answer any product questions participants may have.

Prizes for top billfish release points, heaviest meat fish, youth anglers, and lady anglers are presented at Saturday night's awards dinner. Not only do participants win big, but the local waterfront community benefits from the tournament as well. Since its inception, the event has donated over $185,000 to local and national, water related charities. Contributions are made to organizations that make our waterfront community stronger, such as the Coastal Conservation Association, the Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, and Water Missions International. One group benefiting from the tournament, Dragon Boat Charleston, supports cancer-survivors through dragon boating.

The Bennett Hospitality MEGADOCK Billfishing Tournament is unique in that all participating vessels are required to fish from the Charleston City Marina. Everyone that is participating is together, on one dock, for four full days of fun. This arrangement establishes a sense of community between all participants while adding to the lively atmosphere on the dock after each day on the water.

Tournament enthusiast that may not be able to get out on the water can follow the event through the live web camera on the tournament website. Updates of what is going on offshore are posted to the site throughout the day.

Whether you are on the frontline of the action or following from home, The Bennett Hospitality MEGADOCK Tournament promises excitement year after year.