Lines in the water: Hammock Coast gears up for inaugural Hooked on Habitat Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament
June 5, 2023
Anglers from across the region will be descending on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast® to compete for $10,000 in prizes in the inaugural Hooked on Habitat Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament, presented by the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.
The event will launch out of the Carroll A. Campbell Marine Complex on Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Georgetown. The public is invited to attend weigh-ins throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. at the marine complex.
Jacob Rigopoulos, tournament director, says Habitat for Humanity has aligned the event to coincide with National Boating and Fishing Week 2023 and will be offering anglers the chance to win a piece of the guaranteed $10,000 prize purse.
Registration is $200 per boat, with up to three adult anglers. Optional big fish entry is $50 each for redfish, trout, and flounder. Lines-in is at 7 a.m. and live-release weigh-ins are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 10. There is a mandatory Captain’s Dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. on June 9 at the Craven’s Grant Clubhouse in Georgetown. Registration is open and more information is available here.
“With many other major fishing tournaments and major organizations like B.A.S.S. using this same boat launch for events like the 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series and the 2022 StrikeKing Bassmaster College National Championship to chase largemouth Bass, we felt it was a great opportunity for us to offer a saltwater fishing alternative to anglers,” Rigopoulos said. “I love that we have the opportunity to showcase Winyah Bay to the inshore saltwater fishing community. … This place is loaded with redfish, trout, and flounder.”
Beth Stedman, president and CEO of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce, said she is excited about this inaugural event.
“We are so happy to be part of this event that will benefit Habitat for Humanity and our local residents who dream of owning their own home,” Stedman said. “Hopefully, it will be the first of many such events that offer people a chance to take part in some friendly competition and showcase the natural beauty of South Carolina’s Hammock Coast.”
Habitat for Humanity for Georgetown County is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based out of Georgetown that was established and incorporated in 1991 as a direct result of damage caused by Hurricane Hugo. The organization builds affordable homes for low-income working families and gives homeowners the opportunity to purchase their homes with no profit mortgages and “sweat equity,” as they volunteer with the organization throughout the building process of their new home.
Georgetown County’s casual charm and Southern hospitality earned it the nickname Hammock Coast. Adventure and relaxation blend together in perfect harmony, like the flowing and ebbing of waves on the county’s famed beaches. With six communities – southern Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Litchfield, Pawleys Island, Georgetown and Andrews – comprising the pristine coastal area between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, visitors can experience South Carolina’s Hammock Coast like never before.
The presenting sponsor for the event is Georgetown County, SC Chamber of Commerce; the prize sponsor is Low Country Flooring; shirt sponsors are Anderson Insurance Associates and Peace Sotheby’s International Realty; the advertising sponsor is WMBF News; Captain’s Dinner sponsors are International Paper Company and Monarch Roofing; and other sponsors are Bistro 217, Rustic Table, Tidelands Health, Georgetown Kraft Credit Union, True Blue Golf Club, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, BAJÍO Sunglasses, and Trilogy Outdoors Media.
For more information about the inaugural Hooked on Habitat Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament, click here.
