If you’ve been following along with the results of the last two tournaments in the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series, you are likely already well aware of the Blue Sky’s back-to-back wins. This is an impressive accomplishment, one that doesn’t occur very often in the Series.

Two tournament wins in a three leg Series certainly put the Blue Sky in a sweet spot going into Edisto, especially since the team amassed a total number of points that is 2000 points ahead of the next highest scoring boat. Between the 54th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament and the Carolina Billfish Classic, the Blue Sky, owned by Greg Smith and captained by Jay Weaver, has earned 4650 points with 5 blue marlin releases and 8 sailfish releases.

Although Blue Sky’s two back-to-back wins are newsworthy all on their own, there is another duo tied to the boat that is also deserving of recognition. During the summer season in South Carolina, it’s rare that you see one without the other. They’ve been roommates, friends, and teammates for years.

Together, mates Donnie Todd and Matt Murphy are a formidable force in the cockpit. They’ve been lucky enough to fish as a team for two summer seasons aboard the Blue Sky, further solidifying a rapport that goes well beyond fishing. Having lived together on and off throughout their early twenties, the two mates are more like brothers than colleagues.

Todd and Murphy have both been fishing professionally for 6 years. Todd is the full-time mate aboard the Blue Sky while Murphy, who fishes full-time aboard Bob Faith’s GameChanger, has joined the team the last two summers for the tournament season. These two young men have been crucial to the Blue Sky’s success this year.

Todd is equal parts proud and honored to work as a mate for the Blue Sky program. “Taking a job on the Blue Sky was a dream come true for me,” says Todd. “I’m blessed to be given the opportunity to play a part in looking after and maintaining such an incredible machine.”

It’s a dream that Todd worked hard to earn. Before he landed the job with the Blue Sky, Todd worked on charter boats and other private sport-fishing boats in the Charleston area, as well as further up the road in the late summer months. Even if he found himself climbing to the top of a tower on a snotty day in Virginia Beach, the eager young mate did so without a single complaint. He was just grateful for the opportunity, learning the job and honing his skills.

Eventually Capt. Jay Weaver and Greg Smith took notice and offered him a spot as the Blue Sky’s full-time mate. He’s been working for the program for three years now. In that time, the Blue Sky has gone on to win numerous tournaments with Todd leading the cockpit and Capt. Jay Weaver at the helm.

“Jay is a great friend, role model, and captain,” says Todd. “His intensity and will to win each day of fishing is something special and without doubt a major part of our success as a team. Wherever we are in the world, when it’s time to lay the riggers out and make something happen, I always feel good knowing that he is behind the wheel.”

Having a captain at the helm that you genuinely like, admire, and respect sure helps build a mate’s confidence. And it doesn’t hurt to work for an owner that brings the same positive energy to the boat.

“Greg is an incredible owner, friend, and just a really fun guy to spend time with on and off the water, “ says Todd. “He puts 100% effort into whatever he does, which makes me really happy to give him and his boat everything that I have to offer.”

Both Weaver and Smith would agree that Todd offers a lot. He is one of the most gracious young men you will ever meet. He’s kind, soft-spoken, observant, and extremely hard working. Todd’s a talented fisherman who brings a positive attitude to work and also takes great pride in the boat. As noted by countless longtime captains in the industry, such qualities aren’t always easy to find among up-and-coming mates.

Todd knows that there is much to appreciate about a machine like a 60-ft Spencer, and shows it through careful attention to the little things. “We try to pay attention to the minor details,” he says. “I’ve learned that the minor details start with the boat and trickle down to everything from tackle to bait rigging.”

Attention to detail goes a long way when fishing in general, but becomes even more critical at tournament time. A couple years ago, as Weaver and Smith were preparing for tournament season, Todd suggested that they bring on Murphy for another set of competent eyes and hands in the cockpit.

Murphy is a young man who comes with his own set of remarkable skills. Having worked for captains like Ben Polk and Bobby Garmany, he undoubtedly knows the ropes too.

Throwing Todd and Murphy into the cockpit together has clearly worked out well for the Blue Sky. They operate as an efficient and professional team when rigging baits, setting out lines, and hooking fish.

“The best part about having Donnie and Matt in the cockpit together is that they’ve been fishing together since they were teenagers,” says Weaver. “So they can run the cockpit with very little communication between them. They get along with each other well and are good enough friends to move on quickly if there is a disagreement. They don’t bring any drama whatsoever to the program, which is a huge plus.”

People who have been friends for a long time come with lots of history, both good and bad. Todd and Murphy seem to only carry the good.

“Matt has been a close friend for a long time,” says Todd. “We’ve always pushed each other in the outdoors, especially when it comes to fishing, hunting, and surfing. When it’s time to work, I know I can count on him to be ready for anything without having to ask, which is nice.”

Murphy agrees that fishing with Todd comes easy. It doesn’t take much for one of them to know exactly what the other needs. “We are always in tune with each other,” he says.

When the bite turns on and chaos takes hold in the cockpit, such compatibility is an asset. During the Carolina Billfish Classic this year, the bite was definitely hot. A total of 85 sailfish and 16 blue marlin were released by the fleet of 53 boats in two days of fishing.

The crew aboard the Blue Sky initially struggled to take full advantage of the great fishing on the first day of the tournament. “Jay had us on the fish the whole time,” says Todd. “Our ratio wasn’t the best on the sails the first day, but we managed to catch a couple. It was also really nice to capitalize on our blue marlin bite that day.”

By the time the second day of fishing rolled around, the crew was ready to put some additional points on the board. “The second day was similar for us, with pretty consistent action throughout the day,” says Todd. “This time our hook-up ratio was better and we were thankful to capitalize on another blue marlin bite!”

As the clock hit 3:00 PM and lines came out of the water that Saturday afternoon, a crescendo of relief and joy swept through the cockpit of the Blue Sky. The team had come out on top and took home their second win with 2 blue marlin releases and 7 sailfish releases. They had much to celebrate.

Looking ahead, mates Todd and Murphy will again run the cockpit together during the final leg of the 2022 Series, the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament. We’ll be watching eagerly from the sidelines to see if the duo, along with Capt. Weaver, Greg Smith, and the rest of the Blue Sky crew, can close out South Carolina’s tournament season with a third win and a Series sweep.

Regardless of what happens later this month, Todd and Murphy expect to spend a lot more time pushing each other to be better in the field and on the water. With a sweeping grin, Todd reflects on his friendship with Matt and says, “I look forward to a lifetime of competing with and against him!” Their brotherhood is a welcome reminder of the kinship in sport-fishing, the very glue that holds this wild industry together.