A new talent dominated the youth division in the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series this year. While sport fishing is indeed in her blood, Charleston’s own Sidney Thomas had never fished a Gov Cup tournament up until this season. After releasing 1 blue marlin and 3 sailfish at the Carolina Billfish Classic, the 13-year-old made quite the impression in her debut year of competitive fishing.

Although Sidney is new to tournaments, she is no stranger to billfish. She caught her first sailfish in Costa Rica when she was just a little kid while fishing aboard the Sea Fix, a 61-ft Ritchie Howell owned by the Johnson family. Sidney’s father, Capt. John Thomas, has been running the Sea Fix for 24 years.

In recent years, the Sea Fix stayed abroad in Costa Rica so the Johnsons could capitalize on the tremendous fishing opportunities there. This season, the boat returned to the states to fish South Carolina’s tournaments, as well as others further up the coast. It didn’t take long for Sidney to receive an invitation to fish the 54th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament. It took even less time for the teenager to fall in love with all of it.

“Once I was at Georgetown, I knew I wanted to do this,” Sidney says. “I knew I wanted to get serious about fishing billfish tournaments.”

Much of that fierce passion likely stems from the years she’s spent in the outdoors with her dad. John is the kind of father who enjoys sharing his interests with his children, in much the same way his own father did with him. “Whether it is hunting, fishing, or riding dirt bikes, I enjoy every second with my kids,” John says. “I have very fond memories fishing with my dad and I sure hope they will too. It makes me extremely happy to see them enjoy the sport.”

As with any teenager, taking direction from a parent can be challenging, especially under stressful circumstances. “It’s a lot of fun to fish with my dad, but there can be some arguments too,” Sidney laughs. “When I fight a fish, he shouts, ‘Reel, Reel, Reel,’ down from the bridge. Then I shout back ‘I am!’ He’s always in a rush, but I love fishing with him.”

Sidney is not only enjoying the very sport her father lives each and every day, she’s also demonstrating natural talent. “She is very competitive and usually listens well,” explains John. “She has really surprised me with her interest and determination to do well in offshore fishing.”

While fishing the Carolina Billfish Classic this summer, Sidney showcased to herself, her dad, and the rest of the fleet just how determined she is to be one of the best. “Things were pretty slow on that first day of fishing,” recalls Sidney. “In the afternoon I hooked a sailfish, fought it, and released it. It was pretty crazy since I hadn’t caught one in so long.”

When the billfish weren’t biting, Sidney remained busy reeling in other species, like wahoo and dolphin. As the first day came to an end, the young angler had no idea the kind of fight she’d find the following morning.

The crew of the Sea Fix put lines in the water promptly at 8:00 AM on the final day of the tournament. Shortly afterward, Sidney released a sailfish, her second of the tournament. As the cockpit began to settle down following that early morning release, a different species entered the spread.

Sidney soon found herself fighting an estimated 300 to 350 lb blue marlin. She battled the fish for about an hour and a half, eventually releasing it and earning 600 points for the Sea Fix. Afterward, she slouched down into the fighting chair, exhausted and struck with disbelief.

“It was such a crazy and cool experience,” Sidney recalled with a smile. “It was my first blue marlin and I couldn’t believe I caught it off Charleston since people don’t catch them here all that often.”

John wasn’t sure what to expect of his daughter when she first took the rod with a blue marlin on the other end of the line. “I was really concerned at first when she was hooked to her blue marlin,” John says. “I was worried she wouldn’t be able to handle it. Instead, she absolutely crushed it all the way through the fight. She never ceases to amaze me!”

John was truthfully not alone in that amazement. Sidney would go on to release another sailfish that day, bringing her total catch to 1 blue marlin release and three sailfish releases in two days of fishing. Those four fish earned her first place youth angler in the tournament, and as she stepped up to receive the award, presenters took the time to acknowledge Sidney’s accomplishments. Applause and cheers erupted at the announcement of her name and the number of fish she had released, an impressive feat for any competitive angler.

“I don’t really know how I felt,” Sidney says. “I was so surprised and really happy. My dad was super happy for me and kept trying to brag about me to everyone because I won!”

Anyone who saw John that night certainly witnessed an extremely proud father. He wore a beaming grin everywhere he went. “I was really stoked when I found out she had won,” says John. “I know there is a lot of competition in the Series with the youth, and especially as a girl. But I would put her up against any angler of any age! She is a natural. That night I grabbed her and gave her a huge hug and told her how proud I was. Of course I tried to hide my tears. With Sidney winning the award and my middle son Ellison having a great season as a mate on the Sportin’ Life, to say I’m a proud papa is an understatement!”

John wasn’t the only one beaming with pride that evening. The Johnsons, as well as mates Alberto Calderon Apuy and Frank Riganto, could not have been any happier for the up-and-coming angler. They cheered for their girl with an overwhelming and tangible sense of love and family.

For Sidney, those family experiences are the best part of sport fishing. “What I enjoy most about fishing is getting to spend time with my family,” says Sidney. “The Johnsons are family to me. I love getting to spend time with them and my dad.”

The morning after the tournament ended, the crew of the Sea Fix prepared to turn loose from Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina and make the short trip to Toler’s Cove Marina. One person in particular wasn’t quite ready to head home. “I didn’t want to leave the next morning,” recalls Sidney. “I didn’t want it to end.”

As it turns out, the celebration hasn’t even fully begun. The Johnsons and the Thomas family will now have yet another award to celebrate with Sidney in September. She earned enough points to not only win the top youth award during the Carolina Billfish Classic, but to also win first place youth angler for the entire Series!

Standings will remain unofficial until later this month when the Gov Cup’s Advisory Board of Directors review and approve the awards at their upcoming meeting. That said, we’re confident that we’ll be seeing plenty more from Sidney as she continues to fish in tournaments. All of us at the Gov Cup are incredibly glad we were able to witness her first season here at home in South Carolina. Congratulations, Sidney!!

The Teaser is a series dedicated to showcasing the stories of the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series and its lively community. The Gov Cup was created several decades ago to encourage the conservation of ocean resources through the tagging and release of billfish. Learn more here.