The crowd under the tent at the 56^th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament erupted in a thunderous roar of applause and cheers as the winning team made their way center stage to accept their hard-earned victory. The crewmembers’ broad smiles gave way to warm, almost disbelieving, laughter while they hugged, patted each other on the back, and clutched beautifully carved wood trophies made by renowned marine artist Chris Costello. Together they stood under the glow of the tent’s lights as cameras flashed, forever etching their names into the tournament’s rich history.

Although the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament is often the largest leg in the Series, with this year’s competition boasting a fleet of 72 teams, the event notoriously maintains a hometown feel. Hosted at Georgetown Landing Marina, the tournament draws competitive sport fishing programs from across the state, as well as recognized names from up and down nearly the entire length of the east coast. 

That said, there is a solid contingent of talented Georgetown-based crews that turn out to defend titles in their home waters each year, and they’ve established a strong record of success. With Georgetown’s own Capt. Glenn Wilson at the helm, one such boat stepped up to the plate to safeguard that proud, local tradition yet again.

When Derek and Stephanie Nobles first purchased their 62’ Viking now known as Genuine Risk late in 2023, the couple had just taken about a year off from boat ownership. They had previously fished aboard a 35’ Contender of the same name, and even more recently, a 61’ Viking they had named Hurts So Good as a tender tribute to Stephanie’s late father and one of his favorite songs. However, with their latest venture aboard the 62-footer, the Nobles looked ahead to a fresh start on a newer build, and to the late spring and summer season in South Carolina. But first, they’d have to assemble a crew.

Capt. Kenny Crafton had previously helmed the Hurts So Good, but eventually opted to step down from the bridge to spend more time with his teenaged sons as they pursue competitive baseball. The Nobles family and Crafton parted amicably. They even still fish together today, but instead now with Crafton’s longtime friend at the wheel. 

“Our team plan has always been based on a ‘family first’ mentality,” says Derek Nobles. “We were so lucky to have Capt. Kenny Crafton with us on our first sport-fisher. No one could have taught us more about the highs and lows of owning one of these boats. We are truly grateful to him and everything he taught us. And his friendship with Capt. Glenn Wilson led us to where we are now, and we truly couldn’t be happier.”

Wilson, who grew up right on the sprawling docks of Georgetown Landing Marina, has been in the sport fishing business all his life. He’s a notable spitfire, the kind of man whose earned a reputation that is equal parts fiercely passionate, beloved, and good-natured.

“Glenn is the hungriest captain on the east coast,” Nobles says. “He’s competitive, his fishing knowledge is off the charts, and he knows how and when to get down to business. On the flip side, he’s also a lot of fun. Having young kids himself, he’s got the patience and grit to fill the role that our family needed in a captain. He’s the perfect fit for us.”

The Nobles balance their busy work schedules with time on the water alongside family, a culture they’re proud to have engrained in their sport fishing program. “As a third-generation family business owner in roofing, life can get crazy and very stressful at times,” Nobles explains. “Being on the water is our way of escaping the chaos and white noise that surrounds us every day. The ocean is where we find our peace. Nothing beats the rush when you hear those lines pop knowing there’s something on the other end. I enjoy spending that time with my closest friends, but most importantly, I love being able to share that with my kids.”

And when it comes to kids in the Series, it’s hard not to get a bit sentimental. We all want to see the young people in our community come up and find success in the sport, whether simply in it for the fun of the game or pursuing fulfilling careers in the industry. It’s encouraging to see rising generations sticking around and putting in the work, establishing the reliable reputations necessary to really make it. Nobles got a front row seat to just that while fishing the Georgetown tournament with two young mates who we’ve watched grow from gangly preteens to young adults finding success in the cockpit.

“We had Iain Rhye in the first mate position during the Georgetown tournament,” Nobles says. “He convinced his friend Will Morrow to come join us for the tournament as an extra set of experienced hands. These guys are truly something to watch. Experience combined with top tier communication skills is something any successful team desperately needs. Iain and Will know when it’s time to have fun and when it’s time to tell us to get the heck out of the way.”

With Wilson on the bridge and Rhye and Morrow running the deck, the rest of the crew was rounded out by Crafton, Drew Hanna, Andrew Lathrom, Dickie Chapman and Nobles’ daughter, Skylar Nobles.  “They each bring their own set of invaluable skills and fishing knowledge,” says Nobles, “along with fellowship and camaraderie too. We’re just so lucky to have the crew we do.”

And that crew put on a great performance during the Georgetown tournament. Wilson led the team to a steady billfish bite throughout their two days of fishing. In total, Genuine Risk released three blue marlin and four sailfish, including a memorable double header of sails. “We hadn’t had a bite in a couple hours and then all of a sudden pure chaos broke out,” Nobles recalls. “We suddenly had a double header of sails on at 2:59 PM. We scrambled to get cameras on and get out of the mates’ way so they could do their thing. It felt like it took forever, but in reality it was all said and done in about three minutes. That really put us on a high note going into day two.”

By the end of the second day of fishing, Genuine Risk had climbed to first place in the tournament. Roughly half the fleet still had another day to fish while Nobles and his team anxiously sat back at the dock on the final day of the event. Fortunately for the crew aboard the Genuine Risk, no one else was able to catch their lead. Andrew Dupps’ Dugga Boy with Capt. Bobby Garmany at the helm finished in second place after releasing three blue marlin and three sailfish. Outlier, owned by Will Dorminy and captained by Ryan Riggs, took third with two blue marlin releases and four sailfish releases.

“Growing up locally here in Georgetown and watching this tournament my whole life, it’s just an overwhelming and indescribable feeling to win it,” Nobles explains. “It just feels good to keep that title here at home. I know for Glenn that feeling is probably magnified by a thousand. We are so proud of the win, but we are happiest for him over everything else.”

During the tournament’s awards reception, surrounded by family and friends, Wilson would also go on to win the Daymaker Award, a special honor established by a group of passionate captains to celebrate fishermen upholding the values that the late Mark Daniels brought to South Carolina’s sportfishing community. It was a fitting addition to Wilson’s homegrown accolades that evening.

“None of this could have happened without Glenn and our mates,” Nobles says. “It’s their hard work that won the tournament and we’re so thrilled for them. However, the work is not yet finished.”

Next, Genuine Risk will head south for this week’s Carolina Billfish Classic. “Georgetown was just one leg,” Nobles says, “and now we’re heading to Charleston on cloud nine. We know we can compete and we’re going to keep our heads down and keep grinding as hard as we can to continue making a name for ourselves among this field of amazing boats and teams. And we’ll try to have a little fun while doing it too. We’re not blind to the fact that we fish against some of the greatest captains and crews on the east coast, and having their support and congratulations is truly humbling. We just appreciate the Governor’s Cup fleet so much.”

All of us at the Gov Cup are looking forward to seeing the Genuine Risk and the rest of the fleet at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina this week for the third leg of the Series and another great tournament in the Palmetto State. 

Currently, Outlier leads the Series, Genuine Risk sits in second, and Dugga Boy holds a close third. We can’t wait to see what happens next in the race for the 2024 title!

The Teaser is a series dedicated to showcasing the stories of the South Carolina 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.