What a Last-Minute Tuna Taught Me About Real Estate and Perseverance

As a real estate professional serving Spartanburg and Upstate South Carolina, I’ve learned that success in any field rarely comes easy or on your preferred timeline. Whether I’m helping clients navigate a complex real estate transaction or competing offshore in one of the Southeast’s most demanding fishing tournaments, the outcome often comes down to persistence, preparation, and refusing to quit when things get difficult.

This year’s 58th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament delivered a powerful reminder of that lesson.

After 15 consecutive years of competing in this tournament—a tradition that started back in college and has since become something I share with my family—our team captured two major honors: the Wahoo Division TNT and the Aggregate category for all three meat fish species in the TNT division.

It wasn’t easy. In fact, it was one of the most chaotic and memorable experiences I’ve ever had offshore.

A Tradition Built Over Time

Fishing has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. From my Papa Liles taking me to lakes across South Carolina, to my dad Scotty introducing me to offshore fishing, those early experiences shaped how I approach both life and business today.

Over the years, the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament has become more than just a competition—it’s a family tradition. Having Alice and the kids at the docks, and even on the boat at times, has turned something I once dreamed about into something we now experience together.

Leading into this year’s tournament, we had a few practice days offshore. After a slow start, Luke helped get things dialed in on day two by landing several solid mahi, giving us momentum heading into competition.

Day One: A Strong Start

Day one of the tournament brought steady action.

We landed a 38.8-pound wahoo on a sea witch and ballyhoo rigged with a circle hook. At the time, it felt like a strong fish—but it would end up being one of the most important catches of the entire tournament.

That wahoo ultimately secured us the Wahoo Division TNT win and played a major role in our aggregate score.

Day Two: Chaos, Conditions, and a Man Overboard

Day two is one I will never forget.

Rough weather moved in early, and we were getting beat up by heavy seas. Around 8:20 a.m., our first bite of the day came while we were already dealing with tangled gear and a working fish.

Then everything escalated at once.

“Man overboard!”

I looked up and saw Strib in the water.

In all my years fishing offshore, I had never experienced a man-overboard situation. My reaction wasn’t exactly textbook—I immediately yelled to kill the engines, grab the camera, and honestly, I couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer chaos of the moment.

There was Strib, fully geared in Carhartt pants, Xtratuf boots, and rain gear, treading water while still holding the fishing line… with a mahi wrapped around his leg.

Meanwhile, John never stopped fighting the fish.

After a few tense minutes, we were able to get a line to Strib and bring him safely back aboard. He was exhausted, coughing up saltwater, and spent the next couple of hours recovering on a bean bag while we reset and got back to fishing.

Despite the chaos, we managed to put a few quality mahi in the boat and improve our aggregate weight from day one.

The Final Hour: A Last-Minute Tuna

As the day went on, one thing became clear—we needed a tuna to have a real shot at the Aggregate category.

We spent the entire afternoon targeting tuna without success. We caught another solid wahoo around midday, but by late afternoon, the bite had gone cold.

At 2:40 p.m.—just 20 minutes before the tournament end—we made a final push. Fresh ballyhoo went in the water. Lines were reset. Everyone knew this was it.

John hooked a mahi almost immediately. While we were still fighting that fish, time kept slipping away. We landed it at 2:57 p.m.

With only minutes left, we reset again and pushed for one last opportunity.

At 2:59 p.m., I noticed my long rod had tightened, but it hadn’t popped from the clip. I assumed it was seaweed or debris and started reeling.

No fight. No head shakes. Just weight.

Heavy weight.

Twenty yards from the boat, we finally saw it—a tuna.

The boat erupted.

We landed it in the final minute of the tournament.

That fish ultimately secured our Aggregate category win in what can only be described as a Hail Mary finish.

The Real Lesson: Never Quit Early

What stands out most from this experience isn’t just the win—it’s everything that led up to it.

We started the day with a man overboard situation. We dealt with rough seas, tangled gear, missed opportunities, and long stretches without action. And yet, we stayed in it long enough to capitalize on the very last chance we had.

That lesson translates directly into real estate.

In my work serving buyers and sellers across Spartanburg and Upstate South Carolina, deals rarely go perfectly. There are unexpected challenges, tight timelines, negotiations, inspections, and moments where it feels like things might fall apart.

But just like offshore fishing, success often comes down to staying focused and pushing through until the very end.

Because sometimes the difference between a missed opportunity and a winning outcome is just one more cast, one more call, or one more minute.

In the end, our team walked away with first place in the Wahoo Division TNT and the Aggregate category for all three meat fish species in the TNT division at the Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament.

More importantly, we walked away with a reminder of why perseverance matters. After 15 years of competing in this event, achieving these victories alongside family and friends made the journey even more meaningful.

Whether in fishing, real estate, or life in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the biggest wins don’t always come early. Sometimes they come in the final minute—when most people have already given up.