Angler: NC boat stripped of $900,000 in winnings
Angler: NC boat stripped of $900,000 in winnings
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. The lack of a fishing license for one crew member may have cost a boat more than $900,000 in prize money in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in North Carolina.
The Daily News of Jacksonville reported that Andy Thomossan, the fisherman who caught a record-setting 883-pound blue marlin June 14, said tournament officials stripped the Hatteras-based boat Citation of the title and the $912,825 from the total $1.66 million purse.
"No record. No money. No fish. No nothing," Thomossan said, adding the rules violation was that one of the crew didn't have the required fishing license.
One of the boat's owners, Michael Topp, said the lack of a license for a "for-hire" mate was discovered during a lie detector test. The tournament requires the test for the top money winners, including the captain, mate and angler as well as "others as deemed necessary."
A recreational fishing license costs $15 annually for North Carolina residents 16 and older or $30 for nonresidents, according to the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources website. A 10-day license can also be purchased for $5 for state residents 16 and older or $10 for nonresidents.
Also, fishing boat owners can purchase a block of 10 10-day fishing licenses for $150.
The tournament said Sunday its board was withholding presentation of the prize money until it could research a possible rules violation. Tournament director Crystal Watters said Big Rock officials would have further comment Monday after the board meets.
The runner-up boat that would be the winner was Carnivore, which is captained by Ed Petrilli of Cape Carteret. Angler John Parks of Jacksonville caught a 528.3-pound blue marlin Wednesday.
Information from: The Daily News,
Jacksonville Daily News
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