Lost a million over 15 bucks!

[one4water]

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:10pm PDT

For this fishing team, $1-million prize is the one that got awayBy: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

If a person gets caught fishing without a license, in most cases, it results in a fine of perhaps a few hundred dollars.

For those aboard Citation, however, the infraction represents a setback of nearly $1 million.

The vessel's anglers had been participating in the 52nd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, June 11-19 off North Carolina. Andy Thomossan landed what was by far the biggest fish: an 883-pound marlin, a tournament record.

The team on Saturday was declared winner of the prestigious competition, and there was plenty of celebration.

However, there also was a post-event lie-detector test, after which it was revealed that one of the hired crew did not possess a valid fishing license, available in North Carolina for only $15, or $30 for non-residents.

That was a violation of tournament rules and after lengthy deliberation, according to Evans Kistler of the Carteret County News-Times, tournament officials late Tuesday disqualified the catch and and denied the Citation team the winning purse.

End of celebration.

"No record. No money. No fish. No nothing. Yep, it's a nice ending to the story isn't it?" Thomossan told the Jacksonville Daily News. "He failed to get a fishing license, but we didn't know it. He told us he had it. He didn't. So you take a man at his word, you know?"

That man is Peter Wann. According to the state's fisheries division, he went out and bought a license after the catch of the monster marlin, bringing more shame to his team. He'll be fined $35 and ordered to pay court costs totaling $125.

The new winners are those who fished aboard the vessel Carnivore and caught the second-largest marlin, weighing 528.3 pounds. They net a grand total of $999,453.

Michael Topp, one of Citation's owners, figured the tournament board would not rule in Citation's favor.

"I think the Big Rock committee is doing what they have to do," he said. "I understand that. I'm a retired colonel. I know about rules."

-- Photo: Angler Andy Thomossan (left) and Capt. Eric Holmes stand alongside 883-pound blue marlin caught during the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament off North Carolina. Credit: Evans Kistler / Carteret County News-Times

[Trollnheel]

I've read places where people think that's unfair. NO, that's stooooooopid. You don't go fishing without a fishing license. Use common sense

[cablemaker]

Actually 30 bucks. The guys was out of state from VA. Rules are rules and he should of had it.

Hats off to The Big Rock for sticking to their rules and regulations............

[Libra]

The mate could have bought a 10 day non-resident license for $10 bucks. Supposedly he told the Capt. that he had a license, but didn't. He gambled $10 that they wouldn't catch a placing fish, and cost the entire crew a cool million.

[crash1371]

The triumph of glory and the agony of defeat, by yourself If only if only, if only I was paying attention when the Participants and crew were reminded of the license requirement at the Captains meeting prior to the tournament.

The rule violation did not involve dishonesty or cheating on the part of the owners or angler of the Citation.

“The rule violation involves the mate not having a Coastal Recreational Fishing License. This license is required by North Carolina law. It is required by the tournament as written in our rules. Participants and crew were reminded of the license requirement at the Captains meeting prior to the tournament.

“The mate engaged in fishing activities without a valid license and later obtained a license at 5:51 p.m. while heading to the weigh station. The fish was boated at 3:16 p.m.

[DJWILLIAMS]

I heard the owner of Citation when he found out the results, stormed to the boat and hauled a$$ with the dock lines attached.... A friend of mine said he took a piling or two down!

David

[aftergolf]

From WITN (local TV)

WITN spoke with Mike Topp, the principal owner of the Citation, on Wednesday.

Topp couldn't say much, but he did tell WITN they are continuing to pursue recourse within the rules of the tournament and there is more to follow.

When asked how he was dealing with the situation, Topp said "like a cat on a rope."

6/24/10 9:36 A.M.

.....this ain't dead by a long shot.....I expect the lawyers to be involved very soon. Look what happened in the white marlin tournament a couple of years ago. That one stayed in the courts for 2 years.