Fishing tourney disqualifies winning catch over license
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • June 23, 2010
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. -- The board of directors of a North Carolina fishing tournament has disqualified the boat which landed the 883-pound winning catch because a crew member didn't have a fishing license.
A statement issued Tuesday by the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament said the ‘mate' aboard the Citation didn't have a coastal recreational license as required by law. Competitors were reminded of the requirement prior to the start of the tournament.
Nancy Fish of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries said Peter Wann of Alexandria, Va., was cited on Sunday. She said Wann purchased the license more than two hours after landing the marlin on June 14.
The disqualification also cost the Citation nearly $1 million in prize money. The tournament board declared Carnivore the winner with its 528.3-pound blue marlin.