MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. - It was the biggest fish ever caught in Big Rock Tournament history and now its turning into the biggest controversy the tournament has ever seen.
It’s been more than a week since the fishing boat Citation caught an 883 pound blue marlin putting the crew in prime position for the win and the big money.
But a crew member had no North Carolina fishing license. Now that tragedy is anything but.
The Board of Directors has just decided to strip Citation of its title and prize money. A decision they say wasn’t easy to make.
Its a big fish tale that keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Peter Wann is at the center of it all.
“I don’t know of another situation where failure to purchase a license had such results,” said Nancy Fish with N.C. Marine Fisheries.
Video Eyewitness News 9 captured at the time of the big weigh-in shows a concerned looking Wann taken just after Citation made their catch.
According to Marine Fisheries, the 22 year old attempted to purchase the license on the way back to shore, after catching the 883 pound fish.
That license is at the center of the Big Rock controversy. According to tournament rules, everyone on board must have a fishing license.
Big Rock Board of Directors said that violation meant Citation was disqualified.
Tony Ross is the captain of the 3rd place boat Wet-n-Wild. With Citation out, Ross moves into second place, “That’s nice too but it’s kinda like a bittersweet second. Its not like really winning second, because there was a fish heavier than mine.”
He knows tournament officials did the right thing. “Its one of the greatest tournaments on the East coast, and to have this happen you know its a shame, but you know rules are rules and you need to follow the rules.”
A broken rule that comes with almost 1-million consequences.
The citation issued to Waan comes with a 35 dollar fine plus cost of court.
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