This story will make you sick

[size=24]For this fishing team, $1-million prize is the one that got awayBy: [size=12]Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com[/size][/size]

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."




I would KILL my partner if he pulled this

That's F-N Brutal!!!!!

I read that the other day. Kinda makes me feel better about the huge bass I lost in the mystics a few weeks ago.

That's crazy they would have won by 300 Pounds!!!! what an ass!

never heard of a lie detector test at a fishing tournament...is that common??

I would only assume they do that for tourney's that the winnings are that much. A million bucks is no joke, obviously. The funny thing is i bet they ask common questions to get a reading. Is your name so and so...do you fish...do you have a fishing license, ...then prob ask the real questions, did you cheat, blah blah

guy prob got caught during one of the pre-questions haha

Idiot

I don't know for sure, but I think it's actually pretty common for larger tournaments, like the pro bass tournaments and such. People do stupid things with a hundred grand on the line. Hell, people do stupid things for a lot less =)

Thats nuts!!!! It also makes me feel better about losing a smallie that was easily around 3 pounds the other day. (Shoulda let it fight and get tired) Instead I snapped the line by pulling back on the rod (12 pound test by the way).

Yea.... I don't take any chances anymore, I got my RI license and my Mass

you said it, I have a NY and MA license, might get a NH for the rest of the season...going up there a few times. The only time I've been checked for a license was when I didn't have one! it was early season and I didn't realize they went by calendar year, not from date purchased...oops. not a big fine, but it was still more than the cost of the license, and then you have to get the license anyways...