What does an 883 pound blue marlin get you? For the Hatteras, North Carolina-based vessel, Citation, how about $319,000 for the first fish to the dock over 500 pounds and another $913,00 for biggest fish. There’s just one catch: everyone on the boat must have a fishing license. Someone didn’t.
Turns out it was the mate who, unbeknownst to anyone else, who did not have the license required by the state and the tournament. A resident license is fifteen bucks. Thirty bucks for non-residents. Once confirmed, he was hit with a $35 fine and $125 court fees. The mate. It was the freakin’ MATE, the one guy other than the captain who should have such things as part of his DNA. A $30 license cost the boat $1.2 million. Geez.
As for the big blue, it broke a 10-year old record and was 355 pounds heavier than the second-place fish, er, the “winning fish” since the big one was disqualified. It never jumped, said the 63-year old angler, Andy Thomasson.
Check out more photos of the champion fish that wasn’t.
Click here for the official statement from the Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament.
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