A fishing team that managed to reel in a massive 619-pound blue marlin in a competition off the North Carolina coast has been disqualified and will lose $3.5million in prize money after their catch was found to be ‘mutilated’.
The fishermen, on a boat named Sensation, battled with the marlin for six hours as they attempted to reel it aboard.
But it was all for nothing after they were excluded after organizers ruled on Sunday that damage to the fish was caused by a shark
It means most of the huge pot of prize money will now pass to the team that landed the second-place catch on board the vessel, Sushi.
Their Blue Marlin catch weighed significantly less at 484.5lbs.
The crew of Sensation and their 619-pound blue marlin was pictured with their catch before they were disqualified from the tournament after it was noticed the fish had been mutilated
The fish was strung up and weighed – just hours before it was disqualified for being the victim of an earlier shark attack
The enormous fish was seen being brought onto land – ready for its weigh in
Tournament officials said the decision to award the runner-up the prize money is consistent with rules followed throughout the event’s 65 year history.
‘After careful deliberation and discussions between the Big Rock Rules Committee and Board of Directors with biologists from both NC State CAST and NC Marine Fisheries biologists as well-as an IGFA official, it was determined that SENSATION’S 619.4lb Blue Marlin is disqualified due to mutilation caused by a shark or other marine animal,’ a statement by organizers read.
‘It was deemed that the fish was mutilated before it was landed or boated and therefore it was disqualified,’ they continued.
‘The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament follows IGFA rules regarding mutilated fish as outlined in Rule. #23 in the Big Rock Official Rules. IGFA rules state that the following situation will disqualify a fish: ‘Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers that remove or penetrate the flesh.’
‘This decision is consistent with prior decisions made by the tournament in similar circumstances over the last 65 years.’
A statement by organizers explained why Sensation’s catch was disqualified from the tournament
The crew of the Sensation battled for six hours to haul the enormous catch aboard the boat
‘SUSHI has been declared the first place winner of the 65th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament for their 484.5lb Blue Marlin. CHASIN A claimed second place with their 479.8Ib. Blue Marlin. The 470.2lb blue marlin captured by C-STUDENT will finish in third place.’
When Sensation docked at Big Rock Landing Saturday night, a massive crowd eagerly awaited its weigh-in as the champion was determined.
When their marlin’s total weight was announced, there were cheers from the crew and the crowd.
But a shark bite near the fish’s head was noticed by the tournament weight masters and brought to the attention of the boat’s crew.
The team that were thought to be runners up, Sushi, were seen celebrating after they ruled first prize
Shushi’s crew celebrated with their bumper prize money of $2.77million
The crew of Sushi ultimately claimed first prize after their 484.5lb blue marlin was declared the top catch
The crew of Sushi were seen open-mouthed after learning they had secured the top spot and the massive payday
After a lengthy discussion between the crew and tournament officials, it was decided the marlin’s eligibility would be determined the following morning.
Officials ruled against them, awarding the crew of the boat Sushi, hailing from Nags Head, North Carolina, the winner.
Sushi will win prize money of $2.77 million from the total tournament purse of $5.8 million, according to the Jacksonville Daily News.
Sensation would have received a larger payout because of their catch weighing more than 500 pounds, as Sushi didn’t cross that threshold.
The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament has become extremely popular in recent years with more than 270 boats taking part in this latest competition.
Jacob Runyan, 42, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and Chase Cominsky, 35, of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, have been sentenced to ten-day jail terms and other penalties
The pair (pictured) originally won a tournament in Ohio , but they were replaced by Steve Hendricks after weights were found in their fish. First-place prize in the tournament totaled around $28,000
Fishing tournaments often see big money at stake – with some going to great lengths to make off with the top prize.
Last month, two men who admitted to cheating in an Ohio fishing tournament in the fall of 2022 were sentenced to ten-day jail terms and other penalties, including the forfeiture of a boat valued at $100,000.
Jacob Runyan, 43, and Chase Cominsky, 36, were sentenced in Cleveland after pleading guilty in March to cheating.
The pair had competed in the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament when director Jason Fischer became suspicious that the fish the duo turned in seemed significantly heavier than typical walleye.
A crowd of people at Gordon Park in Cleveland looked on as Fischer cut the freshwater fish open and found lead weights and walleye fillets that had been stuffed down the throats of the fish in order to come top in the tournament.
The dramatic discovery of the doctored fish was filmed and posted to social media, showing the tournament director pulling lead weights from the innards of the fish
Runyan and Cominsky originally won the tournament, but they were replaced by Steve Hendricks after the weights were found and they were disqualified.
The first-place prize in the tournament totaled around $28,000.
As part of their plea deal, Runyan and Cominsky also agreed to three-year suspensions of their fishing licenses. Cominsky agreed to give up his boat worth $100,000.
Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of attempted grand theft and possessing criminal tools.
Once the pair complete their 10-day county jail terms, they will serve a year and a half on probation and must each pay a $2,500 fine – though half the fine will be waived if they each make a $1,250 donation to a nonprofit organization that promotes fishing with children.
