A North Carolina fishing competition recently concluded amidst a swirl of controversy after the disqualification of a team that landed a colossal 619-pound blue marlin. The boat, named Sensation, hooked the behemoth fish during the 65th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City. Initially, tournament organizers celebrated the impressive catch, sharing photos on social media. However, they quickly added a caveat, suggesting a potential rules violation.
The following day, the official verdict was delivered: disqualification. A statement released by the tournament explained that after thorough review by the Big Rock Rules Committee, Board of Directors, marine biologists from NC State's Center for Marine Sciences and Technology and NC Marine Fisheries, and an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) official, it was determined the marlin had been mutilated by a shark or other marine creature prior to being caught. This pre-capture damage triggered a disqualification clause within the tournament rules, specifically Rule #23, which aligns with IGFA regulations.
The tournament organizers emphasized that this decision was consistent with precedents set over the competition's 65-year history.
With Sensation's disqualification, the boat named Sushi, with a 484.5-pound marlin, was declared the tournament winner, claiming a substantial $2.77 million prize. The controversy began when officials noticed what appeared to be a shark bite near the head of Sensation’s marlin during the weigh-in process. This prompted a lengthy review, leaving the final outcome hanging until the following morning. The tournament saw participation from 271 boats.
