Rules violation costs Citation win, record, $900,000-plus in Big Rock

[jackdaniels]

http://www.jdnews.com/sports/rock-79581-city-rules.html

Rules violation costs Citation win, record, $900,000-plus in Big Rock
Comments 4 | Recommend 0
Angler says one of crew didn't have fishing license
June 20, 2010 4:37 PM
Rick Scoppe
The Daily News

MOREHEAD CITY — A rules violation has cost the Citation its record-setting win in the 52nd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

Angler Andy Thomossan, who caught the record-setting 883-pound blue marlin Monday, said Sunday afternoon tournament officials had stripped the Hatteras-boat of the win, the record and the $912,825 prize money from the $1.66 million purse.

“No record. No money. No fish. No nothing,” Thomossan said, adding the rules violation was that one of the crew didn't have a fishing license as required.

Thomossan said he first got wind something might be wrong at Saturday night’s awards banquet, and Sunday morning the tournament sent out a news release said the board of directors was withholding presentation of the prize money until “an alleged rules violation by the top team has been totally researched.”

Tournament director Crystal Watters, who sent out the e-mail news release, couldn’t be immediately reached immediately for comment. The captain of the Citation, Eric Holmes, also couldn’t immediately be reached Sunday.

With the Citation being stripped of its win, the winning boat will now be Carnivore, which is captained by Ed Petrilli of Cape Carteret. Angler John Parks of Jacksonville caught a 528.3-pound blue marlin Wednesday.

Neither Petrilli nor Parks could be immediately reached for comment Sunday.

[frankypettolina]

Just curious, is the Citation a charter boat? I thought the HMS permitted Charter boats were exempted from individual licenses (assuming this is the new countmyfish.noaa.gov angler registry license). if they are a private boat, I guess that everyone on the rig needs a license?

Kind of sucks, but rules are rules.

[clt_capt]

I'm guessing it was the NC Saltwater License. I would have thought the boat would have a blanket Charter Rec Fishing License...

But here are the rules as written...

HMS Permits
All boats must have one of the following valid permits - HMS Angling (recreational), HMS Charter/Headboat, or Atlantic Tunas General Category Permit (commercial). Permits will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2010. Permits must be on board the vessel when engaged in fishing. The Big Rock Tournament is a registered recreational HMS tournament. For more information - www.nmfspermits.com or (888)-872-8862.

North Carolina Recreational Fishing License: As of 01/01/2009
The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will require a recreational fishing license for anyone participating in fishing aboard a vessel. This includes a license for the captain, the mate and the anglers. These individual licenses can be purchased on a 10-day, annual or lifetime basis.
252-726-7021. http://www.ncfisheries.net/recreational/NCCRFL.htm

Participant is responsible for knowing all state and federal regulations or any recent changes that may occur.

[bigeasy]

I don't think these rules really have any bearing on a fishing contest. These are rules set up to collect taxes. The Feds and State should be required to enforce their own rules and issue fines as necessary.

The tournament should not be in the position of being the policeman.

[Tunaman5]

What a bunch of crap! One less license doesn't make the captain and crew any less deserving. Wasn't he the camera man anyway? He would have been one on my boat.

[skirt chaser]

it's a shame that is a costly mistake . I feel sorry for the boat and crew . what a way to lose a lot of coin

[Capt Josh]

The tournament committee should be drawn and quartered for DQ'ing those boys on a bullshit technicality like that.

Who da rat???

[Caveman Sportfishing]

I found out this winter we needed a NC charter boat license to bottom fish down off Morehead City and up to this point I had no idea one was needed. How this plays out in a big game tournament like the Big Rock has me puzzled and how many of the out of state boats that fish the tournament have everyone with a NC license salt water license on board.
I do not know or agree the the Citation should be stripped of anything due to a state regulation and this should have been mentioned to everyone that entered the tournament ahead of time. Was this the case on the entry forms and if so that might be a different story if it was built in as part of the Big Rock rules. If it was not brought to the attention of all those entered then it is BS in my opinion.

I would not be surprised that the Northern boats that fished the spring BFT run for a few weeks out of Oregon Inlet probably did not have the NC salt water fishing license as most I know were not aware they needed one which is no excuse but nothing more than not being aware of NC regulations since most only GBT fish and have a NC Land & Sell license but some do take charters out when GBT fishing.

I feel bad to read just a great catch be denied because of this.

[canyongear]

Who da rat???

Good point..

[DropinBack]

Unreal... i wonder how many boats in past years that have gotten their money had someone on board without it...

here come the lawsuites...