Unofficially the boat Citation out of Frisco, NC is in the lead with their tournament-record 883 pound blue marlin. However, during the awards banquet Big Rock president Randy Ramsey interrupted the banquet and announced that there was a potential rules violation that would affect the leader board. The members of the Big Rock board need time to figure out if there were a rules violation and how to proceed if there was.
Captain Eric Holmes and crew were all set to win and collect their check from the Big Rock. But from what I’ve been able to find out, one of the mates on board Citation did not possess the required NC recreational saltwater fishing license. This small oversight may cost them the tournament win, and the more than $900,000 in prize money they were about to collect on Saturday.
While it is sad to think such an amazing fish may not win the tournament, it does remind us that in fishing the devil is in the details. I would like to know what that “mate” was thinking when he boarded the Citation for a day of fishing the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament without a fishing license in hand.
If Citation is disqualified it will be the first time in all the 51 Big Rocks before this one that a leader was disqualified. But rules are rules and if I were the fellows in second place I know I would be screaming for a disqualification.
The board is set to announce their decision sometime today. If so we’ll keep you posted.