Questions About First-Place Billfish Lead To White Marlin Open’s Top Prize Of $2.8M Being Withheld
OCEAN CITY — Exactly two weeks to the day since the one and only qualifying white marlin caught during the 43rd Annual White Marlin Open was hauled up the scale and ultimately awarded $2.8 million, shattering the tournament payout record and potentially setting a world record payout, tournament officials late Tuesday announced there was a potential violation of tournament rules with the big winner and the prize money was being held pending a determination of the proper recipient.
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, angler Phil Heaseley and the crew on the “Kallianassa” out of Naples, Fla. pulled into host Harbour Island with a white marlin to weigh shortly after the scale opened for business at 4 p.m. The big white was hauled up the scale and topped out at 76.5 pounds, and Heaseley and the “Kallianassa” cozied into the top spot on the leaderboard with the one and only qualifier up to that point early in the tournament.
However, it was only Tuesday and Heaseley and the “Kallianassa” had to sweat out three more days with white marlin practically jumping in the tournament boats during the 2016 WMO during which release records were shattered.
Good grief, Charlie Brown, this is about stupid! The fish/angler/boat had the one and only qualifier so give them the damn $$. Truly sounds like a bunch of old people (Men) with not enough to do !😏
I hate when an organization puts out a statement about a rule violation and the doesn't tell us what the violation is. Just like a bunch of darn lying politicians.
My father and brothers have fished that tournament every year since 1989 - I have been to numerous weigh ins and have even been on the boat a couple of times - Rules are Rules - if there was a violation then I don't care if it is a boat from Ocean City or timbuck two - this needs to be investigated. I know for a fact that throughout the years there have been always been alegations of cheating and that was one of the reasons they started the lie detector test. This tournament is world famous and it credibilty is on the line.
The story going around has to do with the type of hooks used on the white marlin catch and to further complicate things, the winning blue marlin was brought in in 2 pieces because the boat was to small and they were dragging half the fish behind the boat - tail fell off. Looks like the winning tuna will get a big payday.
Anonymous Anonymous said... The story going around has to do with the type of hooks used on the white marlin catch and to further complicate things, the winning blue marlin was brought in in 2 pieces because the boat was to small and they were dragging half the fish behind the boat - tail fell off. Looks like the winning tuna will get a big payday.
August 24, 2016 at 5:40 PM
what I heard was that the time was changed on a form. they started fishing 15 minutes before the official start time and then changed the time.
So what's the violation? I must have missed it in the articles.
ReplyDeleteYup and a POLYGRAPH EXAM .LOL.
DeleteYou mean to tell me fishermen would fib?And that they do it so much you have to give them a polygraph? Tell me it it isn't so!
ReplyDeleteHow long before the lawsuit? Remember 2007-2008?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the Violation ?? And it sounds like some judges are mad that there good ole boys didnt win ?.
ReplyDeleteGood grief, Charlie Brown, this is about stupid! The fish/angler/boat had the one and only qualifier so give them the damn $$. Truly sounds like a bunch of old people (Men) with not enough to do !😏
ReplyDeleteThey have not release the violation, that is why you didn't read it in the article.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I read it seems to a rules violation. Although they didn't really specify which rule was violated.
ReplyDeletePlanting a fish from florida lol.
DeleteI hate when an organization puts out a statement about a rule violation and the doesn't tell us what the violation is. Just like a bunch of darn lying politicians.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that some fishermen stick lead weights inside the gut of their catch to add weight.
ReplyDeleteMy father and brothers have fished that tournament every year since 1989 - I have been to numerous weigh ins and have even been on the boat a couple of times - Rules are Rules - if there was a violation then I don't care if it is a boat from Ocean City or timbuck two - this needs to be investigated. I know for a fact that throughout the years there have been always been alegations of cheating and that was one of the reasons they started the lie detector test. This tournament is world famous and it credibilty is on the line.
ReplyDeleteYeah right 12:35, just hand $2.8 million over no questions asked.
ReplyDeleteThe story going around has to do with the type of hooks used on the white marlin catch and to further complicate things, the winning blue marlin was brought in in 2 pieces because the boat was to small and they were dragging half the fish behind the boat - tail fell off. Looks like the winning tuna will get a big payday.
ReplyDeleteI smell a rat in all this. You don't make a statement that money is being held up without a specific reason. ! Put up or shut up !
ReplyDeleteHillary Clinton lost her faith in lie detector test.
ReplyDeleteA lot of newsprint for nothing!
ReplyDeleteWhite people
ReplyDeleteJust think know one died, city's didn't burn, and know one got hurt.huge amount of money was brought in for local business. Damn white People.
Deletethe blue marlin isnt eligible because they didnt get in the calcutta. and the mate fought the fish at some point in the process.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteThe story going around has to do with the type of hooks used on the white marlin catch and to further complicate things, the winning blue marlin was brought in in 2 pieces because the boat was to small and they were dragging half the fish behind the boat - tail fell off. Looks like the winning tuna will get a big payday.
August 24, 2016 at 5:40 PM
what I heard was that the time was changed on a form. they started fishing 15 minutes before the official start time and then changed the time.