Following the disqualification of their remarkable catch in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in North Carolina, members of the competitive fishing crew, Sensation, are lodging a protest.

Despite their blue marlin weighing an impressive 619.4 pounds and having the potential to secure around $3.5 million in prize money, tournament officials ruled it ineligible due to a shark bite.

Sensation’s crew had a chance to claim $2.77 million for first place in the tournament and an additional $739,500 for catching the first fish weighing over 500 pounds this year, CBS News reported.

However, they were denied both the tournament victory and any monetary rewards, despite the significant size of their blue marlin.

Officials explained that the fish could not be considered eligible for evaluation due to apparent mutilation caused by a shark or other marine animal before it was captured.

In a statement posted on Facebook, tournament officials expressed that after extensive deliberation involving the Big Rock Rules Committee, Board of Directors, biologists from NC State CMAST and NC Marine Fisheries, as well as an IGFA official, it was determined that Sensation’s 619.4 lb. Blue Marlin had been mutilated by a shark or other marine creature before being landed or boated.

Consequently, the fish was disqualified from the competition.

Written by staff