White Marlin Open win in dispute; $2.8 million up in air
The winning white marlin from the world's largest and richest billfish tournament might be just a big fish story.
White Marlin Open officials are investigating a possible rules violation with the tournament-winning fish from a few weeks ago and have withheld the $2.8 million in winnings to the winner until they review things further.
This year's Ocean City-based fishing tournament, which drew more than 300 boats, declared Phil Heasley's 76.5-pound white marlin caught aboard the Kallianassa of Naples, Florida, as the winner. Heasley's fish weighed in shortly after the scales opened at Harbour Island Marina on Tuesday, Aug. 9.
However, James Motsko, the tournament president, released the following statement on Tuesday, Aug. 23, and said the catch is under review. If Heasley's catch is disqualified, his money will go to all other winning anglers, and the prize money for the captain and mates aboard the Kallianassa will go to the captain and mates aboard Get Reel, who brought in the winning blue marlin on Monday, Aug. 8.
UPDATE: Disputed White Marlin Open winner maintains innocence
"On August 9, the winning angler in the White Marlin Category, provided catch information for the white marlin which, as it turned out, would be the sole qualifying white marlin in the tournament," tournament officials said in a news release.
"Subsequent investigation as required by the rules and regulations of the White Marlin Open indicated a possible violation of the rules. Accordingly in an effort to achieve utmost fairness, the White Marlin Open Directors met with the independent judges and complete information was provided to the judges for their input with regard to the issue of the potential violation of rules.
"After much discussion, and providing evidence of the possible violation of the tournament rules, the judges agreed that the prize would not be awarded to the boat catching the qualifying white marlin, but would, in accordance with the rules of the tournament, be withheld pending the determination of the proper recipient of the prize money.
"The White Marlin Open strives to obtain the highest integrity and level of transparency in fairness in all of its award and determination of adherence to the rules and regulations in all cases. It is for these reasons that the Tournament Directors, in coordination with the independent judges in the tournament, have made the determination to withhold the winning prize until it can be ensured that the prize is being paid to the proper recipient thereof."
BACKGROUND:Heasley wins $2.8M as 2016 White Marlin Open closes
RULES:A quick guide to White Marlin Open regulations
FEATURE:Searching for money and marlins in Ocean City
RELATED:Final 2016 White Marlin Open leaderboard
White Marlin Open officials declined to comment further Wednesday when asked for more information.
"We are not making any additional comment at this time," White Marlin Open tournament officials said in an email on Wednesday, Aug. 24.
Heasley could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The white marlin that Heasley weighed in was the only white marlin that made the qualifying weight in the tournament. Several other white marlins were boated, but they all fell short of the qualifying weight of 70 pounds.
White Marlin Open officials would not clarify what rules were broken, and it would be unwise to speculate as the tournament has many regulations that anglers, captains and mates must operate under. One of the rules on the tournament's website states that winners of more than $50,000 may be subject to a lie detector test.
In Section I, rule number 7 part number seven of the White Marlin Open tournament rules, details about polygraph testing is outlined for anglers.
"All anglers who win $50,000 and above, along with any angler winning any amount in Level R, may be required to take and pass a polygraph test and must pass the test prior to any awards being distributed. Other anglers and the crew member aboard the boat may also have to take a polygraph test.
The time and location of the polygraph test is listed on the Tournament Information Sheet distributed along with the boat packets. Anglers reserve the right to reschedule up to 30 days past the day the fish was caught if the test cannot be taken at the scheduled time and at the angler's expense.
If the angler is unhappy with the results, he or she may dispute the result and have a second test done within 10 days, also to be done at the angler's own expense and the polygraph examiners and tournament officials will determine which test to use."
For more on Section I, rule number 7, part number seven
The rules also state if a category is not won at all, the guaranteed prize money will be equally divided among the other winning categories and in the event that a winning white marlin is not caught, the captain’s and mate’s guaranteed prize money will go to the mate and captain of the heaviest blue marlin.