The big White Marlin Open winner: a $2.7M tuna
Richard PollittClarification: White Marlin Open officials said an investigation “indicated a possible violation of the rules” in an Aug. 23 statement.
White Marlin Open has decided how $2.8 million in winnings will be distributed from the 2016 tournament following the official disqualification of its original winner.
The big money winner is now Richard Kosztyu's tuna, which is now worth more than $2.7 million. Kosztyu is from from Hamilton, New Jersey,
Phil Heasley, then-winner of the 2016 White Marlin Open tournament, was disqualified by a federal judge in June due to violation of tournament rules. Heasley's take would have been the full $2.8 million.
White Marlin Open officials had previously announced that if Heasley and his crew's win was overturned, the money would be split among 13 other anglers who competed in different categories, based on tournament rules.
"We always try to do what's best and correct, and this was the correct thing to do under all the circumstances," White Marlin Open President Jim Motsko said Thursday. "We follow our rules and we reward those who follow our rules."
The controversy started after the conclusion of the August 2016 tournament when Heasley, a native of Naples, Florida, and his shipmates were suspected of possible rules violations by tournament officials. They topped the leaderboard, catching a 76.5-pound white marlin Aug. 9 on board the Kallianassa.
In a June 30 letter to Richard Bennett, the judge who presided over the case, the plaintiffs stated their intentions of how the money would be split, which included additional earnings going to the 13 anglers as well as money used to pay for the plaintiff's court fees.
READ MORE: Judge rules against White Marlin Open winner
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The fisherman who benefited the most from Heasley’s disqualification was Kosztyu, who caught a first-place tuna on board the Hubris during the competition.
Kosztyu was already set to earn $767,000 for the tuna, but will now gain an estimated amount of $2 million. Because all 13 anglers agreed to split the cost of legal fees, Kosztyu will supply the bulk, paying $287,000, according to court records.
Kosztyu was not available for comment Thursday.
Other anglers expected to earn more than six figures of extra prize money are Jim Conway, from Glen Burnie, Maryland, and Cordova, Maryland, resident Mark Hutchinson. Conway was the victor in the blue marlin category, while Hutchinson took home the second-place award with in the tuna.
Conway is expected to come away with $497,000, while Hutchinson will finish with $255,000.
Lewes resident David Arnold and Pat Horning, from Rougemont, North Carolina, tied for third in the tuna division, and although the two will pay the same amount in legal fees, Arnold and his crew on The American Lady will finish with a total amount just less than $93,500. Though it is much less, Horning will gain an extra $41,000, putting his final earnings at $46,900.
Eight other fishermen will receive extra prize money, but due to placement in their respective category of the competition, none will pay more than 0.075 percent of their earnings in legal fees. The other eight each gained an amount of $1,861.13.
The document says anglers have 15 days after receiving prize money to pay the amount they owe in legal fees.
"This is nothing but a positive thing, and it shows that we stand behind those who follow the rules," Motsko said.
The 2017 White Marlin Open tournament is scheduled to take place Aug. 7-11. Despite all the controversy that has taken place over the past year, Motsko sees the situation as a positive event with benefits that will soon follow.
"We're running ahead of last year. We've already got 104 boats signed up and are expecting to have 350 turn out this year," Motsko said. "Those participating should feel secure and know that they'll get a fair shake come August."
The complete list of those who received prize money is as follows:
- Richard Kosztyu - Hamilton, NJ
- Jim Conway - Glen Burnie, MD
- Mark Hutchinson - Cordova, MD
- Pat Horning - Rougemont, NC
- Dave Arnold - Lewes, DE
- Richard Hammond - Centerville, MD
- Brian Leader - Annapolis, MD
- Daniel Stuart - Litiz, PA
- Josh Sharp - Milton, DE
- Brian Russell - Littlestown, PA
- John Gudelsky - Ocean City, MD
- Hunter Pusey - Snow Hill, MD
- J.D. Messler - Beach Haven, NJ