State News

Big Rock mate didn't know he needed N.C. fishing license

The crew member whose lack of a fishing license cost a boat more than $900,000 in winnings in a North Carolina tournament says he was never told that he needed one.

Posted Updated
Citation's 883 pound marlin
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — Acrew member whose lack of a fishing license cost a boat more than $900,000 in winnings in a North Carolina tournament says he was never told that he needed one.

The Daily News of Jacksonville reported that Peter Wann, of Alexandria, Va., says he was never told he had to have a fishing license, although he thought he had one. Wann also said the state law and the rules of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament are ambiguous.

He was a mate on the Citation, which was the initial winner of the June 14 tournament with its record-setting catch of an 883-pound marlin. Tournament officials later learned that Wann didn't have the required license and gave the prize to the runner-up.

One of the three owners of the Citation says Wann thought the boat had a blanket license that covers the entire crew.

---

Information from: The Daily News

Copyright 2024 by WRAL.com and the Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.