The court battle in the controversy surrounding the Big Rock fishing tournament is heating up.
You may recall that the fishing boat Citation was disqualified after it was discovered that one of their crew members didn’t have a license when the winning fish was caught.
That disqualification cost the boat more than 1-million dollars in prize money.
Citation’s owners filed suit in Dare County earlier this month. And tonight, Big Rock’s attorneys are answering back.
In documents obtained exclusively by Eyewitness News 9, both sides lay out their arguments.
Citations owners say they complied with all tournament rules and believe the prize money is rightfully theirs.
But looking at the tournament rules, it specifically says the mate must have a fishing license, Citation’s mate, Peter Wann, says he didn’t.
Peter Waan, a mate on board the boat Citation, was cited for fishing without a license Sunday. An offense that may cost the boat its title.
“I said you have a blanket license dont you, and he said no, you have a fishing license dont you, and I said I think I do, I don’t know lets go check on the internet… and it was just a mistake, it was a million dollar mistake,” said Peter Wann, just one day after the Citations disqualification
Hank Sibley Bluewater Yacht Sales 