[williecoyote]

This is local to me, so I'll relay part of the story circulating here.
The Captain asked the Mate if he had a license. The Mate said yes, so they took him at his word.
After they were disqualified, and the Tournament was over, the Captain told the Mate that he had left something at the motel, and for the Mate to go and get it. As soon as the Mate was out of sight, they untied the boat, and headed for their home port, Hatteras.

The eventual winning fish, would not have qualified for the near million dollar purse if it had weighted less than 500 pounds, but instead would have won a lesser amount.