UPDATE STATEMENT - DAY ONE - 2024 LURE MAKERS CHALLENGE

SITUATION: Team # 1 - Bite Me 3 - weighed a 664 pound blue marlin that had a sizable wound forward of its tail, upper quadrant. IGFA Rules apply here, but are unclear to this specific situation:

THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS WILL DISQUALIFY A CATCH:

2. Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers that remove or pene- trate the flesh. Injuries caused by leader or line, scratches, old healed scars or regeneration deformities are not considered to be disqualifying injuries. Any mutilation on the fish must be shown in a photograph and fully explained in a report accompanying the record application.

This wound is not an “old healed scar” and yet, it does appear to be in the early stages of becoming an “old healed scar.” To my eye, it does not appear to have been inflicted today - but it does appear fairly recent and in early stages of regeneration. Further, it appears to be a “stab” wound in that it penetrates way past the surface, ending in a pointed indention near the spine, as if the tip of a bill or sword. With no Fishery Forensic Pathologists specialist known for this task, we work with the observations and tools we have.

Further, upon diligent review of all available video, the wound in question appears to do absolutely nothing to hinder the marlins ability to jump and fight and when it came up on leader, it was “back backing” and it took “Braddah No Let Go” J.J. almost 2 minutes of tussle to bring the fish to gaff range.

The IGFA rule that comes into play here does not address this stage of a wound or “mutilation” however it does provide for an applicant to plead their case and provide photographic evidence - and this is what we will do.

Therefore, we have gathered all pertinent photographic and videographer evidence to present to IGFA as if it were an application for a World Record because in our tournaments, we follow IGFA rules to the “T” in that if it qualifies for a world record, it qualifies for our tournaments. We will present those to IGFA as soon as possible.

Additionally, the HMT Series does have a printed/posted Polygraph Policy and we have contacted a licensed, qualified service to interview the team so they can make their statements relative to any and all observations during the fight relative to the scar - or lack thereof - and let the polygraph interpret their statements.

This is year 38 for our tournaments and we have never seen this situation before, but we write often in our rules that “with wild animals in the open ocean, ya never know.”

At this point, we do not know, but given the evidence and mechanisms afforded to us to render a fair judgement, we will continue our investigation in earnest.

We will continue to keep teams appraised and the investigation proceeds. We would also like to note and thank the team on Bite Me 3 for their full and friendly cooperation in our investigation.

Mahalo

Jody Bright

July 19, 2024

NOTE: Copyright Tropidilla Productions LLC. All rights reserved. None of this content may be reprinted in any media without express written consent of Tropidilla Productions LLC

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UPDATE STATEMENT - DAY TWO - 2024 LURE MAKERS CHALLENGE

SITUATION: Team # 1 - Bite Me 3 - weighed a 664 pound blue marlin that had a sizable wound forward of its tail, upper quadrant. IGFA Rules apply here, but are unclear to this specific situation:

THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS WILL DISQUALIFY A CATCH:

2. Mutilation to the fish, prior to landing or boating the catch, caused by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers that remove or pene- trate the flesh. Injuries caused by leader or line, scratches, old healed scars or regeneration deformities are not considered to be disqualifying injuries. Any mutilation on the fish must be shown in a photograph and fully explained in a report accompanying the record application.

Today - July 20, 2024 - I spoke with IGFA President Jason Schratwieser and past IGFA President Rob Kramer. They botch concurred thusly:

1) IGFA does not comment on tournament situations or qualifications, but will offer up how IGFA would proceed on a similar circumstance IF it were a World Record Application.

2) Rule 2 above would NOT be interpreted as an “either/or” rule. In other words, The rule does not state that a wound is either an “old healed scar” or a disqualification.

3) If a World Record Application comes in for a fish with a wound, IGFA would accept and review all evidence submitted because the IGFA record book states, “There are some aspects of angling that cannot be controlled through rule-making, however.”

4) Whereas; there is no forensic pathology science known or published that can identify the exact stage and age of any fish wound, much less a pelagic species like a marlin, never studied in captivity,

5) IGFA would review the evidence submitted to ascertain if the wound had any negative effect on the ability of the fish to fight or swim as it would if not wounded. This can take many forms - as can the evidence submitted. There is no template.

6) Therefore, in a tournament situation, it ultimately remains the responsibility of the Tournament through its rules and review process to make the final call. Tournaments that use IGFA rules as guidelines for Angling can refer to the World Record review process, but there are so many tournaments with so many variations of IGFA rules under their individual tournament umbrella, it is impossible for IGFA to be involved in any aspect of a tournament decision - IGFA is clear that IGFA will no be involved in any tournament decision.

RESULT OF DISCUSSION(S): The Hawaii Marlin Tournament Series shall continue its own internal investigation independently, and continue due diligence of all available evidence, including the use of polygraph. All evidence submitted is to be thoroughly reviewed and the wound will not be ruled upon as an “either/or” decision, as stated above.

NOTE: There is no polygraph service or operator based on the Big Island. The earliest one can be. administered is next week. The HMT Series shall continue to monitor the final results of the catch and purse distribution allocations as the Lure Makers Challenge progresses. Only the potential prize money distribution potentially effected by the Bite Me 3 marlin weighing 664 pounds may be held back until this entire process is complete. We will await final results of the remaining fishing time in the Lure Makers Challenge to make a determination as to how that schedule of purse distribution may unfold - as per normal.

We will continue to keep teams appraised and the investigation proceeds. We would also like to note and thank the team on Bite Me 3 for their full and friendly cooperation in our investigation.

Mahalo

Jody Bright

July 20, 2024

NOTE: Copyright Tropidilla Productions LLC. All rights reserved. 2024

None of this content may be reprinted in any media without express written consent of Tropidilla Productions LLC

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UPDATE STATEMENT - FINAL - 2024 LURE MAKERS CHALLENGE

July 29, 2024

SITUATION: Team # 1 - Bite Me 3 - weighed a 664 pound blue marlin that had a sizable wound forward of its tail, upper quadrant. IGFA Rules apply here, but are unclear to this specific situation:

FINAL RESULTS OF POLYGRAPH TEST: - CAPTAIN ANDY DIEHL AND CREWMAN J.J. BALUCAN PASSED THEIR POLYGRAPH TESTS WITH FLYING COLORS.

FINAL RESULT OF BITE ME 3 MARLIN UNDER REIVEW - MARLIN CAUGHT BY LYLE HENAGE IS CERTIFIED AS A QUALIFYING CATCH AND IS RIGHTFUL WINNER OF ALL PURSE ATTRIBUTED TO BITE ME 3 FROM THAT CATCH, AS PUBLISHED BY THE HAWAII MARLIN TOURNAMENT SERIES.

THE HAWAII MARLIN TOURNAMENT SERIES WOULD LIKE TO OFFER SINCERE MAHALO’S TO ALL INVOLVED FOR THEIR COURTESY, PROFESSIONALISM AND COOPERATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. IT WAS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF FUN, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH THROUGH ACCREDITED LEGAL SCIENCE WHAT HAPPENED, TO THE VERY BEST OF SAID SCIENCE ABILITY.

MAHALO

Jody Bright

NOTE: Copyright Tropidilla Productions LLC. All rights reserved. 2024

None of this content may be reprinted in any media without express written consent of Tropidilla Productions LLC