Their prize catch was set to bring in $3.5 million. Then the fish was disqualified

At first, the Sensation's large marlin looked to be the tournament's winning catch. But after the fish was held up on the scale, Big Rock announcer Tommy Bennett said, "It would appear that this fish has been bitten by a shark." (Screenshot by NPR/YouTube)

Out of 271 boats in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, the Sensation brought in the biggest blue marlin, and the only one weighing more than 500 pounds. But rather than collecting a $3.5 million payout in the fishing tournament on the North Carolina coast, the boat's catch was disqualified because it was mutilated — bitten by a shark or another animal.

The initial appearance of the large marlin, later given an unofficial weight of 619.4 pounds, on late Saturday night set off loud cheers from spectators at the docks in Morehead City. It looked to be the tournament's winning catch, coming from the last boat to return after an hours-long fight — a dramatic end to the popular contest in its 65th year.