Polygraph testing for fishing contests

Atlanta, GA, July 13, 2001. According to an article in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, local bass fishing tournament officials continue to utilize polygraphs on occasions when the contestant may be suspected of cheating, or involved in a tournament irregularity. The article discussed several incidents where suspicious actions by contestants were confirmed with failed polygraphs. They were eliminated from the contest and not allowed to receive any prizes. Two contestants were arrested in June and charged with a felony. Some smaller tournaments routinely yielded prizes of one to two thousand dollars. Other larger contests could bring the winners a $20,000.00 boat and, of course,bragging rights? One tournament official explained that he had been told by some anglers that they would not compete in any tournament that did not have polygraph to check out suspicious entries. The examiner was identified as APA member Morris Nix.

Source:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Something fishy going on – Tournament officials turn to polygraph tests to combat anglers who will cheat to win,” by Scott Bernarde, July 13, 2001.