Florida man goes fishing in Bass Pro Shops pond, flees with live 50-pound tarpon

[0119]

What gets me is that a dozen people popped their phone out to video it. He runs by all kinds of folk. But not one limp noodle stuck a foot out to trip him or even try to clothesline him.

[Shellbelly]

If it is "Theft" or "Larceny", what "value" can be assigned to the Tarpon, to properly charge the Perpetrator ?

Ok, if he "illegally caught" the fish, was the "pond" considered public waters?  If yes, then the fish is a resource and there may be restitution.  What a mess.  Criminal trespassing, malicious mischief, maybe?  I don't know FL game laws, but over here, courts can tack on adds for the "value" of the resource when you screw up.  Hopefully, he put the fish back into native water.

How in the heck did that fish end up there to begin with?  Surely displays like that are tracked and regulated.  Are there tarpon hatcheries in FL?  If so, maybe BassPro bought the fish.   

[alantani]

looks like he's still on the loose!!!!

[Gfish]

There was another Bass Pro Shop incident several years ago(a thread on it here) about a teenager "facing charges" for jumping into a pond(aquarium?). Anyone remember that one? Wondering what kinda charges they put on that guy?

[oc1]

I'm thinking that we'll never hear what happened after.  Bass Pro screwed up and is in a precarious position so it's in their best interest to not press charges.  If they won't press charges then the cops stop looking for the kid.  Video of the release should have appeared on social media by now so maybe it did not go as well as they had hoped.

[Bryan Young]

I don't know about you guys, but that tarpon did not look like 50 pounds.

[David Hall]

I agree Bryan, looked more like 20 maybe 30 tops, but then perhaps the reporting was done by a fisherman? 

[Bryan Young]

I agree Bryan, looked more like 20 maybe 30 tops, but then perhaps the reporting was done by a fisherman?