Florida deputies said the suspect fled the store with the tarpon in hand
Florida man seen taking live fish from indoor Bass Pro Shops
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a man who was seen taking a 50-pound live fish from a Bass Pro Shops on Wednesday evening, according to the sheriff’s office.
Florida officials are investigating a fishy situation after a man was caught on camera walking through a Bass Pro Shops location while holding a large fish in a net.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office said they are looking for a male suspect who is accused of grabbing a fishing net from the shelf at the hunting and fishing store in Fort Meyers and using it to steal a live tarpon from the store's fishpond.
The man then fled the store in an unknown direction with the 50-pound tarpon, officials said.
Deputies with the Lee County Sheriff's Office are on the hunt for a male suspect who allegedly stole a 50-pound fish from the Bass Pro Shops store in Fort Meyers. (Lee County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
Police shared the video of the unusual theft in a Facebook post asking for the public's help.
"LSCO is attempting to locate retail theft suspect. But not just your 'normal retail theft," deputies wrote on Facebook. "We guess you could say THIS one will o-fish-ially catch your eye."
The man then fled the store with the 50-pound tarpon in an unknown direction, officials said. (Lee County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
Police said that a witness captured the incident on video via Snapchat, in which the alleged suspect can be seen wearing dark-colored pants, a navy blue T-shirt and a fishing hat carrying the tarpon.
CHICK-FIL-A BANDITS STEAL HUNDREDS OF GALLONS OF COOKING OIL IN REPEAT HEISTS: REPORT
"This kid just got it outta the small pond," the Snapchat video was captioned.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is working with its Animal Cruelty Task Force, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and SWFL Crime Stoppers to find the person involved in the theft. (Lee County Sheriff's Office/Facebook)
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is working with its Animal Cruelty Task Force, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and SWFL Crime Stoppers to find the person or people involved in the incident.
"The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is aware of an incident at The Bass Pro Shop in Fort Myers involving a tarpon. We are currently working with the Lee County Sheriff's Office to investigate further," a spokesperson for the FWC told FOX 35 Orlando. "I will provide updates when they become available."
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
She is a native of Massachusetts and is based in Orlando, Florida.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to
