Man Takes a 50-Pound Tarpon from Florida Bass Pro Shops Display
A thief stole a live Megalops from a store in Fort Myers, Florida prompting a criminal investigation. The Sheriff’s Office collaborating with wildlife officials & seeking public assistance is actively pursuing the recovery of the stolen fish and the identification of the poacher.
By Beth Snider · December 23, 2023
A Bass Pro Shops store in Fort Myers, Florida became the scene of an unusual crime as a daring thief made off with a 50-pound live tarpon from the store’s fish pond. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is now on a mission to apprehend the fishy culprit, and the incident has caught the attention of local authorities, wildlife officials, and the public alike.
On a seemingly ordinary day, two individuals entered the sports store in Gulf Coast Town Center. One of them, as captured on video shared on social media, casually strolled through the store with a fishing net in hand making his way to the fish display pond. In a swift move, he scooped up the hefty tarpon and calmly walked out of the store leaving store employees and shoppers in disbelief.
The 50-pound silver king at the center of an ongoing criminal investigation has prompted authorities to pursue the fish’s recovery and the identification of the daring thief. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is utilizing various resources, including the Animal Cruelty Task Force, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and SWFL Crime Stoppers, in their quest for justice. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, collaborative efforts between the FWC and the LCSO are underway to delve deeper into the incident.
In an effort to solve the case, law enforcement officials have turned to the public for assistance. The LCSO posted the video evidence on their Facebook page, calling attention to the unusual nature of the crime with a touch of humor. Referring to the incident as “not just your ‘normal retail theft,” the authorities have asked for any information that may lead to the identification of the suspect.
In the meantime, the stolen tarpon remains at large, swimming in the mysterious depths of an unknown destination while the residents of Fort Myers await the resolution of one of the most unusual crimes to hit their local Bass Pro Shops.
Tarpon, scientifically known as Megalops and nicknamed the Silver King, is a prehistoric fish dating back 100 million years. The Florida Marine Research Institute is conducting studies on survival rates, revealing that they inhabit warmer waters primarily in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, and the West Indies, with a range extending from Cape Hatteras to southern Brazil. Females can grow up to 300 pounds and live over 50 years, while males have a shorter lifespan of 30 years. Tarpons spawn from April to July, and their slow growth means they don’t reach maturity until 7 to 13 years of age. It’s crucial to release these impressive fish carefully given their slow reproductive rate and significance in marine ecosystems.