Bass Tournament Turns Into Felony Case After Weights Found Inside Fish… Again

What started as a competitive day on the water turned into a criminal investigation after a Texas angler was arrested during a bass fishing tournament. Officials say the man is accused of trying to cheat by placing weights inside a fish before bringing it to the weigh-in.

The arrest happened Sunday during a tournament at Lake Fork in Texas, one of the most famous bass fishing lakes in the country.

Metal Detector Alerted Tournament Staff

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, tournament staff became suspicious during the weigh-in process. Organizers used a metal detecting wand on the fish brought in by angler Curtis Lee Daniels.

The device alerted staff to something unusual inside the bass.

“After confirming the alert, wardens conducted a necropsy on the fish and discovered three weights in its stomach that showed no signs of erosion,” the TPWD statement reads. “Wardens also located weights of the same style and size in the angler’s boat.”

Because bass tournament winners are determined by the weight of the fish, adding hidden weights can unfairly increase the total.

Thousands of Dollars Were at Stake

The incident happened during the second and final day of the Lake Fork Lure Co. Tournament presented by Sealy Outdoors.

A total of 564 anglers competed in the event. The biggest fish of the tournament was worth $10,000, with additional prizes bringing the total potential winnings even higher.

Because the competition offered more than $10,000 in prize money, the charge is considered a third-degree felony under Texas law.

Angler Released on Bond

Daniels, of Willow Park, Texas, was booked into the Wood County Jail on Sunday and later released on a $20,000 bond.

“Daniels, who works as a guide on Lake Fork and fishes bass tournaments regularly, tells Outdoor Life he will not comment on his arrest until he’s spoken with his attorney.”

Court records also show Daniels was previously convicted in 2019 for possession of slot limit black bass and fined $519. Authorities have not said if more charges could follow.