Tag: Bass Pro Shops

Watch: ‘Joy, excitement’ on display as boy lands first trophy bass

Footage shows the boy, named Knox, excitedly reeling in the catch of a lifetime while encouraged by family.

A young angler named Knox is clearly hooked when it comes to bass fishing.

The accompanying footage, shared Monday by Bass Pro Shops, shows the boy reeling to shore his first trophy-size bass at PawPaw’s Pond in Arkansas.

“Congrats on the catch, Knox!” Bass Pro Shops exclaimed via X.

While the catch of a 5.5-pound bass is impressive, the gleeful reactions of Knox and his family throughout the footage represent the true video highlights.

“This is huge!” Knox, almost in disbelief, says after the fish is brought ashore. “This is a trophy!”

Reads a top comment: “The joy and excitement! That young man is going to be hooked for life! Let’s get more kids and youth fishing.”

Bass Pro Shops shared the same footage via TikTok last week, however, and some of the viewers’ input was less enthusiastic.

“I catch 8-pound bass every day,” one viewer lied.

“Pond doesn’t count,” another dismissed.

But criticism and expressions of jealously are to be expected whenever a quality catch is shared via social media.

For Knox, who is shown releasing the bass at the end of the footage, this was a moment he’s bound to treasure for some time.

–Bass Pro Shops credited Shana Leigh for the footage

Man who stole live 50-pound tarpon from Bass Pro Shops yet to be found

A reward is being offered to anyone who can identify the man who removed a tarpon from a Bass Pro Shops fish pond and walked out with it. A customer videotaped the man leaving the store.

Authorities in Florida are still searching for a man who entered a Bass Pro Shops with a net, removed a 50-pound tarpon from a fish pond and walked out of the store with it.

A customer videotaped the man carrying the net with the wiggling tarpon as he left the store, and it was shared with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, which posted it on its Facebook page.

The incident occurred at the store on Gulf Center Drive in Fort Myers on the night of Dec. 20, but the suspect has yet to be identified.

“Right now, our Criminal Investigations Division is working to follow leads in the case,” Sergeant Sarah Rodriguez told USA Today/For The Win Outdoors.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for anyone who can identify the thief.

“Yesterday evening, a male suspect entered the Bass Pro Shops in Gulf Coast Town Center with a fish net in hand, and proceeded to remove a live tarpon from the store’s indoor fish pond,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office stated. “The suspect then fled the store with the tarpon. South District Detectives are working with our Animal Cruelty Task Force, MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife, and SWFL Crime Stoppers in an attempt to locate the individuals involved.

“If you have information on this incident or the suspect, please ’𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲’ to SWFL Crimestoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS or online at: www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com. You may also call the information directly into LCSO at 239-477-1000.”