A grand jury in Wood County, Texas has indicted a Bridgeport man that allegedly trimmed the tail of a bass to get it under the slot limit size on Lake Fork to win prizes at the September 2018 Sealy Big Bass Splash.

Terry Keith Long has been charged with third degree fraud of a fishing tournament.

The following is the information we were given according to a Texas Parks and Wildlife representative:

On Sept. 22, 2018, at the Sealy Big Bass Splash on Lake Fork, a fisherman by the name of Terry Long brought a fish in to be weighed. Further investigation revealed that his fish had been altered with its tail trimmed to fall within the slot limit. A case was presented to the Wood County grand jury on fraud: fresh water fishing tournament >=$10,000 3rd degree felony. The Wood County grand jury indicted Mr. Long and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Mr. Long was arrested Friday, March 9, 2019 and posted the $25,000 bond.

Lake Fork has a slot limit where only fish measuring less than 16 inches or more than 24 inches may be kept. Sealy’s Big Bass Splash awards numerous hourly and daily prizes in their multi-day tournaments.

Here is how the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code - PARKS & WILD § 66.023. Fraud in Fishing Tournaments reads: