Terry Keith Long, of Bridgeport, is facing third degree felony fraud charges after being arrested and released on Friday

A Texas angler is facing third degree felony fraud charges after allegedly cheating at a $10,000 bass fishing tournament.

Authorities say Terry Keith Long, of Bridgeport, cheated to qualify in a pro-fishing tournament.

Investigators determined Long trimmed a largemouth bass's tail in September to keep the fish's length under the 16 inches requirement for the McDonald Big Bass Splash.

Regulations at Lake Fork, east of Dallas, Texas, only allows fishermen to keep bass 16 inches and shorter or 24 inches and longer, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife.

Long was arrested on Friday.

A Wood County grand jury issued a sealed indictment against Long in November. The Star-Telegram reports that indictment was unsealed last week.

Fraud in a Texas fishing tournament can be treated as a Class A misdemeanor, or a third-degree felony, according to the state's penal code.

But Long's alleged fishing con was carried out in a tournament that offered $10,000 or more in prizes, which moves it into felony territory.

Authorities say Long trimmed a largemouth bass's tail in September to keep the fish's length under the 16" requirement for the McDonald Big Bass Splash fishing tournament

Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Aubry Buzek told McClatchy: 'Further investigation revealed that [Long's] fish had been altered with its tail trimmed to fall within the [lake's] slot limit'.

Long's fishy move got him disqualified from the tournament, the New York Post reported. He was released from jail after posting $25,000 bond on Friday.