A Texas fisherman was minutes away from a grand prize after a record-breaking catch, but a heavy secret could get him a 10 year prison sentence

Fishing is not just a hobby or a profession, but a noteworthy sport in the nation, where rules are taken just as seriously as those of any other sport you are a fan of. But with top athletes like Ronda Rousey complaining about income, it looks like money is quite tight in sports as well. In Texas, a fisherman was just minutes away from having thousands of dollars to enjoy, but his questionable shortcut has put him in serious trouble.​

This has recently come to light as a significant warning to those who take sports rules lightly. According to Barstool Sports, the fisherman Curtis Lee Daniels got busted cheating in the Lake Fork Lure Co Tournament. He reportedly put 0.75-ounce weights into a largemouth bass’s stomach to gain an edge over competitors.​

His mischief apparently did work, as he was about to get his rewards. But later, the authorities investigated and announced shocking penalties for Daniels, which could not only end his fishing days but could potentially change his life forever.

The fisherman can face up to 10 years in prison and a whooping $10,000 worth of fine

You’d probably be wondering that breaking a rule could simply disqualify you for a specific amount of time or ban you from competing altogether, so what could have happened to potentially change his life? Well, in Daniel’s case, the situation can take a wild turn if he is proven guilty. This is because adding extra weight to the fish becomes a significant crime since the prize money was over $10,000.

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​The involvement of money, let alone thousands of dollars, has converted the fisherman’s case into a third-degree felony. Daniel’s situation isn’t going well in his favor currently, as the weight he put in the fish’s stomach has matched that found on his boat. He has already got two $2,500 worth of prizes, so he might not get away with this the easy way.

Cheating in sports isn’t something new, with cases going public once in a while. However, the fishermen, once the authorities prove them guilty, will face 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 worth of fine. Both of these are huge for a contestant who was striving for the prize, but Curtis’s shortcut proved to be way heavier than he put in that bass’s stomach.

His scrutiny is indeed nail-biting, with all eyes on the authorities who will announce the final results.