Fishing for attention may have landed him in serious trouble.
An Oregon man is facing allegations that he illegally caught protected shark species in Washington state, then posted unusual videos on social media showing himself “wrestling” with the animals.
Connor Seifert, 27, is accused of pulling bluntnose sixgill sharks and broadnose sevengill sharks from Puget Sound and bragging online about the unlawful catches for months, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Authorities said the fisherman recorded a series of bizarre clips after removing the sharks from the water, sharing the footage across his online accounts.
In one video released by officials, Seifert appears to force open a shark’s mouth while standing with a foot on its back.
Another clip shows him holding a different shark by the tail in the open air as the animal thrashes, seemingly trying to return to the water.
Beyond the disturbing nature of the alleged stunts, targeting sharks in Puget Sound is illegal.
The protections are in place because the sharks come into the sound to give birth to pups that later make their way out to the ocean, according to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
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At least 14 complaints had been made to the department regarding Seifert’s illegal fishing, authorities said.
Investigators finally arrested the shark snatcher in a sting after a months-long investigation, which had them closely following his movements in person and online.
Video shows the tense moment officers confront Seifert over his alleged “wrestle” with the sharks.
“You know your shark rules!” the officer is seen scolding the fisherman in the footage.
The cop reminded Seifert that fishing the sharks hurts their offspring – and is against the law.
“Once they exhaust themselves being fought to shore, then all of their babies die,” the officer says, according to the clip.
“And then, sooner than you know it, you’re not going to have sixgill and sevengill returning to Puget Sound anymore.”
Seifert was hit with nine counts of unlawful recreational fishing in the second degree and a count of making a false statement to a public servant, cops said.
He pleaded not guilty in Pierce County District Court, records show.
Neither Seifert nor his lawyer could be immediately reached for comment.
