Overview

• On May 22 at the Vandenberg Wreck site off Key West, a Snapchat video titled “Bud broke my rod” showed 26-year-old Zane Garrett repeatedly stabbing a bull shark in the head.
• He admitted stabbing the shark in retaliation for stolen fish, acknowledged the blows wouldn’t kill or deter sharks, and described the practice as common among charter operators.
• The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received an anonymous tip on May 23, deemed the act “egregious” for causing unnecessary suffering, and opened an investigation.
• Officials say Garrett worked without the required captain’s license and has a history of killing sharks with firearms or knives without harvesting them.
• He was arrested on June 5 and remains in custody at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Key West jail.