Considering he catches 8 plus fish all day and entering those gets you a ticket into the 5k drawing one would think if he was really wanting to win a drawing he would stuff that box. How many 8lb fish did he enter? Answer 0......

He has a attorney now and will beat this very easy.

He will Clear his record and his name.

No way it sticks IMO.

The fool is playing it up for social media clout trying to sell T shirts on his page like TPWD cant decide to revoke his license if they feel like it. Imagine missing the Classic and 2 Elite events because you wanted to play around on social media while under investigation.

I'm curious who he pizzed off at TPWD because if I had done the exact same thing I would have been ticketed and it would be a done deal. He has ruffled someone's feathers for sure at TPWD.

And then there's this.... Can't find anything about him being charged...

Toyota ShareLunker Program - Texas Parks and Wildlife

Unfortunately, we must share that the 13.2-pound Largemouth Bass caught from Lake Athens and submitted on February 19, 2024, was not a legal catch. Therefore, that fish has officially been removed from the Toyota ShareLunker Program and we await a new SL#658 to be submitted. Shortly following submission of the fish angler Danny Howard realized and communicated to us that his fishing license expired just a few days before he caught the bass. Mistakes happen. Unfortunately, this mistake made his fish illegal and ineligible for the program. We appreciate Mr. Howard’s forthright action in bringing this to our attention. We encourage all anglers planning to hit the waters in hopes of submitting a lunker bass to the Toyota ShareLunker Program to take a moment, find your fishing license, and check the expiration date. Fishing license dollars fund much of the important efforts required to develop, maintain, and enhance the great fisheries resources of Texas for current and future generations.

And the plot thickens...

I ran into him at Naconiche on Aug 29, this year.. had a short conversation on the water and no drama, I am hoping all ends well for him, TPWD, and Sharelunker Program..

PS.. I like Cats too!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1717905062336482

Hope all ends well for all involved.

Howard went to TPWD when he discovered that his license was out of date.

WOW! Did you read that all by yourself? Thank goodness we have you for providing the pertinent information.

Thats a significant difference IMO. One set the record straight and let the TPWD do what was right. Ben let it go and waited to see if they discovered his error.

I hope TPWD addresses this in the future by checking fishing licenses when they first accept fish into the program.

So exact same infraction. One turns himself in and one doesn’t and buys a license immediately. Neither person gets a chance at the stupid raffle. Same exact offense. One results in nothing and one results in a class a misdemeanor. One self reports and one digs a hole.

It’s almost like the money is there now just so they can really screw with people. They need to keep it what it’s always been. A program. Them adding money to it recently and changing the legal definition of the program to qualify as a fishing contest/ tournament is suspect.

Those poor fish. Kicked out of the breeding program because of no license.

I seriously doubt a man that makes a living off of posting videos on social media is going to intentionally submit videos of him fishing without a license intentionally. I'm going to assume he didn't intentionally lie on the paperwork as well.

Simple rule infraction, not fraud, not cheating.

Disqualify his catch from the program, make him forfeit any prizes (if he received any), and write him a citation at best. Even then the man went out and purchased a license the moment he realized his license was expired. Very similar to the JJ event. Probably some jealous local or officer that wanted to make an example out of him.

TPWD took this one too far.