A Florida man has been arrested after a disturbing video surfaced showing him repeatedly stabbing a shark in the head — an act he later described as “revenge” for the shark stealing his catch.
Zane Garrett, 26, was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after footage posted to Snapchat showed him violently attacking a bull shark near a wreck site off the coast of Key West on May 22. The clip, titled “Bud broke my rod,” quickly went viral, sparking public outrage and a law enforcement investigation, according to Local 10 News.
Garrett, who is listed as a captain on the website for Second Nature Charters, was turned in by an anonymous tipster who saw the footage and alerted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, citing “safety concerns.”
Authorities noted that Garrett was previously under investigation for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a licensed boat captain — a title he does not legally hold.
In the viral video, Garrett is heard saying, “Bro broke my rod,” while showing a broken fishing rod and the shark he accused of causing it. When questioned by authorities, Garrett confirmed he was the person in the video and admitted to the stabbing.
The tipster who reported him said: “Yes to weapons for the 9-11 inch filet knife, yes to violent behavior for stabbing a shark repeatedly, yes to being concerned over them being dumb enough to post themselves committing a crime.”
According to the arrest warrant, Garrett justified his actions by claiming he was attempting to deter sharks from stealing fish, a practice he claimed is common. He later admitted to stabbing the shark out of frustration because it had taken his catch and had become a “nuisance.”
“I asked Mr. Garrett if he thought the repeated blows would eventually kill the shark,” an investigator wrote in the report. “He replied, ‘No. It takes a lot more to kill a shark than stabbing it in the head.’”
Garrett also told authorities he had “done a lot more killing,” including shooting sharks and stabbing them without ever bringing them onto his boat.
Officials condemned the act as “egregious,” saying it inflicted unnecessary harm on the animal.
Garrett is currently being held at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office jail facility in Key West on a $10,000 bond. His arraignment is scheduled for June 26.
