Video footage posted online sparked outrage as two men are seen in a pedalo struggling with a fishing rod to land the huge catch in the city’s eastern district of Gocław. The fish is first seen refusing to give in and dragging the men around the lake until they were forced to use their hands to haul it aboard and bring it to shore. As crowds gathered in protest, the men piled the 1.83-meter colossus into the trunk of their car while it was still alive. Online commentators slammed the cruelty involved as well as the fact that the fish was something of a local celebrity. It had been living in the artificial Balaton lakelet in a local recreational area for about 20 years and was well known to local fishermen, who would always return it to the water if caught. Criminal investigation Police said in a statement they had investigated the matter after media reports emerged of the incident and had quickly identified one of the suspects. They added: “Shortly thereafter, the 57-year-old Ukrainian citizen was detained.” In addition to offending the locals, the anglers are accused of fishing out of season, potentially incurring charges of poaching, which could land them in jail for up to two years. Local bylaws also forbid fishing from boats or other watercraft with only lakeside angling permitted.