Current story: Benjamin Milliken, best known for his popular YouTube channel Milliken Fishing and his status as a Bassmaster elite angler, was arrested Thursday in Nacogdoches County and charged with cheating in freshwater fishing tournaments.

The allegations stem from Milliken’s submission of a ShareLunker Legacy-class largemouth bass he caught on Lake Naconiche in February 2024. Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said Milliken falsified his entry form for the contest.

According to a redacted image of the Nacogdoches County Sherrif’s Office booking summary, Milliken, 35, of New Caney, Texas, surrendered on the misdemeanor charge and was released just 29 minutes after he was booked.

As The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel reports, Texas Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman Maggie Berger said in an email: “During the due diligence process this fall prior to the distribution of program awards at the Toyota ShareLunker Banquet, it was determined that Milliken had no “had a valid fishing license at the time of fishing and knowingly falsified the competition/tournament entry form.”

Berger told the Daily Sentinel that Milliken was removed from the program and charged with fishing without a valid license.

To qualify for the Legacy Class ShareLunkers program, a bass must weigh more than 13 pounds and be caught during the spawning season of January through March. The angler who made the catch can then loan the bass to Texas Parks and Wildlife for use in the state’s breeding programs. These anglers are eligible for prizes of more than $10,000, Berger said.

Late Friday afternoon, as news of the arrest surfaced online, Milliken posted a multi-part statement on his Facebook page, Milliken Fishing, saying his arrest was “due to a complete misunderstanding” and had nothing to do with a Bassmaster Elite tournament to do.

“In fact, the incident occurred when I went fishing for leisure. And especially not at a tournament. I’m really looking forward to creating a video or videos explaining this entire situation. But due to the ongoing investigation, it’s best that I wait.”

“In the meantime, I will continue to work seven days a week to film and produce the best possible fishing content to spread my love of the outdoors and make the sport of fishing accessible to as many people as possible. Thank you all for your patience and understanding.”