JUPITER, Fla., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Most of the time when an NBA team reels in a big fish during the summer offseason, it isn't actually a fish that's coming to town.
But Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler had other ideas this weekend, when he hooked into a 350-pound grouper while fishing in Florida with BlacktipH and Captain Ben Chancey.
Chandler released the fish back into the water. In Florida, it is illegal to keep a goliath grouper after hooking it. The 'jewfish' is totally protected from harvest in Florida waters and it is illegal to gaff or harm the fish.
So that fish Wil caught over the weekend was pretty big...
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) August 22, 2016
But just how big? 👀 #Nuggets pic.twitter.com/PALFSqjDcM
"Harvest and possession has been prohibited in both state and federal waters off Florida since 1990," according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission website.
Huge Goliath grouper caught by Wilson Chandler from the @nuggets #blacktiph #fishing #goliathgrouper pic.twitter.com/moUsOWmcOE
— BlacktipH (@BlacktipH) August 21, 2016
A goliath grouper can weigh up to 800 pounds and be more than 8-feet long. In 1961 a record-eight 680-pound Goliath grouper was caught off of Fernandina Beach.
Wilson's catch was profiled on the 'Chew on This Saltwater Fishing Show."
@dnvrite we let it go
— Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) August 22, 2016
Chandler, 29, has averaged 13.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in eight NBA seasons for the Nuggets and New York Knicks. He sat out last season after hip surgery. Chandler is due $11.2 million this season and $12 million in 2017, before the Nuggets have a $12.8 million option in 2018.
