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Large Shark Caught

Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert
24,343 views
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] (According to the report last night, the shark was caught between the two sandbars somewhere around the east end of PCB.)
Click here for the link with the video.

Hammerhead Shark

[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]News 13 on your side[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Wednesday, September 13, 2006[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]

[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Panama City Beach- It was no ordinary catch earlier this week in Panama City Beach, and there are pictures to prove it.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Five fisherman took about an hour and half to land a hammerhead shark very early Monday morning.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The impressive part: the shark was 12 feet 3 inches long, weighing in at 512 pounds.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Two of the fisherman spoke to News 13 about the catch Wednesday.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]C.J. Blount says, “We were really surprised at a hammerhead that big. Normally they like to run in schools which probably means that wasn't the only one out there just the first to grab the bait.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Gabriel Allen was showing off the jaws, saying, “You can actually see around the outside of the jaws like the old teeth have broken off because you know shark rotate their teeth and everything and you can actually see where the old teeth used to be.”[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The shark was weighed at Half-Hitch Tackle, on Thomas Drive, Monday.[/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]You can hear from Blount and Allen, and see their impressive catch below.[/FONT]

Edited

Replies

93
InletBchDweller avatar
InletBchDwellerSoWal Insider
#2
😱 😱 😱
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal ExpertAuthor
#4
The story did not report whether the fishermen were in a boat or fishing from shore. Since they chose not to report that part, I have a good guess. How would you like to be swimming and seeing those five guys fighting that shark for over an hour? I bet that beach was cleared for the rest of the week.:shark:
Cil avatar
CilBeach Fanatic
#5
Yikes! Quite a good sized critter, to say the least.

I was just walking the beach a few minutes ago, and saw what had to be a shark. It was about 20 feet from shoreline. The dorsal was about the size of my two hands side by side (but a bit longer). So this one was probably still smaller than a dolphin, but bigger than whatever it was I saw a couple weeks ago.
The silvery baitfish were flying through the air. I would be, too.
Uncle Timmy avatar
Uncle TimmyBeach Fanatic
#6
The silvery baitfish were flying through the air. I would be, too.

Just a quick reminder to everyone:

Never swim when the water is murky and the fish are jumping.
kathydwells avatar
kathydwellsDarlene is my middle name, not my nickname
#7
I just have to ask this. When someone catches a shark like this what do they do with it? Do they eat it? Or do they just catch it to get the teeth to mount? I realize that sharks are scarey creatures, and they do sometimes attack. But just to kill one for no reason? It breaks my heart. I could not make it through the video because I was crying seeing that poor shark hanging their for all to gauk at. Call me a softy, but I just figure that shark was out there doing what it does. Eating to live in the ocean that belongs to him, not causing any harm to any person. Of course, I would feel different if he was attacking someone and then he was killed. I just do not see the sense in killing it just to show it off.

Edited

DD avatar
DDSoWal Expert
#8
I just have to ask this. When someone catches a shark like this what do they do with it? Do they eat it? Or do they just catch it to get the teeth to mount? I realize that sharks are scarey creatures, and they do sometimes attack. But just to kill one for no reason? It breaks my heart. I could not make it through the video because I was crying seeing that poor shark hanging their for all to gauk at. Call me a softy, but I just figure that shark was out there doing what it does. Eating to live in the ocean that belongs to him, not causing any harm to any person. Of course, I would feel different if he was attacking someone and then he was killed. I just do not see the sense in killing it just to show it off.

I'm with you Darlene.
Mango avatar
MangoSoWal Insider
#9
I just have to ask this. When someone catches a shark like this what do they do with it? Do they eat it? Or do they just catch it to get the teeth to mount? I realize that sharks are scarey creatures, and they do sometimes attack. But just to kill one for no reason? It breaks my heart. I could not make it through the video because I was crying seeing that poor shark hanging their for all to gauk at. Call me a softy, but I just figure that shark was out there doing what it does. Eating to live in the ocean that belongs to him, not causing any harm to any person. Of course, I would feel different if he was attacking someone and then he was killed. I just do not see the sense in killing it just to show it off.

I agree too. and the sad part is there are people killing sharks everyday just for the fins, which are a delicacy and quite expensive. Then they throw the rest of the shark back in the ocean. :shock: Sharks are important to the oceans eco-system and senseless killing for sport is hard to swallow.
Cil avatar
CilBeach Fanatic
#10
I just have to ask this. When someone catches a shark like this what do they do with it? Do they eat it? Or do they just catch it to get the teeth to mount? I realize that sharks are scarey creatures, and they do sometimes attack. But just to kill one for no reason? It breaks my heart. I could not make it through the video because I was crying seeing that poor shark hanging their for all to gauk at. Call me a softy, but I just figure that shark was out there doing what it does. Eating to live in the ocean that belongs to him, not causing any harm to any person. Of course, I would feel different if he was attacking someone and then he was killed. I just do not see the sense in killing it just to show it off.

Why do trophy hunters do what they do? I don't really get it, either.
But at least this shark, hunted as he was, still had a fighting chance, unlike the bears lured with bait, or the exotic beasts shot at the "Guaranteed Kill" ranches.
laurawoodBeach Lover
#11
There are sharks a lot bigger than that out there! Lucky for us the Destin Shark Fishing Rodeo has returned to help keep the population in check. Now, if they would only clean the sharks and donate the fillets to local food banks. Shark makes a great substitute for hamburger meat in both lasagne and spagetti. Shark fins are highly valuable in the fish market, especially overseas, however that is no reason not to use the entire animal. Shark skin is a great material for belts,boots,wallets etc........... and in my opinion quite stylish. Waste Not Want Not. It is reprehensible to kill any animal for the sake of killing. I however, do support the fisherman who make use of their catch. Most want to keep the population going, after all that is their livelihood.

Edited

RudyjohnSoWal Insider
#12
I just have to ask this. When someone catches a shark like this what do they do with it? Do they eat it? Or do they just catch it to get the teeth to mount? I realize that sharks are scarey creatures, and they do sometimes attack. But just to kill one for no reason? It breaks my heart. I could not make it through the video because I was crying seeing that poor shark hanging their for all to gauk at. Call me a softy, but I just figure that shark was out there doing what it does. Eating to live in the ocean that belongs to him, not causing any harm to any person. Of course, I would feel different if he was attacking someone and then he was killed. I just do not see the sense in killing it just to show it off.
I agree with you and it appears there are other "softies" as well. Be careful, we'll be accused of being "bleeding hearts!" ;-)
laurawoodBeach Lover
#13
I dont think so. It is just common sense. Not senseless killing. There is a use for the product of glory fishing. It just has to be realized.
Cil avatar
CilBeach Fanatic
#14
There are sharks a lot bigger than that out there! Lucky for us the Destin Shark Fishing Rodeo has returned to help keep the population in check.

Is the Gulf overpopulated with sharks?
Not being snarky, this is an honest question.
TripleB avatar
TripleBBeach Fanatic
#15
I agree with you and it appears there are other "softies" as well. Be careful, we'll be accused of being "bleeding hearts!" ;-)
Somewhere, there is a tree that needs to be hugged.
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal ExpertAuthor
#16
I recall seeing a documentary film on sharks in Hawaii, in which it was determined that the fish population had diminished greatly after people began killing the Great White Sharks. The reason was thought to be due to the small sharks being allowed to grow greatly in population and they were eating all the fish. They stopped killing the Great Whites, which fed on the smaller sharks, and the fish population came back.

It seems that human interferance with nature has a negative affect.

-- All things in moderation.
Cil avatar
CilBeach Fanatic
#17
It seems that human interferance with nature has a negative affect
Yes, definitely.
But when we learn from our mistakes and change our ways, it is not always too late (I am thinking of Bald Eagles and the outlawing of DDT.)
I guess the thing to work towards is sustainability.

Edited

flowergirl40pc avatar
flowergirl40pcBeach Fanatic
#18
Anyone who has ever fished off the PCB pier and saw the amount of sharks (good size ones), and how close to the shore they are, would probably never go swimming in the Gulf again if they were a tourist.
Smiling JOe avatar
Smiling JOeSoWal ExpertAuthor
#19
The Destin Log had a photo of a Tiger Shark, which weighed in over 700 lbs, caught at the recent shark rodeo, or whatever they call it. That was one big-@ss shark.

On a side note, I saw another SeaTurtle while kayaking the other day at Grayton, then saw 3 others later in the day in front of Seaside.:wub:
Cil avatar
CilBeach Fanatic
#20
Well, I'm still swimming in the Gulf, but I certainly try to time it correctly, and don't go in if it's too murky. It's unnerving enough just stepping over all those cranky crabs.
Next week we're moving to a house with a heated swimming pool, so I won't be tempting the sharks much longer.

SJ, how nice to see all those sea turtles! I've only seen one live one here, but that was a treat.

With all the rain, the bayou near here filled up, and a couple I met on the beach said they saw a small gator in the Gulf.

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