Tag: Sharks

Massive tiger shark landed during ‘team-building’ fishing trip

A group of South Carolina business partners on Sunday teamed to land a massive tiger shark that weighed an estimated 1,500 pounds.

A group of South Carolina business partners on Sunday teamed to land a tiger shark that weighed an estimated 1,500 pounds.

“If that wasn’t a great team-building exercise, I don’t know what is,” Capt. Chip Michalove told FTW Outdoors.

Michalove, owner of Outcast Sport Fishing in Hilton Head, did not provide the anglers’ names but said they fought the shark for 90 minutes before it was alongside the boat. (The shark was released after a brief photo session.)

“Largest one we’ve caught in years, a 13-footer,” Michalove boasted Monday via Facebook.

Any tiger shark topping 1,000 pounds is considered to be enormous.

For comparison, the International Game Fish Assn. lists the world record as a tie between a catches of 1,785 pounds, 11 ounces (Australia, 2004) and 1,780 pounds (South Carolina, 1964).

(The 1964 catch was made from a Myrtle Beach pier!)

13-foot tiger shark moments before it was released. Photo: Chip Michalove

Michalove, who in July 2022 caught and released a record-size hammerhead shark, explained that giant tiger sharks tend to be active off South Carolina in the fall.

“It seems like every year the largest tiger is always the last two weeks of October,” he said. “Last year we lost an enormous one on Halloween.”

Michalove, who is authorized to tags sharks for research, said he has caught several of the same large tiger sharks over the years.

Tiger shark was landed after a 90-minute fight. Photo: Chip Michalove

But the shark his group caught Sunday did not have a tag and did not show markings that would imply it had previously been tagged.

Asked about how the anglers handled the fight, Michalove explained:

“The fight was an hour and a half. It took all four customers multiple rod swaps to get her close. One of the guys was a pastor, and that always seems beneficial.”

San Diego beach a hot spot for great white shark sightings

If you’d like to observe great white sharks but do not want to board a boat, Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego is just the spot.

Last November, a state beach in San Diego boasted that great white sharks had gathered beyond its shore and provided spotting tips for visitors.

The announcement put Torrey Pines State Beach on the map as a destination known for juvenile white sharks as well as magnificent trails and sweeping ocean views.

Then winter arrived, some sharks left for warmer water, and the hype ended. But I can attest that there are still plenty of white sharks, perhaps dozens, hanging out at Torrey Pines.

White shark close to shore at Torrey Pines. Photo ©Pete Thomas

I’ve visited the park four times in the past two weeks and saw sharks during each visit. During my most recent visit last Wednesday, I spotted multiple sharks during an hourlong period, including four sharks at once.

Two days earlier, I saw a large juvenile shark, perhaps 9 feet, probing in the sand in green water less than 30 yards from shore.

White shark sporting a Shark Lab research tag off Torrey Pines. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

It could be argued that at present, because trails at Torrey Pines provide a bird’s-eye view, there is no better location for observing white sharks from shore.

The aggregation site spans from Del Mar to about Black’s Beach just south of Torrey Pines. Juvenile white sharks, measuring 5 to 10 feet, utilize the area as a nursery. They feed mostly on rays and other bottom fish.

White shark in bluer offshore water at Torrey Pines. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

Chris Lowe, who runs the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, told FTW Outdoors that in recent weeks 27 tagged sharks have remained in this area “day in, day out.”

Not all of the sharks are tagged and some come and go, so it’s difficult to estimate the number of sharks off Del Mar/Torrey Pines. But Lowe said it could be as many as 40.

View from the Guy Fleming Trail at Torrey Pines. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

Juvenile white shark aggregation sites, which can be established anywhere along the coast, are temporary so it’s unclear how long the sharks will remain off Torrey Pines.

Those who wish to observe them should plan their hikes to overlooks during morning hours with the sun at their backs.

Shark Lab tagging crew searching for white sharks. Photo: ©Pete Thomas

Calm, sunny mornings during a high or incoming tide are best, and polarized sunglasses are a must unless conditions are perfect.

There are no guarantees, but if conditions are right and visitors spend enough time looking, they have a solid chance of seeing a shark or two. (I’ve seen them swimming as close as 30 yards from shore.)

Since juvenile white sharks feed on fish instead of the seals and sea lions preferred by much larger adult white sharks, they do not pose a significant threat to swimmers and surfers.

However, last Nov. 4 a woman was bitten by a presumed white shark while swimming 200 yards offshore in Del Mar. She was hospitalized and treated for puncture wounds to her right thigh.

Note: White sharks are protected in California. Anyone caught targeting white sharks while fishing at Torrey Pines State Beach will be cited.

‘All In!’ chronicles a 93-day SUP voyage across the ocean

Cross the ocean with Chris Bertish.

The evocative title of Chris Bertish’s books says a lot. When I read the title “All In!: The Atlantic Standup Paddle Crossing – 93 Days Alone at Sea,” I got an inkling of what I was in for. There would be weather, loneliness, waves, problems, and probably sharks. And, since Bertish obviously survived to write the book, inspiration. I was right! But it’s still worth reading the book for the stories and motivational tidbits.

The journey Bertish chronicles in “All In!” took place from December 2016 to March 2017, when he paddled more than 4,000 miles alone from Morocco to Antigua. He became the first person to ever stand-up paddleboard across an ocean. But Bertish was no stranger to firsts and awards. He was already a big wave surfing champ with multiple world records. When he’s not in the water, Bertish is addressing giant companies like Google, Coke, and Salesforce as a motivational speaker.

A man crossing the ocean on a SUP.
Photo by Brian Overfeld

While Bertish clearly has superhuman strength and a need to embrace challenges most of us would pay everything to avoid, he’s also driven by philanthropy. His grueling 93-day paddle raised over half a million dollars for Operation Smile. This global nonprofit provides free cleft palate surgery for children. Bertish also raised money to support ocean conservation initiatives.

Of course, the first question a reader probably has is, “How does a person cross an ocean on a SUP?” I can barely paddle my inflatable SUP across a small lake on a slightly windy day. But Bertish’s 20-foot craft, the Impifish, was named for Zulu warriors called Impis. This extra-long SUP had a tiny cabin that Bertish could curl up in to escape the elements. The SUP was tricked out with a ton of high-tech communication gear, including GPS, VHF radio, Echomax, an emergency position indicating radio beacon, and a satellite phone, to name just a few. Gearheads will love this book for the tech alone.

Bertish sitting on the side of his SUP with his legs in the ocean.
Photo by Alan van Gysen

While the book is full of exciting tales, it’s also a bit repetitive — just like 93 days of paddling would be. There’s a pattern of disaster followed by motivational insight, and repeat. Storm! Ah, survived. Great white shark! Ah, survived it. Crucial equipment malfunction! Survived again. You can see why all the big companies want Bertish to speak to them. The man doesn’t give up or take no for an answer. 

As he says at one point early in the book, “People will make up every possible excuse not to do something, or give you a whole laundry list of the reasons why they ‘can’t.’ You can always find plenty of reasons if you look for them, but instead you should be finding reasons why you ‘can.’ Focus on that and then find a way to accomplish it. If you believe you can’t you won’t, but if you believe you can, and you want it badly enough, you will always find a way. It’s that simple, period.”

The thing that irked me most about the book was an unsolved mystery. Before Bertish set out on the Impifish, some unidentified entity tried to prevent his SUP journey. Somebody sabotaged his car, messed with arrangements for his gear and food, and, most horribly of all, killed his cat. This still makes me sick to contemplate, especially since the mystery angle of the story was dropped. The reader never finds out who did these horrible things or why.

The paperback version of “All In” debuted in July. In line with Bertish’s conservation ideals, the book is printed on Forest Steward Certified paper. He also released a super limited edition eco series of only 13 copies. These 100% sustainable books are printed on 40% post-consumer recycled paper with soy and water-based inks. The binding features eco-cotton thread and non-toxic water-based glues. The book’s cover is, fittingly, made using recycled ocean plastics.

A man standing on a SUP with a flare in hand.
The victorious finish! / Photo by Brian Overfeld

Writer received a free copy of the book for review.

Potential world-record snapper succumbs to ‘tax man’

Anglers at Dry Tortugas National Park are catching lots of fish, but many are devoured by sharks before they cen be reeled to the surface.

On Friday I was directed to the Delph Fishing Instagram page, where several images caught my eye and where three things quickly stood out:

1) William Delph’s clients catch a stunning array of massive and brilliantly colored game fish in Dry Tortugas National Park, Fla.

2) Because some fish are so powerful they take a long time to reel up and become susceptible to shark predation.

3) The regional shark population appears robust enough to cause frustration among clients hoping to reel entire catches to the boat, and crewmen wanting to send clients home with fillets.

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The image atop this post is that of a red snapper that Delph Fishing estimated to weigh 45 to 50 pounds – about the same weight as the current world record (50 pounds, 4 ounces).

But as viewers can see, only the head made it to the surface.

Delph Fishing complained via Instagram:

“Well over 45-50 lbs this was one of the biggest American true red snappers we’ve ever taken only to lose it to the tax man in the end.

“Where do we go from here with these sharks? What’s really the next most effective move on how to fix this problem? It’s definitely gotten out of control don’t you think?”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwkyXaaRr9a/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The catch occurred several weeks ago. Other recent images showed anglers posing with half of a large grouper, a portion of another large snapper, and the head of another huge grouper.

One of those posts included a description borne of frustration: “Dear National Marine Fisheries, please focus on the balance of our fisheries instead of the over-protection of our Apex predators. The damage already done to our fisheries is out of control.”

So it seems that while fishing at Dry Tortugas can be productive, anglers who can’t land their catches quickly enough might have to contend with the tax man.

Beachgoers in awe as large shark chases stingray almost onto shore

A beachgoer at Hilton Head, S.C., this week captured dramatic footage showing a large shark chasing a stingray almost onto the beach.

A beachgoer at Hilton Head Island, S.C., on Tuesday captured dramatic footage showing a large lemon shark chasing a stingray almost onto the beach.

WSAV News 3 shared the footage, captured by Katy Albright, under the heading, “Shark vs. a stingray on a Hilton Head Island beach.”

It wasn’t much of a contest, however, as the shark appears to have caught the stingray without too much trouble in water just inches deep.

Albright described the scene as “Incredible” and “Wild.”

Some types of sharks, including lemon sharks and juvenile white sharks, prey on stingrays in shallow water at certain times of year.

Outcast Sport Fishing’s Chip Michalove, who tags sharks for research off Hilton Head, identified the shark in the video as a lemon shark.

A top Facebook comment reads: “I’m glad I didn’t see both of them while I was at Hilton Head swimming at the beach on my vacation a week ago.”

Sky turns sharky over the Atlantic and it’s ‘wicked cool’

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on Friday shared an image of an enormous dark cloud in the shape of a great white shark’s head.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on Friday shared an image showing an enormous cloud in the shape of a shark’s head.

More specifically, some might agree, a great white shark’s head.

“Thank you to one of our followers, Sarah, that snapped this picture of a cloud shark! Wicked cool!” the AWSC wrote on Facebook.

Another follower suggested that the phenomenon portends danger: “That’s how sharknados happen…. Just sayin.”

If the massive cloud shark looked ominous it was  accompanied by a rainbow, for whatever significance that might hold.

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The sighting comes when white sharks are gathered off Cape Cod for the feeding season.

The cloud shark was reminiscent of another recent post showing a “flying whale” near Washington’s San Juan Islands. (See photo below.)

Photo: ©Alisa Schulman-Janiger

The cloud whale – obviously a sperm whale, one observer noted – was photographed by researcher Alisa Schulman-Janiger five years ago and shared in July as a Facebook memory.

Reads one of the comments: “Gifted to you by the sky spirits who appreciate your work for the great citizens of the seas.”

–Top image courtesy of the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

5 great shark movies, including Jaws and Finding Nemo

Shark movies. They’re awesome. Let’s pick out 5 great ones.

Sharks are awesome unless you encounter one in a movie.

While sitting on your couch and watching Shark Week might not give you any sort of frights, coming face-to-face with a big, hungry set of jaws is the stuff that movies are for.

Whether you want to watch a movie about a shark attack or just see a big, cartoon shark talk with an Australian accent, there are plenty of options out there for you to check out that will get you in a shark-y mood.

However, don’t settle for one of those subpar Sharknado movies. We’ve picked out five movies with sharks in them that won’t make you feel like you’re artistically compromising your evening movie time.

Just, y’know, make sure you’ve got plenty of shark repellant while you read this, and make sure you’ve got a big-enough boat.

Celebrate Shark Week 2023 with 11 jaw-dropping photos of sharks

These photos are stunning.

Hey, it’s Shark Week 2023, the block of programming from Discovery that’s been going on for 35 years celebrating all things shark.

And that’s really the right move. Sharks are amazing, and sighting one — as long as it’s from far away — is really cool. We’ve seen Great white sharks in San Diego, we’ve seen sharks get rescued and even one with a name: Tough Guy.

MORE: “Sharknado” moment commands spotlight at surfing contest

So with all of that in mind, we decided to put together some incredible photos we found of sharks throughout the years. Check out the snaps of them below:

Great white sharks reclaim spotlight at San Diego Beach

The sighting Friday of three great white sharks off Black’s Beach in San Diego provides strong evidence that perhaps dozens of juvenile sharks are still utilizing the area between Black’s and Del Mar.

The sighting Friday of three great white sharks off Black’s Beach in San Diego illustrates that several juvenile sharks are still utilizing coastal waters between Black’s and Del Mar.

In the middle of this area is Torrey Pines State Beach, which contains bluff-top trails from which sharks can be spotted when conditions are right.

The following is a repost from last fall – “Great white sharks now a tourist attraction at San Diego beach” – with images I’ve since captured from one of the trails:

©Pete Thomas

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and State Beach is known for its sweeping views of the Pacific. Migrating whales are sometimes spotted in the distance.

But these days great white sharks are a premier attraction for some hikers at the reserve near San Diego. Dozens of juvenile white sharks have spent the summer and early fall off Torrey Pines and Del Mar, just to the north.

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The sharks have been feeding on stingrays and other bottom fishes, keeping a fairly low profile until recently.

Anglers began to hook them and on Oct. 30 the carcass of an 8-foot white shark was discovered on the shore at Torrey Pines. The shark died as a result of fishing activity. (White sharks are protected and targeting them while fishing is illegal.)

©Pete Thomas

On Nov. 4, a distance swimmer was bitten by a shark off Del Mar and hospitalized. Lyn Jutronich told NBC San Diego that the shark shook briefly before releasing its grip. Jutronich was hospitalized and treated for puncture wounds to her right thigh.

The type of shark was not confirmed, but it was presumed to be a juvenile white shark.

On Nov. 6, the Torrey Pines reserve posted a Facebook image of a white shark in a wave.

The Facebook post advertised the presence of sharks and listed spots from which they might be seen: Yucca Point, Razor Point and the Guy Fleming overlooks.

“For best results, plan your trip before 11 a.m. and during high tide,” the Torrey Pines reserve advised. “Sunglasses with polarized lenses and binoculars both also help.”

To be sure, the temporary white shark aggregation site at Torrey Pines is substantial.

Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University Long Beach, told FTW Outdoors that several white sharks tagged off Southern California in recent years are in the area.

“We’ve detected 31 tagged juvenile white sharks (in the last month) out the 62 tagged at Solana Beach, Del Mar and Torrey Pines over the last three years,” Lowe said. “We’ve seen up to 12 sharks in a single drone video frame at Torrey Pines in the last few months.

“This is now the largest aggregation since the Santa Barbara aggregation has broken down.”

It’s not clear how long the sharks will remain in the area.

Great white shark, Tough Guy, ‘lurking’ at Mavericks surf spot

A tagged great white shark nicknamed Tough Guy has shown up at Mavericks, a renowned big-wave surf spot near Half Moon Bay, Ca.

A tagged great white shark nicknamed Tough Guy has shown up at Mavericks, a renowned big-wave surf spot near Half Moon Bay, Ca.

“Tough Guy is lurking in the lineup at Mavericks! Tell your friends who surf this break,” Michael Domeier, who runs the Marine Conservation Science Institute, cautioned followers Wednesday via Instagram.

Tough Guy, a male white shark that has been detected near other Central California surf spots, measured 12 feet when he was tagged in 2021. Domeier stated that “he’s probably 14 feet now.”

Mavericks is an offshore break that attracts surfers from around the world, primarily during the winter when north swells deliver massive waves.

Reads one of the comments beneath Domeier’s post:

“Confirmation that not only does Mavericks get insanely large [during]  gargantuan swells. It also gets insanely large White Sharks. Making it the most dangerous place to surf on the planet when these two factors are in play.”

–Generic white shark image courtesy of Michael Domeier/MCSI