Shark Caught Off Bocha Grande May Set World Record

[CaptainK]

I got this article off the net. I tried to post the link. But the link wouldn't work. So I rewrote the story to make it on here.

www.new-press.com

A potential world record hammerhead shark was caught on Wednesday in Boca Grande Pass.

Capt. Andy Whitbread of Fort Myers captured a 13 foot, 4 inch, 750 pound hammerhead. Whitbread used an estimated 12 to 15 pound live crevalle jack as bait and caught the fish on 80 pound class tackle for the potential line-class world record.

Whitbread has to submit an application to the International Game Fish Association in Fort Lauderdale for certification of the record.

The current world record is 620 pounds. That hammerhead was caught in Freeport, Texas in 1976.

Whitbread managed the feat with the assistance of captains Owen Osbourne of Fort Myers and James Holland of Labelle.

The men documented the weight on a certified truck scale in Labelle, and have plans to submit an application for a record to the International Game Fish Association.

They buried the carcass in an Orange Grove in Labelle.

[delmarrey]

"They buried the carcass in an Orange Grove in Labelle."

What was the signifiance of that?

[CaptainK]

Well, I think the reason they buried it in a Orange Grove. Is so that they don't just leave it in the open to stink up the place.

The other reason is that dead things like sharks makes good organic fertilizer.

That's my two cents.

[Talbot]

I am sorry but I find the concept of somebody killing a massive shark merely so he can claim a record, nothing short of pathetic.

fish and let go

fish and eat

both are fine, but fish and kill for the hell of it sucks big time.

[CaptainK]

Well unfortnately, Talbot. There are those out there who do kill, and not eat them.

Reminds me of all the African safari hunters!! They sure killed alot of interesting animals. All in the name of just getting another trophy to adorn their walls!

[Dave A]

When I was teaching my kids about hunting and fishing the rule was simple, if you kill it you eat it. Large game fish can be caught, recorded, taged and released.

[Alan Wheeler]

I agree with the waste of killing for just a trophy. Tag and release is far the better sport in my opinion.

As for eating a large shark however, you can't. They are full of Murcury.
I have never known just at what point a large shark goes from edible to none edible. I guess it's the point at which you question wether to bring it aboard or not.

[seafox]

Depends if it will fit in the back of the "Fish and Chip" shop door

[CaptainK]

Well.

With a shark that size. All they had to do was cut the tail off. And make tons of shark fin soup.