AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — The catch of a lifetime -- that’s how one local fisherman described the Great White Shark he reeled in Tuesday while fishing on Amelia Island.
Action News Jax spoke with the fisherman Wednesday, who believes this might be the first Great White to ever be caught by a beach fisherman off the East Coast of Florida.
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“There’s something jumping out there,” Alberto Vanegas can be heard saying on a cell phone video as he worked to reel in something on his line.
That was the moment the veteran shark fisherman and owner of Amelia Island Land Based Shark Charter knew he’d hooked something special.
“The size of the tuna head, I was like there’s no way that’s a Black Tip, but in my mind I wasn’t thinking a Great White,” Vanegas said.
What a day. Let’s us know if you want a chance to catch your fish of a lifetime.
Posted by Amelia Island Land Based Shark Charter on Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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After a half-hour fight, he was able to haul the Great White Shark, which measured between 9 and 10 feet, into the shallows.
“As soon as it came on shore, the first thing I was thinking is, ‘How fast can we get it back in the water?’ With it being a protected species, that’s what you want to do,” Vanegas said.
A few quick photos were snapped and the shark, aptly nicknamed “Jaws,” was released back into the ocean, per state regulations.
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“I salute the fisherman for quick catch and release,” Dr. Bob Hueter, Senior Science Advisor at OCEARCH, said.
Hueter told Action News Jax Great Whites aren’t uncommon off Florida’s East Coast during the winter.
In fact, one tagged by the research group was also in the area when Vanegas made his catch.
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But the fact the Great White reeled in Tuesday wasn’t tagged, suggests to Hueter that the Great White population may be healthier than researchers believed.
“We have tagged 92 White Sharks so far in our studies in this part of the world and the fact that this was an untagged one just shows you there are many of these animals out there. We’ve probably barely scratched the surface,” Hueter said.
Vanegas said in his 15 years of shark fishing, he never dreamed he would hook an elusive Great White Shark.
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Now, he’s hopeful his thrilling experience will help the scientific community better protect the critically endangered species.
“I feel completely honored, completely blessed that I had the opportunity. It’s right place right time,” Vanegas said.
Vanegas said he did contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission immediately after the catch and release, to ensure he did everything by the book, which he said the agency confirmed.
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