iStockphoto / Rob Atherton
Fishing season in Florida has kicked it high gear a month early this year with the unseasonable arrival of Summer weather a month earlier than usual and with that there seems to have been a spike in fishing conditions across the state.
The massive tiger shark was caught by First Coast Surf Fishing (FCFS) guide Owen Prior who specializes in catching epic fish from the beach. In this case, the 12′ shark was hooked from the pier on Jacksonville Beach and later reeled up to the sand.
Owen told local news that in this instance he’s not allowed to actually take a photo with the shark. Presumably, it’s meant to be a quick catch-and-release situation. And says he got caught up in the moment and now has the epic tiger shark photo for the rest of his life.
Here is the still shot of this absolute unit that has since gone viral around the Florida fishing community:
In the state of Florida, tiger sharks are classified as a ‘prohibited’ species of shark. Meaning they cannot be harvested recreationally or commercially. Furthermore, there are specific guidelines around how they must be treated if caught.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says this in the instance of recreational anglers hooking a prohibited species: “Prohibited shark species must remain in the water with the gills submerged when fishing from shore or from a vessel, and prohibited shark species must be released without delay when fishing from the shore. If hook removal will delay release, cut the hook or the leader as close to the hook as possible.”
Chumming is also prohibited when fishing from the beach but presumably allowed as he was fishing from a pier 400 yards off the beach. Though it is unclear if any chum was used in this catch.
Owen Prior says this was the largest tiger shark he’d ever personally caught. Adding that he’d guided clients to catching hundreds of sharks including a 14-foot hammerhead shark but this 12′ tiger was the largest he’d ever personally reeled in.