I've kind of been hit by sharking fever lately, obsessing over catching a Sand Tiger Shark from the beaches of LBI just because I know it's possible, and I would love to see one up close, with all it's crazy teeth...So last night I hit the beach once again to continue my quest... Went all night without a hit, was ready to call it quits, and then as we were packing it in, my bait-runner starts screaming... I pick it up, give it a couple seconds and set the hook.. Upon feeling the hook burrow into it, this thing ran. HARD. I couldn't turn it's head.. I thought I finally had my 10 ft sand tiger, This relentless battle went on for an hour, maybe longer.. every time it started giving in, it would suction itself to the bottom to rest, during which time, I had no hope of moving it, then it would spool all of the line I just retrieved and more.. I was sweating bullets, and my arms were about ready to fall off, but I finally got him to ride the waves into shore.. And in disbelief, this is what was at the end of my line:
This beast measured 7 feet from wing to wing and I'm not good at estimating weight, but I know this thing had to go over 250lbs easily!!!!
I have no idea of the species, but after a few pictures, this monster was returned to the ocean!