A fisherman accidentally hooked a great white shark off Nantucket and waded into shallow surf to free it. Video shows him grabbing the shark, straddling its back, using pliers to remove the hook and releasing the animal. Witnesses said the shark appeared over 8.5 feet long and about 300 pounds, and the entire ordeal took roughly 40 minutes. NOAA Fisheries classifies white sharks as protected and prohibited from retention.
Nantucket Fisherman Wades In To Free Hooked Great White Shark
The fisherman pulls the shark into shallow water.(FOX Weather)
Beachgoers on Nantucket Island watched as a fisherman sprang into action after accidentally hooking a great white shark while fishing in shallow surf.
The fisherman removes the hook from the great white shark's mouth.
What Happened
Video recorded on Sunday shows the man wading into the water, grabbing the shark by the tail and partially dragging it ashore before climbing onto its back and straddling it as onlookers looked on. The person who filmed the encounter, Bryner de Oliveira Damasceno, said people were "amazed" by the shark's size.
The fisherman grabs the shark's tail so he can straddle it to remove the hook.
The fisherman told local reporters he felt both "excited and stressed" and estimated the animal was more than 8.5 feet long and weighed roughly 300 pounds. Someone handed him a pair of pliers; he reached around the shark's fins, opened the jaw wider and removed the hook.
The fisherman holds open the shark's mouth to get the hook out.
Oliveira Damasceno told Storyful that the full rescue — including reeling the shark in and freeing it — took about 40 minutes. After removing the tackle the man released the shark, dragging it back into the ocean and letting it swim away.
The fisherman pulls the white shark back out to sea.
Regulations and Safety
NOAA Fisheries notes that white sharks are a protected, prohibited species and cannot be captured and retained. Officials and marine experts generally advise the public not to approach or attempt to handle large sharks; untrained attempts can be dangerous for both people and animals.
Note: While this incident ended with the shark released, the encounter highlights the risks of accidental shark hookups and the importance of contacting local authorities or trained responders whenever possible.
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