Surf fishermen on the North Carolina coast made a catch that would make Capt. Quint proud on Sat., March 15, 2025. The trio were soaking baits on Hatteras Island when they hooked a 12 to 13 foot great white shark, estimated to weigh 1,400 to 1,800 pounds. After a 35-minute battle, the shark was released to live another day (video below).
Dan Rothermel, Jason Rosenfeld, and Luke Beard are experienced land-based shark anglers, fishing Cape Point and other area beaches with custom rods designed specifically for the task. They hit the suds with line cutters, pliers, and all the tools they have found they need to safely release sharks over the years — and they often help others that aren’t as prepared. So, when the big white hit, they were ready to bring him in — and get him back out — safely.
When the fish hit, Beard took the rod. An initial jump led the group to believe it might be a white early in the fight, and the shape of the dorsal fin confirmed it as the fish got closer. About 35 minutes later, the big shark was in the wash, just steps from dry ground.
Once it was near, the crew sprung into action. Beard has caught and released hundreds of sharks over his decades on the water targeting them, and the rest of the crew was also experienced. They released the shark in about a minute.
“It’s a federally protected animal, so you have to release it as fast as possible,” Beard told the Island Free Press. “You can’t be scared of the fish. It’s definitely fishing at the next level, so you have to know what you’re doing, or learn from people who know what they’re doing.”
The crew typically tags the sharks they catch so they can be tracked by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but they didn’t attempt it with the big white. Great whites are a protected species, so they prioritized a speedy and safe release. They felt they would have needed to pull the shark up on the beach to safely tag it, and were worried it would take too long to get it back in the ocean. Plus, there’s the logistics of trying to move a 1,200 pound animal.
So, they cut the hook, and spun it toward deeper water. The shark swam off, and is presumably making its way down the Hatteras shoreline. Though they can’t be sure, the group of anglers believes this may be the first great white caught on the island. Even if it isn’t, the size might make it the biggest. It certainly was the catch of a lifetime for the anglers.
