An angler fishing off Nantucket, Massachusetts, has shared video of a rare encounter with a great white shark, which he caught and released within seconds. Elliot Sudal, who has fished the area for 13 years, said he inadvertently hooked the shark on Sunday while 'testing the waters' at a beach he regularly uses.
The footage, posted on his Instagram account, shows Sudal reeling in the shark, hauling it from the surf by its tail, removing the hook, and returning it to the sea. 'By no means was [I] targeting that white, you can’t control what picks up your bait,' he told the Nantucket Current. He added that he released the shark in about 15 seconds, emphasising that the video demonstrates safe catch-and-release practices.
Sudal said he had never caught a great white before, despite landing over a thousand sharks of other species. The great white is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, white sharks are prohibited from being landed by fishermen, though accidental catches occur.
Describing the encounter as 'amazing', Sudal said he felt humbled by the opportunity. He urged other anglers to use appropriate heavy tackle and barbless circle hooks, and to release sharks immediately. 'Understand people are watching you, respect the animal and be safe,' he advised.
