Big Ass Shark!

April 24, 2005 3:42 AM

Giant Mako Shark Video
On Friday some fishheads in Pensacola, FL, cruising only 300 yards off the beach came up on a 10' mako shark that happened to be munching on what might have been (before it got munched) a world record tarpon. The video is almost 8 min. long and there are some good shots of the shark near the boat. It is also rich in loud, NSFW language. BTW, the mako is the only shark known to jump when hooked.
posted by wsg (27 comments total)

Oops...state record tarpon, not world...
posted by wsg at 3:46 AM on April 24, 2005

thank god for humans! without them, who else would capture, kill, eat, and sell souvenirs of this fish munching death machine?
posted by moonbird at 4:14 AM on April 24, 2005

Dude, that's bigger than a 50-pound toper, dude!
posted by schroedinger at 6:18 AM on April 24, 2005

I'm glad the "special" class had such an exciting boat ride. When they got back to the state run school did they all color pictures of what they saw?
posted by acetonic at 6:22 AM on April 24, 2005

Certainly not the most articulate collection of gentlemen. Perhaps someone could assemble a cursing-only version. mondo fuckin' toby dude.

That is a big fish though.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 7:17 AM on April 24, 2005

So a bunch of idiots are celebrating catching a dead fish. Is that right?
posted by dobbs at 7:32 AM on April 24, 2005

So, is that really "Behind Blue Eyes" playing in the backround at the beginning there, or am I wrong?
posted by queen zixi at 7:39 AM on April 24, 2005

Nice to know not much has changed in sixty years. More on Mako sharks here.

Thresher sharks are also know as great leapers, though sadly their populations, like many shark species, are declining worldwide.
posted by piskycritter at 8:01 AM on April 24, 2005

Okay.... first: I can't believe I watched that whole goddamn thing. Second -- it was only that last 20 seconds that made me realize wtf was going on. I thought it was just 8 minutes of "G'on, Jeremy, POKE HIM! Get'im! Go'on POKE THAT BITCH!" I didn't realize they were trying to wrestle the fish from the shark.
posted by Hankins at 8:14 AM on April 24, 2005

Speaking of declining shark populations, The Shark Trust seems to be a pretty interesting organization that promotes the conservation of sharks.
posted by Staggering Jack at 8:36 AM on April 24, 2005

Sorry off Montauk Point we routinely caught 8' makos, so I hardly think a 10' one is "giant" except in the eyes of dumbass Floridian trailer hogs.
posted by Reverend Mykeru at 9:49 AM on April 24, 2005

Rev. Mykeru, you are quick to jump to the personal attack, eh? Your motto at your website says all I need to know about you: "Serenity Through Viciousness." I'll take a "dumbass Floridian trailer hog" over a vicious, New Yorker any day.
posted by wsg at 10:08 AM on April 24, 2005

Oh god - what a terrifying snapshot of humanity. We're not really like that, are we... dude?

(btw, why is it considered protocol to warn readers about bad language, but not about crushingly Neanderthal behavior - in this case is the behavior not more offensive than the language? ;-)
posted by forallmankind at 10:08 AM on April 24, 2005

I love how rednecks feel the need to kill anything that is perceived to be more powerful than them.
posted by borkingchikapa at 10:19 AM on April 24, 2005

He was an old shark who fished alone in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eight-four days now without taking a fish.
posted by miniape at 10:25 AM on April 24, 2005

They didn't try to kill it, borkingchikapa, but you got the redneck part right.
posted by wsg at 10:38 AM on April 24, 2005

See, I thought the whole thing was funny. A bunch of guys are trying to catch a fish, they come on a big shark, they try to wrestle the fish from the shark, they're excited and swearing. I'm sure they never expected to be under the scrutiny of the elite of Metafilter for their vernacular.

Perhaps it would have been more pleasing if instead of "Dude, that's a fucking big shark" the encounter had gone like this:

"Why, my good sir, I daresay that is the largest specimen of Isurus oxyrinchus I have ever seen."

"Quite right, old chap. My! He is attempting to wrest this fine example of Megalops atlanticus from my control! Whatever shall I do?"

"Might I offer my assistance?"

"Certainly, I would be glad to accept your kind offer."

"Then may I suggest you pull hard upon your line, and I shall attempt to distract our competitor with my cane. Have at it, you dastardly creature!"

Delicately pokes side of mako shark.
Shark gives the man a reproachful look.

"Many apologies, good chap, it's all part of the business. Have a cup of tea with us, won't you?"

The shark and men stop to sip some freshly brewed Earl Gray, munch on biscuits, and discuss politics and cricket. After such enjoyable pleasantries the shark thanks them for the company and gladly gives up the tarpon for their inspection.
posted by schroedinger at 11:03 AM on April 24, 2005

schroedinger, that is priceless -- thank you. And re: sharks -- damn. Amazing creatures.
posted by davidmsc at 11:11 AM on April 24, 2005

Have none of you ever been on a boat all day drinking cheap beer? It isn't a situation which lends itself to intellectual discourse - I thought these guys sounded normal. Hell, I can natter on in multisyllabic prose myself but if I saw a shark that big after consuming mass quantities of Anheuser-Busch products I can guarantee you that I would say "Holy shit dude! That is one fucking big shark!" I might even scream some.

Actually, I'm kind of impressed that they didn't try to kill it.

on preview, what schroedinger said.
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:14 AM on April 24, 2005

And people say we aren't evolved from apes...
posted by AspectRatio at 11:41 AM on April 24, 2005

Omg, that poor shark!!!!

somebody call a whaaambulance.
posted by delmoi at 11:43 AM on April 24, 2005

mygothlaundry : "Actually, I'm kind of impressed that they didn't try to kill it."

But they did try to kill it.

After the initial shock of their discovery wore off, the crew decided the only way to catch the shark was to steal its meal.
...
With a bit of quick thinking and a sharp knife, Jeremy Cox cut a piece of the tarpon and rigged it to a 50-wide Shimano TLD 2-speed.

While Cox was readying his rig, the rest of the crew was pitching northern mackerel overboard to keep the shark interested.

Still missing its lunch, the shark was more than eager to make a meal of J.D. Cox's offering.

Fighting a shark in the 1,200-pound range with nothing but 280-pound test line and adrenaline is no easy task.

Redman and the crew chased the shark as it peeled yard after yard of line off the reel and finally, after a 45-minute struggle, it was over.

Hungry and more than a little frazzled, the shark broke free and headed for open water.

posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 12:50 PM on April 24, 2005

It is obvious that Schroedinger should be in a position of authority in the countr - er - galaxy. Teach us all how to live. Even the sharks among us.
posted by Cranberry at 12:53 PM on April 24, 2005

I agree with Dobbs. There is a way to catch a fish humanely and with dignity. The men it that video, however, represent a poor image for the majority of fishers out there. I've been fishing since I was a child and my father always taught me not to be a dick out on the water. I bet those guys were on some "boys weekend away" and had no idea how to act appropriately (fuelled by a few beers and what not). But then again they probably wouldn't care about their behaviour. I'm assuming that they paid quite a hefty sum for the right to act like morons and from what I saw of that video they surely look like they got their money's worth. Would have loved for one of them to fall over the boat's side, though. That would have made a way better video.
posted by sjvilla79 at 5:22 PM on April 24, 2005

Yep. I kept thinking, I hope the money shot is the shark taking a bite out of one of these dickheads. Oh, well.
posted by apis mellifera at 5:32 PM on April 24, 2005

So this is Redneck behavior and something to be embarrassed about but The Old Man and the Sea is a classic?

I smell hypocrisy.
posted by Dagobert at 2:40 AM on April 25, 2005

Okay.... first: I can't believe I watched that whole goddamn thing. Second -- it was only that last 20 seconds that made me realize wtf was going on. I thought they were going after the shark, but all they wanted was that other dead thing.

"I'm assuming that they paid quite a hefty sum for the right to act like morons and from what I saw of that video they surely look like they got their money's worth."

I'm assuming this is why the terrorists hate us, along with the rest of the world. We 'civilized people' relish life. Spend outrageous sums of money and act like morons and treat the planet as if we inherited it. Yes it's a terrible thing. Oh these boys should be sooo punished. My ass. I think these guys should win a medal for partying. They had a great time. The shark got a work out. The big fish was gonna get eaten by the shark anyway. I say this is harmless fun. Granted, harmless fun that was just six inches away from becoming a Faces of Death video rather than an America's Funniest Home Videos moment, but harmless nonetheless. The only abuse evident here is Budweiser. Talk about babies stealing candy from a... well, an effin' SHARK. Now if they'd gotten the SHARK, that woulda been something. If they'd attempted to get the shark and ended up losing their lives or a few of them lost limbs and blood splattered all over the screen -- Now THAT woulda been something, but this was like grown adults looking like little kids who think they're as impervious as cartoon characters.

"He's goin' down dude."
"He'll come back up.."
"Snatch his ass!"
"That's bigger'n a fifty pound tope there dude."
"Let'm come back up. Let'm come back up. Let'm come back up."
"Lookit that sombitch."
"Don't snap the shark!" "Why not?"
"Snag that muther fucker."
"That's a big fuckin' cobe dude."
"Omigod, dawg!"
"Snag that fuckin' thang that's a fuckin' cobe dude!"
"Just fuckin' poke on him with the other fuckin' end of it."
"He doesn't even know he's hooked, dude."
"That might be a dolphin."
"Put some pressure on him!" "No don't!"
"Back off on 'm dude let's see if he'll get up in the air... If we can get an angle on him he'll come out of the water."
"He's on it! He's on it! He's on it! He's on it!"
"He's on the mackerel! Hold on!"
"We gots your bait muther fucker!!"
"That's fuckin' bad ass!"
"Fuckin' help me muther fucker!!!"
"God damn!"
"Put the fuckin' rod down! Help him get the fuckin' bait in the fuckin' boat!"
"He's comin' to getcha!"

You can look at that and think of ignorance. I look at that and think fun. They had fun. What's the harm in that? Personally I doubt anyone would ever catch me dead on a boat that's out chasing after sharks. I'm too mature and cowardly for my own good. I'm one of those people who try to think ahead of time what consequences my actions might cause. Hence, I rarely ever do anything wild and crazy, hence I rarely ever have wild and crazy fun. We can stand here on some prudish perch and look down our nose on those who do live life with a little gusto and a lot of stupidity, but I think that makes us look like the stupid ones. They had a great time, a memorable experience, and have a story that's all their own they can tell anyone who'll listen for the rest of their lives. Offhand, I can't think of a personal experience that matches that. Can you? If you look down at them, and can't think of an experience that matches theirs, you're envious. If you can, you're a hypocrite.
posted by ZachsMind at 7:03 PM on April 26, 2005