JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The fisherman who hooked a 6-foot shark on the Jacksonville Beach pier Monday afternoon said he did not know it was illegal to fish for shark from the pier.
Police issued the fisherman a verbal warning for endangering the public. They decided not to fine him $500 for the misdemeanor.
The fisherman, who asked not to be identified, said he didn't realize he was putting people in danger by trying to reel the shark in along the shoreline filled with spring breakers. Releasing the shark led to a scare at the beaches as spring break beachgoers went scrambling when they spotted the shark -- plus one other nearby -- in shallow waters near the pier.
The fisherman said he battled the shark, which appeared to be a bull shark, for more than an hour after hooking it at the end of the pier using stingray bait. He walked more than 125 yards down from the end of the pier, tossed his reel to a friend down at the sand below and was confronted by police, who told him to release the shark because of concerns over endangering the public.
"As we get down the beach to the shore and we tried to de-hook the shark and bring it onto land, I was told by law enforcement and lifeguards to not touch the shark and let it go," the fisherman said.
He said he was hoping to sell the meat from this shark for $15.99 a pound, but instead he said he cut the line at the hook and let the biggest fish he ever caught go.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time -- to catch something of that size, and I feel that was kind of taken from me," he said.
Just before 3 p.m. Monday, a shark fin was spotted in about knee-deep water along the shore near the Jacksonville Beach pier. Another fin was spotted soon after, leading those nearby to believe more than one shark was circling in the waters.
After the initial frenzy, many people ran back into the water to get a good look and snap photos and videos with their cellphones. No injuries were reported.
Local lifeguards said some piers permit shark fishing, but Jacksonville Beach does not.
"There's always a possibility, if a shark's tired, it wouldn't take much for them to bite you," said Capt. Rob Emahiser of Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue. "There are a lot of razor sharp teeth in there, so if you do catch one, just keep a distance."
On the pier Tuesday, News4Jax spoke to other fishermen, who were also hoping to reel in a shark.
"It's the mystery, the danger of fighting that animal," fisherman Henry Hutherson said. "It excites people."
But Hutherson said he had no intentions of trying to keep the dangerous predator.
"I'd fight it all the way up until I'm worn out, or it's worn out, and then I would pull it on its string and let it go," Hutherson said.
It is legal to fish for shark by boat or on the shoreline, but the shark has to be 4½ feet or longer.