Great white shark caught off La Jolla by fly fisherman
A great white shark about 6 feet long and 150 pounds was caught by a fly fisherman off La Jolla last week.
It's believed to be the first great white taken off the California coast using a fly rod and reel.
Jeff Patterson, director of sales for reel manufacturer Abel Automatics, was testing company products about five miles offshore when the white shark hit.
"The grab was instantaneous, and the shark cooperated with a quick left turn to allow the proper hook set," said Patterson.
The fight lasted about 25 minutes. Patterson thought it was a mako shark until he got it close enough to the boat and skipper Conway Bowman identified it as a great white.
It is not legal in California to take great white sharks, which have been protected in all state waters since Jan. 1, 1994.
"Anglers cannot target great whites, and if caught accidentally while fishing for something else you have to immediately release them," Department of Fish and Game marine biologist Carrie Wilson said.
Patterson released the shark after taking the picture shown here.
-- Kelly Burgess
Photo courtesy of Jeff Patterson
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definitely not a great white - it is a salmon shark.
Posted by: quint | July 22, 2009 at 09:27 AM
The juvenile Great White was released with a tool invented by boat skipper Conway Bowman. It looks like a catch-and-release tool used by trout anglers, but about 100 times bigger and mounted on a pole. Conway slides the tool down the leader until he hits the artificial fly, then twists until the fly pops free. Trust me: he does not get his hands anywhere near a shark's teeth.
Yes, I believe there is a You Tube video of this amazing catch, but I have not seen it.
Posted by: The Fly Fisher | July 22, 2009 at 09:25 AM
This is a juvenile great white.
Posted by: garett gruber | July 22, 2009 at 08:27 AM
"that is a salmon shark, not a great white."
Seems to be, the teeth look to be smaller like a salmon shark's.
Posted by: Smurfy31 | July 22, 2009 at 05:59 AM
Michael,
During my conversation with DFG biologist Carrie Wilson yesterday, she mentioned that if anglers hook great whites they should just cut the lines. Also, I am not aware of a YouTube video of this. Thanks very much for reading, and commenting
Posted by: Kelly Burgess | July 21, 2009 at 02:15 PM
I wanna know how the hook was removed without damaging or loosing his hand.
Is there a you tube video?
Posted by: michael pechner | July 21, 2009 at 02:01 PM
that is a salmon shark, not a great white.
Posted by: dookie | July 21, 2009 at 11:19 AM