A Florida fisherman is sharing details about an unforgettable day for him when he made a jaw-dropping catch and release off a Florida beach.
While fishing off the coast of Amelia Island near Jacksonville, veteran shark fisherman Alberto Vanegas made the catch of a lifetime.
The sound of something biting his bait was a welcome sound for him, and he started reeling it in.
After a half-hour battle, Vanegas found out that at the end of his line was a great white shark measuring at least nine feet long. He hauled the marine predator onto the beach to confirm his catch.
Vanegas said that in his 15 years of shark fishing, he never dreamed he would hook an elusive great white shark.
“I feel completely honored, completely blessed that I had the opportunity. It’s right place, right time,” he said.
He snapped a few photos of the shark, now dubbed “Jaws,” for proof.
Knowing the great white is a protected species, he quickly returned it to the ocean.
Vanegas now hopes his thrilling experience will help the scientific community better protect the critically endangered species.