Great White Shark caught off La Jolla

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.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Great
• White
• Shark
• caught
• off
• La
• Jolla

[KIDJAYSTAR123]

wo



[cdmadison08]

@JJF10101957 great whites are born 3-4 times the size of that 6-7fter? so they come out at 24ft? HAHAHAHAHAHA more like 2.5-3ft

[mybluebelly]

Stuff it and you`ve got yourself a teddybear with a bite!

[curtgowdysharkhunter]

@JJF10101957 no there not they are born at 4 feet long

[Holyworms]

@nowhinerbabies *gulp*

[nowhinerbabies]

@Holyworms no man, that's down in San Diego. But truth is if you spend any good amount of time in the ocean surfing or whatever you've probably been much closer to a shark or two than you realize. I'm more concerned about stepping on a ray in the shallows...my buddy did and I've never seen him in that kind of pain!

[toreymusha]

haha glad he got to plug his product.

[Holyworms]

WOW! wait so this is in ventura county?!?!?! i know im not going in our beaches o.o

[IBLOWN]

Thats nothing. I caught a goldfish once.

[MrSlipknot52123]

fer-sher!!