Hammerhead Shark Washes Up On South FL Beach: Report

POMPANO BEACH, FL — An 11-foot-long female hammerhead shark washed up on Pompano Beach Wednesday morning, surprising beachgoers who found the carcass near 12th Avenue and 14th Street, according to reports.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called in to investigate, according to CBS Miami.

A fishing line was found stuck in the shark’s gills, Hannah Medd with the American Shark Conservancy told the Miami Herald.

The fish might have been confused after a stressful encounter with fishermen, mistakenly swimming ashore Tuesday night, she said.

“It may have to do with post-release mortality, which means the species in particular gets a little stressed out when it’s caught, it fights really hard,” she told WPLG.

Medd was unsure of the shark’s age, but said the fish was likely close to adulthood, according to reports.

Constructions crews working in the area used their equipment to move the shark to a less crowded part of the beach for scientists to continue evaluating the carcass.