Great White Shark Released By Fishing Crew: Fish Tale

Ocean City, MD — A 7-foot-long great white shark – a baby in shark circles – was caught and released last week by a fishing boat offshore from Ocean City.

Crew members with Over-Board Fishing of Ocean City say the shark was caught Saturday about 11 miles off the coast. They estimate the immature shark weighed 150 pounds, so it was likely not an adult.

John French, a deckhand on the boat the Over-Board, told Patch the shark was identified boatside and released after a few photos. The shark was caught on a mackerel while the boat was fishing for thresher sharks.

While it was the first time French has landed a great white, it’s the second such encounter for captain Dustin Lorah.

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One Facebook fan of the charter fishing company asked if the shark was the famous great white shark “Mary Lee,” a whopping 3,456-pounder. Scientists with OCEARCH tagged that shark Sept. 17, 2012 off Cape Cod to study her habits using a device that sends pings to a satellite.

Mary Lee was tracked off of Assateague Island and Ocean City last summer.

One person said of French’s close encounter: “That’s why I don’t get in the water.” And another social media commenter said they would give up ocean swims after this.

Readers also thanked the boat crew for releasing the shark so it could mature.

SEE ALSO:

• Shark Week 2016 Schedule: 'Deadliest Shark,' 'Sharksanity' and Much More

"Shark Week," television’s longest-running and most anticipated summer event, returns to the Bethesda-based Discovery Channel from Sunday, June 26 to Sunday, July 3.

For more details about Shark Week, visit Discovery Channel’s website.

Shark Safety Tips

NOAA says that the risk of a shark attack is very small, and attacks are most likely near shore if a shark is trapped by a low tide or in a feeding area where sharks gather.

To reduce the risk of a shark attack:

• Don’t swim too far from shore
• Stay in groups – sharks are more likely to attack a solitary person
• Avoid being in the water during darkness or twilight when sharks are most active
• Don’t go in the water if bleeding from a wound – sharks have an acute sense of smell
• Don’t wear shiny jewelry in the water – the reflected light resembles fish scales
• Avoid brightly colored swimwear – sharks see contrast particularly well

»Photos of great white shark used with permission of John French with Over-Board Fishing