13-Year-Old Hauls In 200-Pound Shark On Long Beach Island [VIDEO]

Joe Mandile knew his little boy Gianni was a born fisherman by the time he was three.

As he grew, Gianni spent countless hours sport fishing with his father at the beach and in freshwater lakes. He loves it. He is a tireless fisherman.

Gianni, 13, proved that earlier this week on the beach in the Holgate section of Long Beach Township. After a half-an-hour struggle, Gianni hauled in a 200-pound shark.

Ninety-pound Gianni knows that the secret to landing a big fish is letting the fish do the work. You let the line go slack and let the fish keep thrashing, until it tires, Mandile said.

Gianni was able to see the fish was a shark even before he landed it, his father said.

"Dad, it has to be a big shark!" the boy yelled to his father.

The family has a "catch and release" policy, which means once the fish is out of the water, they immediately remove the hook, quickly take some pictures, then release it, Mandile said.

The joy of sport fishing is the challenge of hooking a big one, being out in nature and being together, he said.

Although the family spends much of the summer on Long Beach Island, Mandile works up in North Jersey during the week. He was glad he got to see Gianni's big catch.

Photo and footage courtesy of Joe Mandile