Long Island Fisherman Catches Shark

SHIRLEY, NY – A Long Island fisherman reeled in a large fish Friday evening. A shark, to be exact.

The big catch was made at Smith Point Outer Beach in Shirley. Now, the photos, which you can see below, can be a little jarring when you think, "Hey wait, don't I swim in that water?" and "Wow, that shark sure does have a lot of sharp teeth."

But the sand tiger shark is actually nicer than it looks and is only aggressive toward humans if provoked.

The sand tiger shark is also listed as a "species of concern" by the National Marine Fisheries Service and any shark caught must be released back into the water.

RELATED: Long Island a Possible 'Breeding Ground' For Great White Sharks, Experts Say

As photos of the Smith Point shark made the rounds on social media, some expressed concerns about its fate. But Patch can confirm the shark was released alive back into the ocean.

Sand tiger sharks, which can grow up to 10 feet long are actually quite common this time of year off Long Island. There's a sand tiger shark nursery in the Great South Bay. Yes, for real. Read all about it here.

“Sand tiger shark pups are not born here but migrate from down south to spend the summers as juveniles in New York’s coastal waters,” said Merry Camhi, director of the New York Seascape program.

Oh, and here's the photos you were looking for:

Main photo by Robert Lepre