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New world record fish: largest shark caught and released

National Geographic's Expidition Great White will show footage of the largest fish ever caught.
National Geographic's Expidition Great White will show footage of the largest fish ever caught.
Photo credit: 
National Geographic

Recently, the largest fish ever caught was landed by angler and television producer Chris Fischer and his crew around Guadalupe Island off of the coast of Baja California, Mexico. This great white shark was estimated to be around 4,600 lbs, and was 16 feet 7 inches long.

Although conventional tackle was not used exclusively to land this fish (as air buoys reminiscent of those in Jaws were used to tire the fish, (and tiring any large fish quickly is an imperative part of making sure that it does not work itself to death), it was still a major fishing feat. The largest fish caught in history was not netted, but rather caught using a chunk of tuna as bait.

The fishing expedition during which this particular great white (this particular largest fish ever caught and released) was caught had a scientific orientation. It was a great white shark research trip. Every fish caught was examined and DNA samples were extracted from each major specimen (three of which were over the two ton mark), so that more can be known about great white sharks and why they are declining. The largest fish caught in history was tagged before its safe release.

Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are among the world's largest predatory animals, and are usually comparable in size to large blue marlin and bluefin tuna. But the 4,600 lb specimen and its two similarly sized comrades were a little bit larger than any other fish yet caught.

The fishing expidition was sponsored by National Geographic, and detailed footage of the monster fish's capture will air in a show called Expedition Great White that is part of Nat Geo's Expidition Week. Check out this short video of the largest fish ever caught.

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, Raleigh Fishing Examiner

Tom Wyatt is a freelance writer based in Southeastern North Carolina. He grew up fishing in freshwater in Virginia, but has traveled extensively to saltwater destinations as well, and he is also an accomplished fly fisher. After graduating from the University of Michigan last year, Tom set up in...

Comments

  • Sharks First 2 years ago

    You also have to know these guys seriously damage a shark recently at the Farallone islands leaving 60% of the worlds largest circle hook embedded in the sharks throat.

    If this is what it takes to get yourself in the record books we have to say no.

  • barnold 2 years ago

    screw fischer and his crew--these guys are amateurs, they are harming the sharks by catching them in this manner. i will not support them or any tv program that does!!!

  • Joe 1 year ago

    Shut up. Fisher is doing something that nobody else has the balls to do. Catch and release Great White Sharks. Leaving a hook in a big fish is much better than going out and senslessly killing these giant sharks, which has been done since the 40s and still is happening. Fisher and his team are trying to do somethig that has never been done before. In the name of science keep doing what your doing. Fisher you and your team are awesome!!!!!!

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