An estimated 560-pound, 10-foot bull shark was caught off the coast of Alabama in early May.
Apex Shark Fishing Charters' Captain David Stiller reeled in the monster shark, which would have broken a state record if it had not been caught on commercial gear, Outdoor Life reported.
Stiller caught a state-record bull shark in 2024. That shark weighed 495.5 pounds.
The shark caught on May 2 was pregnant, and samples were taken for lab research processing. Typically, the company does not keep the larger sharks, but they had a permit from a lab for a large, mature female shark, so they said the timing was perfect.
Apex Shark Fishing Charters, out of Orange Beach, has responded to criticism from environmental groups and animal rights activists.
Environmental Seychelles shared a post, saying the real sea monster is Stiller.
Apex responded, "First time in a long time we've ever agreed with some tree huggers. Ole Sea Monster Capt Dave!!"
According to the National Shark Federation, bull sharks feed on other sharks, including other bull sharks. Apex Shark Fishing Charters said they knew there was a large shark in the area when they saw pieces of other sharks nearby. An act they call "shark on shark crime."
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