The one that didn't get away
When
"the boys" gather at the local watering hole to swap fish tales, Parrsboro
resident Chris Brown is going to have a whopper to tell about the one that didn't
get away.Local fisherman nets
Porbeagle shark:
The one that didn't get away
When
"the boys" gather at the local watering hole to swap fish tales, Parrsboro
resident Chris Brown is going to have a whopper to tell about the one that didn't
get away.
During a recent trip to check his herring net the hobby fisherman got the surprise of his life when he discovered he'd caught much more than he was expecting. Thrashing around in the net was a huge Porbeagle shark.
"I certainly was surprised. When you see something that big in a small herring net on the beach - I never expected anything like that. It's the biggest one I've ever seen," Brown commented.
Measuring about eight and a half feet long and weighing just under 300 lbs the shark is well above the average size of between six and six and a half feet for this species.
Unfortunately, the shark died before Brown had a chance to release it but he may actually be able to make use of the carcass after all.
According to shark expect Steve Campana of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Porbeagle is actually a very nice shark to eat.
So, in a humorous twist this particular shark may end up as supper for Chris and his friends.
Although definitely on the large size for a Porbeagle, Campana indicated the shark isn't quite the record. However, as big as it is, Campana says there is no need for alarm as the Porbeagle is strictly a fish-eating shark, feeding mainly on herring and mackerel. Proof of this is the shark's teeth which are narrow and point back into the mouth to allow fish to be pulled in, rather than bitten into pieces.
"The Porbeagle is almost purely a fish eater. You would never find a seal in it (the shark's stomach)."
In fact, Campana indicated despite last year's well-publicized attack on a Digby Neck sea urchin diver, the Porbeagle is a very shy animal and much more likely to swim quickly away from a person before the individual knows it's there. (the shark grabbed the diver's urchin bag and attempted to swim away with it; the diver was shaken but uninjured).
"It
would normally scare one off if somebody got into the water with it," he
said adding the Porbeagle is designed for speed and would swim away very quickly.
As for the incident in Digby Neck, Campana says there should be no fear of this happening to anyone else as it was a highly unusual event.
"This kind of thing (approaching a human) is rare for the Porbeagle shark, it's almost unheard of. It's the first time I've heard of something like this," Campana commented.
The scientist pointed out, "These are not one of your dangerous sharks. I wouldn't hesitate to jump right in the water with one (a Porbeagle)."
He added in fact he's looking forward to doing just that in an attempt to photograph the species.
Despite the close proximity to shore where Brown netted his shark, Campana says that this doesn't necessarily mean these sharks are always found close to shore.
In fact, where they are found depends on the water temperature. If the water is warm the fish congregate closer to shore and the sharks follow, sometimes in schools. If the water stays cool the fish and sharks will stay in deeper water.
So, if the weather is hot next summer, it's possible Chris could find other hapless Porbeagles in his herring net. And, if he does Campana has some tasty advice for him.
"They're good eating on the the barbecue."
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