Huge bull shark caught from shore in Florida

The Bradenton Herald reported a bull shark of record proportions was caught by a local angler fishing from shore at Virginia Key, near Miami, on Feb. 12. The bull was 9 1/2-feet long with a 55-inch girth and estimated at 550 to 600 pounds by Michael Hengle (22) before he released it with the aid of beachgoers. The state record is 517 pounds, but that requires actual weighing on a certified scale.

The angler used a kayak to drop a 20-pound “bonito’ (little tunny) 400 yards offshore, and fought it from shore on big game tackle.

A gale warning is up from Friday morning to evening. The forecast is for southwest winds at 20-25 knots plus gusts to 35. Rain is likely in the evening and after midnight.

Nick Honachefsky has a Saltwater Underground presentation, A Tale of Two Tunas on the Sportsman Channel at 10:30 a.m. Friday. That features both daytime jigging and night chunking in the canyons.

The Mimi VI from Point Pleasant is taking reservations for a limited President’s Day blackfish trip which departs at 6:30 a.m. Friday. All baits are included in the fare. Call 732 370-8019.