Mega Shark Tournament This Weekend
Some of the biggest fish of the season will be weighed in at this weekend’s Outcast Mega Shark Tournament which draws the biggest crowd of any fishing event in Pensacola.
Thousands of people will brave the heat and humidity to get an up-close look at some of the most-feared and least-understood creatures in the Gulf of Mexico.
Scientists from the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Mississippi will be on hand collecting data and tissue samples from the sharks that are brought in for use in ongoing studies.
“Collecting samples from some of these animals is very vital,” said Dr. Eric Hoffmayer who will lead the four-person team that will study and sample all of the sharks that are brought to the scales. “The other thing I like about this tournament is the tag-and-release category. More animals are getting tagged and hopefully will be recaught and we can learn more about their movement and growth.”
Anglers in the shark tournament are provided a tagging kit and tagging stick free of charge. During the two years of the tournament, there has been approximately 5-to-1 ratio on sharks tagged over sharks weighed in.
“We’re not a blood bath, we try to encourage the tag and release as much as possible,” Holmes said. “The scientists are there doing research, it’s something good for people to come see these sharks one on one.”
In keeping with the tradition of “giving back”, all the meat from the sharks brought in during the weekend will go to help feed the animals at the The Zoo Northwest Florida.
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This should be stopped. Doesn’t matter if the “meat” goes to the local zoo…it’s still appalling and a waste. Sharky’s my hero, too
I think it was Sharky who said that most sharks that are reeled in (at least enough to tag) use up most of their energy and die shortly after.
Is that correct?
That is what Frank Mundus says, and he has sportfished more Sharks than almost anyone.
Sharks are no different than any other fish in the ocean. People kill thousands in tournaments every year and nobody is complaining about that. Sharks are a big game spiecies and the research from these tournaments helps us learn more about them.
STOP COMPLAING!
“Thousands of Billfish”
No, you stop “complaing.”
We are discussing the tragic and ignorant sport slaughter of threatened and endangered species. You are the one that is complaining about our lack of ignorance and because we won’t accept your bloody and retarded hobby.
Oh, and people shouldn’t hunt Marlin, Sailfish, or Swordfish either.
QUIT WHINING!!!CRACKHEADS WE SHOULD BE SLAUTERING ALL DRUG DEALERS
Then where would you get all your meth?
Why does anyone wanna kill sharks? Probally learn more with the sharks alive. Why dont they have a more challenging tournament. One like you put bloody meat all over and then jump in. Whoever gets away Wins!
There ya go. Go do that.