A SHARK wrangler caught people’s attention this week when a photo emerged of him with a 12-foot hammerhead shark on a beach — but the fish wasn’t the only star of the image.
Elliot Sudal caught two hammerhead sharks in Sanibel, Florida, over the weekend, with one measuring up to 12 feet (3.6m).
Sanibel-Captiva Islander posted snaps of Sudal with his massive catch, and said the sharks were tagged with research data and safely released back into the ocean.
“It’s the biggest thing you could possibly catch off the beach,” Sudal told WINK News.
“I mean, these things are strong. They are good fighters, you’ve got big reels, big hooks… it’s exciting.”
The post received more than 570 reactions and nearly 200 comments, with many users pointing out they hadn’t even noticed the shark due to Sudal’s buff physique, which appeared to be the main attraction.
“Who’s looking at the shark here?” one woman questioned.
Another woman wrote: “I didn’t even notice the shark in the pic… anyone else?”
“I’m not sure what’s more impressive, the shark or that guy’s abs?!?” one added.
“ABSolutely the best looking shark I’ve ever seen at the beach,” another person joked.
Turns out, this isn’t the only impressive catch Sudal has made.
The wrangler, who works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has been a shark hunter for the last four years.
He has caught and released more than 500 sharks, according to WINK News.
The 12-foot hammerhead Sudal caught over the weekend was named after his Instagram account, “AckSharks,” which itself is filled with videos and photos of his impressive catches.
Sudal also caught Vice President Pence’s attention last April, while he was shark hunting on Sanibel Island.
He was trying to reel in a 500-pound “mystery creature” when Secret Service agents swarmed the catch site.
Pence and his family later showed up for a relaxing day on the beach, which he shared in a Facebook post. Pence joined Sudal and watched him catch a 13-foot smalltooth sawfish.
Though many shy away from sharks, Sudal told the news site he wants to raise awareness of the fish.
“Finding out how they are moving and why, depending on water quality, temperature, climate change, things like that,” he said, referring to his love for the job.
Let’s face it, with posts like this he’s doing the right thing to draw more attention to his work.
