Two Florida cousins say they caught an 805-pound mako shark off the coast of Florida last week—and they'll also have a world record if the number is verified, reports the Pensacola News Journal. Earnie and Joey Polk say they hooked the 11-footer from land on an undisclosed Gulf Coast beach late at night. A photo of Joey gassing up with the shark in the bed of his pickup went viral, notes the newspaper. (Click on the News Journal link to see the image.)
The Polks are experienced shark fishermen and release most of the sharks they catch after tagging them for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But they kept the monster mako, which they shared with family and friends. Just how experienced are they? Outdoor Life notes that the pair currently have three world records from the International Land-Based Shark Fishing Association. Earnie Polk, in fact, is the current holder of the mako record, a mere 684-pounder caught in 2009. (More mako shark stories.)
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