Charter boat catches great white shark one mile off Long Branch

Charter boat catches great white shark one mile off Long Branch details an accidental encounter involving a great white shark near New Jersey. A charter fishing party on the 70-foot Skylarker—docked at Belmar Marina—hooked and released the shark on Friday morning, about one mile offshore from the Elberon section of Long Branch. Captain Steve Spinelli said the event occurred at 10 a.m. while the crew drifted for summer flounder (fluke). The shark bit the bait set by Bill Shay of the John Miller party; Shay used 20-pound test line meant for smaller fish. Spinelli estimated the shark at 6 to 7 feet and a few hundred pounds, and said it did not appear to fight. The team worked quickly to free the hook as it swam away on its own power, with OCEARCH tagging in the region referenced.