A fisherman in the Florida Keys was nearly knocked out of his canoe by a bull shark.
Matthew Rosenquist was participating in the 7th Annual Point Break Shark Fishing Trip when he hooked a large bull shark.
The UW-Stevens Point student hooked the shark on his first cast of the first day of the trip on March 15, 2015.
When the shark was brought to the surface it fought hard, bumping into the canoe and nearly spilling the occupants into the ocean.
After the hit, another group came to assist Rosenquist, by helping to steady the canoe and they are finally able to see the shark, which they believe is 9 to 10 feet long.
Once the shark is brought up to the surface a second time, it bumps the canoe so hard that even with two canoes Mr. Rosenquist’s companion nearly tumbles into the water.
Mr. Rosenquist was shocked at the size of the shark saying “This is the craziest fish fight of my life.”
Another 20 minutes pass before the shark is brought up a third time and smashes into both canoes.
At this point the guys debate whether to cut the line with the shark out or try to pull it in closer and then cut the fishing line. The more line left hanging from the hook, increases the chance the shark could become entangled on a reef or other object. If the line were to wrap around a rock and the shark unable to break free, it could die from exhaustion or starvation.
After an hour of trying to tire the shark out, the group calls on a third canoe to create additional drag on the shark.
The bull shark drug all three canoes into water that was around 20 to 30 feet deep and the fisherman decided to pull the line one last time, to see if either the shark would come up or the line break.
Rosenquist was tired and passed the rod off to another fisherman and who pulled hard and the line snapped.
The bull shark did surface one last time, approximately 15 feet away from the boat and then disappeared.
