Politics
Incredible moment shark gets EATEN by massive fish in shocking video
THIS is the incredible moment a shark gets eaten by a massive fish in a shocking video.
Fishing captain John Brossard and his crew had sailed out of the US city of Goodland, Florida, when they witnessed the incident.
Pen News/John BrossardThe prey was a blacknose shark[/caption]
Pen News/John BrossardAn Atlantic Goliath Grouper ate the shark as fishermen watched in disbelief[/caption]
Mr Brossard said they were stunned when the blacknose shark they hooked was swallowed in one bite by a bigger fish.
The captain then watched in disbelief as the Atlantic Goliath Grouper swam off with their catch.
Recalling the experience, he said: “Basically we were shark fishing when all of a sudden two or three goliath groupers started hanging out under the boat waiting for our catch to come in.
“We were just thinking ‘wow, unbelievable! Something is going to eat a shark and it’s bigger than a shark.’
“We were very surprised. Basically it ate the shark, and took down and broke the line.
“We were using a 50-pound test line and that was not enough.”
Mr Brossard said the prey was a blacknose shark, estimated to be three feet in length.
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The grouper, meanwhile, weighed some 500lbs, he believes.
He added that they were fishing in a place that could be dangerous even to the most fearsome predators.
The 57-year-old explained: “Where we were fishing is basically the Florida Everglades.
“There are sharks, alligators, crocodiles, pythons, dolphins and manatees all in one place.
“It’s the only place in the world that has all these creatures in one place and everything there tries to eat everything else.
“Bull sharks have been seen getting eaten by crocodiles and alligators sometimes, and sharks also get eaten by bigger fish there.”
Goliath Grouper facts
The Goliath Grouper is a large saltwater fish that can reach extremely large sizes, growing to lengths of 8.2 ft and weighing as much as 800 lbs.
It has a broad head, round tail, small eyes, and short dorsal spines.
It colour is usually mottled brownish-yellow, although some may appear gray or olive, according to American Oceans.
Atlantic Goliath Groupers prefer shallow warm waters where there are artificial or coral reefs – such as around the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico.
Their main food source are crustaceans such as shrimp, crab, and spiny lobsters.
Groupers also eat other species including parrotfishes and stingrays, young sea turtles, and octopuses.
Large groupers may feast on barracudas and sharks.
The Goliath Grouper is protected from harvest in the United States and is recognised by the World Conservation Union as a critically endangered species, Florida State University explains.
Because they are so large, they do not have many predators, apart from king mackerel, barracuda, moray eels and sharks such as the sandbar and great hammerhead.
The species has also been threatened by climate change and global warming also because as the ocean becomes warmer, more harmful bacteria, pathogens and parasites grow.
He added: “Where we fish it is pretty wild. That’s the reason we fish there – and what we like to catch is big fish.
“They are all predators in the Everglades. You don’t wanna get lost there and have to walk or swim home.”
The encounter has also left John, who runs Shark Chaser Charters, pondering whether sharks deserve their terrifying reputation.
He said: “Do they deserve all the hype?
“I think sometimes yes and sometimes no, but most of the time no.
“Of course, if you get in their way, in their territory and the water is dirty, yes, they will taste you to see if you are good eating.”
Pen News/John BrossardJohn Brossard said he and his crew were stunned when the grouper ate the shark[/caption]
Pen News/John BrossardThe grouper dragged the shark underwater and swam away[/caption]
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