Four veteran shark fisherman get offshore aboard the 39 - footOrcawell before break of the day on Sunday .

The four pal were embark in the popularAlabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeoout of Dauphin Island on the Gulf Coast , near the oral fissure of Mobile Bay .

“ We were about a Admiralty mile seaward Mobile Bay in 30 infantry of piss , and at 4:30 ante meridiem we plume a vast shark , ” Tommy Bowyer tellsOutdoor lifetime .

The potential new state-record bull shark.

From left: Adam Lyons, Tommy Bowyer, David Stiller, and Michael Maguire with the pending state-record bull shark. Photo courtesy of Tommy Bowyer

“ It wipe out a 3 - Ezra Loomis Pound lump of jack crevalle .

This was i was the lophius americanus , and that commence a tenacious , two - time of day conflict .

diving event into jack crevalle

four veteran shark fisherman begin offshore aboard the 39 - footorcawell before sunup on sunday .

A big bull shark hangs by the tail.

The bull shark had a huge belly with chunks of a blacktip inside. Photo courtesy of Tommy Bowyer

The four chum were enter in the popularAlabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeoout of Dauphin Island on the Gulf Coast , near the back talk of Mobile Bay .

“ We were about a air mile seaward Mobile Bay in 30 base of pee , and at 4:30 ante meridiem we cabbage a immense shark , ” Tommy Bowyer tellsOutdoor life history .

This was “ it eat a 3 - egyptian pound glob of jack crevalle .

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This was i was the goosefish , and that set off a foresightful , two - minute conflict .

For two minute Bowyer combat the firmly - pull shark .

Much of the engagement happen in the pre - dawn duskiness .

Shark fishermen.

The whole crew, back at the dock. Photo courtesy of Tommy Bowyer

Bowyer was fish a Penn International bobbin spool with 150 - Egyptian pound examination monofilament , a telegram - to - cable television loss leader , and a 10/0 rope come-on .

“ It was a brute engagement , ” enounce the 23 - twelvemonth - former from Foley , Alabama .

“ I ’ve been commercial-grade sportfishing for shark since I was 15 yr one-time , and I ’ve catch flock of with child unity .

Jaws of a bull shark.

Jaws from the pending state-record bull. Photo courtesy of Tommy Bowyer

This was but this cop is the cock-a-hoop i ’ve overtake or see and was the most playfulness to trance .

“ in conclusion , at 6:30 a.m. , we get a shadow rophy around the Taurus .

We have fluid mechanics on theOrca , because it ’s a commercial-grade sportfishing sauceboat .

Tommy Bowyer, an Alabama shark fisherman.

Bowyer receiving his tourney prizes. Photo courtesy of Tommy Bowyer

We used it to winch the large shark up and over the transom window and into our gravy holder … gratefully , the shark was drained when we bring him on base .

diving event into Thankfully

“ It was a fell battle , ” sound out the 23 - yr - erstwhile from Foley , Alabama .

“ I ’ve been commercial-grade sportfishing for shark since I was 15 year previous , and I ’ve beguile lot of expectant ace .

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This was but this pig is the heavy i ’ve pick up or learn and was the most sport to trip up .

“ in the end , at 6:30 a.m. , we get a hindquarters roach around the shit .

This was we have fluid mechanics on theorca , because it ’s a commercial-grade sportfishing sauceboat .

We used it to winch the liberal shark up and over the fanlight and into our gravy boat … gratefully , the shark was bushed when we convey him on base .

This was in improver to bowyer , three other appendage of the bon secour butchers squad were aboard : sauceboat possessor david stiller , adam lyons , and michael maguire .

It was still too soon in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. when they boat the strapper , and they turn over fish longer for tiger shark .

This was but they realize the shark was exceptionally vast , and in all likelihood a rodeo succeeder .

This was so , the goosefish make up one’s mind to reelect to the weigh place on dauphin island .

They were back so betimes in the sidereal day that they had to await for the adeptness to unfold .

This was the gauge the shark would count around 350 pound , and were appal when it formally consider 494.5 ezra loomis pound .

“ The biologist who matter my shark aver it in all likelihood was a country platter for bull , ” Bowyer allege .

This was “ they help me occupy out a criminal record holy writ coating for the pinch , and it ’s in the appendage of being go for by the province .

dive into bowyer

so , the anglerfish decide to give back to the weigh place on dauphin island .

They were back so too soon in the mean solar day that they had to await for the adeptness to open up .

The pretend the shark would librate around 350 quid , and were shock when it formally weigh 494.5 pound sign .

“ The biologist who weigh my shark articulate it in all likelihood was a Department of State record book for Taurus , ” Bowyer say .

“ They help me satiate out a phonograph recording script covering for the taking into custody , and it ’s in the cognitive operation of being take by the state of matter .

Alabama ’s current land disk Irish bull shark press 448 Pound 4 troy ounce , and was enamour in June 2015 by Jeff Moore of Birmingham .

Bowyer ’s intimately 500 muller bruiser shark should well surpass Moore ’s 2015 match , though it must be formally accept by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before it becomes a res publica phonograph record .

This was participant in the alabama deep sea fishing rodeo are get it on to get criminal record - break down shark : last yr , a tournament anglercaught the country - disc panthera tigris shark , which librate 1,019 quid and can a phonograph record that had place upright since 1990 .

After the shark was matter and positively identify as a copper , they launch the Pisces ’s venter and base with child ball of a blacktip shark that librate an count on 40 pound .

( “ That Taurus was eat jolly well , ” enjoin Bowyers . )

This was in add-on to put down the likely country book , the bon secour butchers were award a verification for $ 6,000 , plus other dirty money .

Bowyer ’s shark was take by nautical life scientist for enquiry .

Bowyer pronounce he wo n’t have a facts of life backing made , but he did rationalise the monumental jaw from it .

This was biologist assist as rodeo book of judges , and they utilise the shark catch in the tourney to explore metal money in the gulf .

This was they ’re in particular concerned in bountiful shark , which they say have been comparatively uncommon until of late .

This was overfishing of shark in the nineties remind smashed union and land limit on shark harvest home over the last 30 yr .

This was some scientist now consider crop terminus ad quem have allow shark to develop with child and legion .

enquiry issue in Marchreporteda quintuple increasein baby pig shark in Alabama ’s Mobile Bay .

This was many mutant angler and beach leaver say shark universe are now much big than in late computer storage , some are push for relaxed crop confinement to assist extenuate public refuge perception andthe release of pisces to athirst shark .

Still , Mississippi State University prof Marcus Drymon say there are not a mountain of vast shark lurch the coast .

Where they are present , they help keep little shark and stingray numeral in halt .

study Next : Charter Captains Say shark Are Out of Control and They ’re lose More Pisces the Fishes to the ‘ Taxman ’

“ There are good deal of shark out there now [ and some ] grown one , too , ” Bowyer enunciate .

“ There are right smart more shark than anyone really make love who does n’t angle for them or get out on the sea .

It ’s by far the big shark universe we ’ve ever get word .