Overview
- Manatee County marine deputies Eddie Hernandez and Alan Judy spotted a dorsal fin near a crab trap buoy while patrolling off Bradenton Beach.
- They observed fishing line coming from the shark’s lower jaw and determined it was entangled with a trap, then opted against a risky hands-on attempt.
- Mote Marine Laboratory responders were summoned and removed three to four embedded hooks, identifying the animal as a sandbar shark.
- After the procedure, deputies watched the shark swim off; they later said it had appeared exhausted and might have died without timely help.
- Officials advise cutting the leader close to the hook and keeping hooked sharks in the water, avoiding stainless steel hooks, and reporting distressed marine animals to FWC Wildlife Alert (888-404-3922) or Mote’s stranding line (888-345-2335).