16' to 18' Great White in Wrightsville Beach, NC

[mrossj1]

16 to 18 foot GREAT WHITE SHARK!!! 11-8-09, 1 mile off the Crystal Pier in Wrightsville Beach, NC in about 30 feet of water.

We were trolling in my 18' center console and were in a school of false albacore tuna when a VERY large fin caught our attention. Steve and I went to take a look and then this shark crossed the bow of my boat on top of the water. I pulled up along side and shadowed this shark for about 100 yards all the while shitting my pants.

Please note, this shark was the same size as my boat and about 6' across his back! I have no doubt that this is a Great White because he was on top of the water and he was no more then 5' away from me. I got an excellent view of his shape, coloring, eyes, snout and teeth.

I have never been so aware of my suroundings with every fiber in my body on edge. This is the most amazing this I have ever seen!!

Here is a link to the photo I took on my cell phone as I remembered I had it on me and as the shark started to disappear.

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/A...17269_8017269/

[FlyingCircus]

Hmmmmm nothing like being knocked off the top of the food chain.....what an awesome sight....just goes to show you never know what the ocean holds......that close to shore makes me glad I wasn't surfing.....The man in the gray suit gets a respect from me that few will.....Awesome creatures glad you got to see him.....it sucks you couldn't get better pictures.....
Tight Lines
Monty

[Cracker]

Wish I could have been there. I have never seen a Great White. It is truely amazing what kind of creatures live in the ocean and where they occasionally show up (1 mile off the beach)

[3hagooeys]

A friend of mine had one circle his boat 2 miles off of rodanthe 2 years ago.Wouldnt leave him alone,had to leave.

[Dulcecita Lures]

So glad you got to see that! We actually hooked up one on a hand line while fishing in a panga off San Jorge Island near Puerto Penasco a few years ago. It was definitely one of those "I think we're gonna need a bigger boat!" moments! The white bumped under the panga a couple times and eyed us over, then threw his head to one side and sliced the mono, sliding back into the depths to do his sharky business. I felt honored to have even seen one.

The first time I saw a whale shark, I was equally at awe, but not frightened like I was by the great white. I think "Jaws" is imprinted in all of us to a point.

Talk about pucker power - this picture was taken two weeks ago on my boat about 40 miles out of Puerto Penasco. When you see a 6-7 ft. dorsal sticking out of the water, you get that sudden feeling of insignificance. It was a small family pod of killer whales with an impressively huge male, a female, and a calf. We followed them for a bit and took a few pictures. First time in over 25 years I've ever come across orcas that far north in the Sea of Cortez.

[JCC123]

I pulled up along side and shadowed this shark for about 100 yards all the while shitting my pants.

[Baby Huey]

There used to be youtube video of one off NC a couple years ago when I was in school at Wilmington. I dont rem if it was off Wrightsville or Morehead? They show up around here every now and then. Id freak out seeing one as big as the boat I was on. Saw a hammerhead bigger than our center console off Key West a couple years ago; he headed for the boat and I freaked out!

[surrender]

So funny that comes up now. I live near Wrightsville and fish there often. Was just starting to look for a kayak to start fishing from. I'll have to wait now until that memory fades. Thanks alot. Cool pic

[beachnut53]

A lot of people surf near that part of the beach in wet suits. Seals, a great White favorite meal, look a lot like surfers in wet suits!!!