LA TIMES 1st Reported: Jeff Thomason’s record-breaking catch of a 809-pound mako shark with a bow and arrow has netted a school of criticism on social media. The Texan caught the massive shark in August during a fishing trip off the coast of Huntington Beach. The shark weighed in at 809.5 pounds, busting the previous world record of 544 pounds, which had been held by Patrick Eger. Mako sharks can grow up to 12 feet long and live up to 30 years.
In a series of photographs, Thomason, who describes himself as a predator hunter, is seen boasting about his impressive catch.
But for some Facebook users, the catch reeks.
Commenters accused Thomason of finning and destroying the ocean and its ecosystem.
Deo Eddo Keju wrote to Thomason urging him to stop hunting sea creatures.
“Please leave our sea creature as they are — they’re important for the ecosystem of our ocean, [especially] here in the Pacific Islands,” he said.
Others like Sally Yolen asked Thomason use his knowledge of the ocean to film animals instead of hunting them.
“Please, trade in your bow and guns then get a camera & shoot in images these great beasts that you love,” she wrote. “Better yet mount your weapons instead of the animals & demonstrate how a shot is better made with a lens than an arrow.”
Others lambasted his use of a bow and arrow to catch the shark.
But in an email, a Thomason representative said the hunter is an expert with the weapon and that “no hunter wants a bad shot on an animal – no matter what you are fishing for. People seem to lose sight of that.”
The representative added that he was not “finning” the fast-moving shark.
Sharks collected off the West Coast are used for their meat, not their fins, according to the National Oceanic and Atmopheric Administration Fisheries.
The meat, Thomason’s representative said, was donated to local shelters.
According to NOAA, mako sharks are “especially vulnerable to overfishing because they take many years to mature and have relatively few young at a time.”
Catch Jeff on his Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/JeffThomasonTV or website http://www.predatorpursuit.com/
“We support Jeff’s pursuits and here is a little about him – Very few men Jeff’s age have as much experience in the pursuit of the worlds predators as he does. Jeff has honed his skills as an expert outdoorsman in the woods of Northeast Texas. Jeff’s sharp demeanor and natural charisma make watching his style and techniques a fantastic learning experience. Jeff founded the Predator Pursuit video project early this decade and has dedicated his hunting career to entertaining his viewers while concentrating on being the most efficient predator hunter there is anywhere.
The definition says it all. Predator Pursuit TV is the story of amazingly talented professional hunters dedicating their outdoor adventures to the pursuit of “all things Predator” If it can bite, claw, scratch or have you for dinner then the Predator Pursuit crew will be there to dial in the most compelling and honest encounter possible. Each episode will be a new and possibly rarely seen conquest for the variety of predators that inhabit the wilds of the planet. All methods of legal hunting are utilized and bringing the local flavor to the adventure is always a must.
Predators are the fastest growing sport animal for the world’s hunting population and the mix of expert hosts with species that live in almost all hunting areas create a welcome and interesting venue for both viewers and advertisers alike. Engaging viewers with a young, energetic group of hunters to carry them along the way through the trials and tribulations of pursuing the boldest of game animals gives an opportunity to teach, explain and entertain throughout the entire program. Recent technology has also enabled the Predator Pursuit team to capture fantastic night hunting encounters with the quality and intensity that today’s programming standards require.
The creators of the Predator Pursuit DVD series have catered to predator enthusiasts around the country for the past five years and will do the same in this truly one of a kind program. The intended quarry will include all predators from the timber wolf of the northern forests, sharks of the tropical oceans and alligators of the southern swaps to the many prowling creatures of the African savannah. Predator Pursuit TV will focus on the “how to” as well as the “why” and create an unforgettable story that takes the viewer along on the Pursuit of the animals at the top of mother natures’ food chain.”
.