Angler turns himself in after hooking protected great white shark and posing with it
An angler surrendered to authorities Tuesday after he hooked a great white shark at Pismo Beach Pier and then posed for videos and photographs with the predator, wildlife officials said.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife had been searching for the angler, identified as Joshua Ramsey Carr, since last month, patrol Lt. Todd Tognazzini said. Citizens called a wildlife tip line and identified him after seeing his photograph in the news.
Holding the jaw of a juvenile great white shark wide open, Carr, 25, of Oceano, Calif., posed for photographs and videos on June 22. The images were later circulated on Facebook and other social media websites, Tognazzini said.
Authorities think that Carr hooked the shark while fishing at the pier. Instead of releasing the small shark, he pulled it in, Tognazzini said.
Wildlife officials don’t know exactly how long the fish was out of the water before it was thrown back into the ocean. But video and photographs from the scene show the shark sitting on the pier for some time.
Great white sharks are protected and fishing for them is illegal in California. The sharks have been a protected species in California since 1994. Once a great white is hooked, it must immediately be released.
On Saturday, authorities learned that another angler caught a great white shark at the pier. Instead of posing with the shark, the angler immediately released it, Tognazzini said.
Hooking a great white is an infraction or misdemeanor, he said. Anglers could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Anyone with video or photographs of the shark is urged to call Fish and Wildlife at (888) 334-2258.
Twitter: VeronicaRochaLA
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