A Canadian on Spring Break in the Bay area is going home with one big fish tale to tell.
Fab Marchese, a seasoned fisherman, says he hooked a great white shark on Friday about 30 miles off the coast of Treasure Island.
"You can't imagine something that big and having it on the end of your rod there," Marchese said. "I wanted to see it right up close. That was my whole thing: Don't goof up."
It happened as the sun was setting. Marchese, who was on a trip with Captain Joe Maisano of Go Fast! Fishing Charters, says the shark was about 18 feet long.
"About 4 hours into the fishing trip and Big Momma showed up," Maisano said with a smile. "Looked like a submarine swimming around."
That massive shadow turned into a 3 and a half hour struggle.
"I fish quite a bit ... so to fight a fish ... I kind of know what to do: Play the waves and everything," Marchese said. "Basically, what was going through my mind was - I'm hanging on to this thing no matter what."
Eventually, the crew let the shark go.
"We just let him take the whole rig," Maisano said. "We just cut it off."
The guys caught a bit of the fight on camera. Longtime researcher Dr. Bob Huetter, a scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, said - from the grainy video - it appears it's likely a shark within the great white family; potentially a Mako shark if it's not the famed great white.
Huetter said scientists don't know much about how great whites migrate but they can occasionally wind up in the Gulf 20 to 30 miles or more offshore during the wintertime.
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:01 PM EDT2013-05-19 16:01:35 GMT
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
Sunday, May 19 2013 10:18 AM EDT2013-05-19 14:18:18 GMT
Early English lottery ticket
According to the History of Lottery researchers, after the first English lottery approved by King James I in 1612 that granted the Virginia Company of London the right to raise money.
According to the History of Lottery researchers, after the first English lottery approved by King James I in 1612 that granted the Virginia Company of London the right to raise money.
Sunday, May 19 2013 9:04 AM EDT2013-05-19 13:04:58 GMT
Security camera image
Winter Haven Police are asking the public to help identify a suspect who robbed an off-duty Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Friday at a Winter Haven grocery store.
Winter Haven Police are asking the public to help identify a suspect who robbed an off-duty Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Friday at a Winter Haven grocery store.
Sunday, May 19 2013 2:43 AM EDT2013-05-19 06:43:27 GMT
Ireland Nugent, the 2-year-old girl who lost her feet and part of her legs in a lawnmower accident, was invited by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Saturday to visit Winter the dolphin.
Ireland Nugent, the 2-year-old girl who lost her feet and part of her legs in a lawnmower accident, was invited by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Saturday to visit Winter the dolphin.
Saturday, May 18 2013 5:22 PM EDT2013-05-18 21:22:04 GMT
Dr. Reed, Dr. Pilon-Thomas and Dr. Sarnaik of Moffitt Cancer Center receive a check for $150,000 from Rob Shapiro and Jim Sirignano with Swim Across America - Tampa Bay.
Approximately 250 swimmers took to the water at Pier 60 Saturday in Clearwater Beach, in an effort to raise money for Moffitt Cancer Center Swimmers came from all over Tampa Bay.
Approximately 250 swimmers took to the water at Pier 60 Saturday in Clearwater Beach, in an effort to raise money for Moffitt Cancer Center Swimmers came from all over Tampa Bay.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:36 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:36:31 GMT
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
As the news of Angelina Jolie brings awareness to the fight against breast cancer there is a major medical breakthrough thanks to a nationwide study with the largest number of participants at USF.
Friday, May 17 2013 5:00 AM EDT2013-05-17 09:00:46 GMT
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Teacher supplies can be very expensive. Ask any teacher they will tell you it's true. A couple of local educators are doing their best to help cut the cost for the tools teachers use in the classroom. Adrianne
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:00 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:00:27 GMT
They went to school on federally-backed student loans and have now defaulted on them to the tune of $111.5 million dollars. That means taxpayers are on the hook for that money. 895 doctors nationwide
They went to school on federally-backed student loans and have now defaulted on them to the tune of $111.5 million dollars. That means taxpayers are on the hook for that money. 895 doctors nationwide
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:25 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:25:15 GMT
Only two of 13 small SUVs are getting passing grades in front-end crash tests done by an insurance industry group. Popular models such as the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Jeep Wrangler received only "marginal"
Only two of 13 small SUVs are getting passing grades in front-end crash tests done by an insurance industry group. Popular models such as the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Jeep Wrangler received only "marginal"
Sunday, May 19 2013 12:01 PM EDT2013-05-19 16:01:35 GMT
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
It's all about the odds, and one single ticket in Zephyrhills, Florida has beaten them all by matching all the numbers to win the highest Powerball jackpot in history at an estimated $590.5 million.
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
Leigh Spann joined WFLA in September, 2007. You can catch her forecasts every weekday morning starting at 4:30am. Since so many people ask, she says she wakes up at 2am and goes to bed at 7pm!
Sunday, May 19 2013 9:04 AM EDT2013-05-19 13:04:58 GMT
Security camera image
Winter Haven Police are asking the public to help identify a suspect who robbed an off-duty Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Friday at a Winter Haven grocery store.
Winter Haven Police are asking the public to help identify a suspect who robbed an off-duty Polk County Sheriff's Deputy Friday at a Winter Haven grocery store.
Sunday, May 19 2013 2:43 AM EDT2013-05-19 06:43:27 GMT
Ireland Nugent, the 2-year-old girl who lost her feet and part of her legs in a lawnmower accident, was invited by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Saturday to visit Winter the dolphin.
Ireland Nugent, the 2-year-old girl who lost her feet and part of her legs in a lawnmower accident, was invited by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Saturday to visit Winter the dolphin.
Monday, May 13 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-13 17:43:13 GMT
Humans have come a long way since the days of the caveman, but a new diet is looking to the past for healthy inspiration. It's often called the paleo diet, or the caveman diet.
Humans have come a long way since the days of the caveman, but a new diet is looking to the past for healthy inspiration. It's often called the paleo diet, or the caveman diet.
