Updated: 7:47 PM Oct 29, 2008
Shark Caught Just Yards Offshore
One reason some folks aren't getting in the gulf right now is the colder temperatures, but this story might give them an additional excuse.
Posted: 6:13 PM Oct 29, 2008
Reporter: Josh Gauntt
Email Address: joshua.gauntt@wjhg.com
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Mako Shark
Story 5 Comments Font Size: A couple of local fishermen snagged a pretty big catch last night, an 11ft 2in Mako shark to be exact.
Monday night, R.D. Foote and Rich Stulen of Panama City beach caught this five hundred twenty-five pound Mako shark about one hundred yards offshore. Foote owns and operates R.D.'s Sharkin Safaries and says this is his thirty-second shark, 6ft or longer he's caught in the past year.
Foote said he noticed three dark shadows in the water while he and his buddy were fishing. He said two of them swam off but the third one didn't. And that's when he felt a big tug on his rod.
"And this little shadow came up on my bait and swam around it. I turned around and wasn't thinking of it and next thing I know my reel is bent over and my rod is bent over and my reel is sounding like a chain saw gone crazy. We see this thing come out of the water," R.D. Foote, of R.D.'s Sharkin' Safaris said.
Last year, a fisherman caught a 12ft Mako shark in Destin that weighed a little more than one thousand pounds.
Posted by: RD Foote Location: Panama City Beach Florida on Oct 31, 2008 at 11:30 AM
To correct some misconceptions, first I AM a killer & a AVID conservationist!!!! I NEVER EVER needlessly cull any animal or fish! I have only kept 6 of the 32 sharks. the rest were live released. I also ACTIVELY work with Game and Fish to report ALL violations of the law! I do NOT TOLERATE any illegal activities when it comes to wildlife or marinelife. Secondly the Total weight of the Mako was 720 pounds. She was the Smallest of the 3 that came in!!!!!
Florida's panhandle holds some very incredible sharks. 
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
That is one fine catch you got there, I to am a killer ,though I have not killed a shark in some years, but make no mistake about it, If I catch a possible record or, If I get something I have never caught before like a mako from land like that ,she is coming with me plenty of food to go around and a nice set of jaws, congratulations on that fine catch!!
Very nice catch. Were they fishing from a boat only 100 yards off the sand?
man that is a dream catch 
1-day.......1-day