Massive Bull Shark Nearly 500 Pounds Caught During Fishing Tournament in Alabama

A fishing crew recently set a new state record after catching a massive bull shark during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

The Bon Secour Butchers team on the ship “The Orca” captured the 221-kilogram beast during the tournament on Dauphin Island.

“A catch like this coming through our weigh station really excites everyone and every entity involved. We all feel part of the catch,” a representative from Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo told Fox News Digital.

The team consisted of Captain Adam Lyons, First Officer Tommy “The Tuna Bowyer”, Captain David Stiller “The Shark Killer” and crew member Michael Maguire.

“When tackling an animal of this size, it is critical to use heavy equipment and perform excellent boat work,” Capt. Adam Lyons told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement.

“With a line in the water with that much tension there are risks, you want to avoid anything that can damage the line, like the boat itself. Essentially we want to tire the shark out enough that we can safely get a tail line in place. Once we can tail the shark, it’s game over for the shark.”

“Riding the shark was relatively easy as we had a winch on board, which is normally used in commercial fishing. The combination of experience as a fisherman, captaincy and patience was the winning recipe,” Lyons added.

The group of men received $6,000 for taking first place in the Gulf Coast Hauling & Construction Bull Shark Jackpot.

“It’s really amazing to see an angler pull off a once-in-a-lifetime catch and break a rodeo and state record,” Matt Glass, chairman of the 91st Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, told Fox News Digital.

Founded in 1929, the rodeo is the largest fishing tournament in the world, drawing more than 4,000 anglers and 75,000 spectators, according to the event’s website.

“The tireless work of our research team made this type and the long-lasting memories that come with it possible,” Glass said.

This year, 3,734 anglers participated in the rodeo and a whopping 3,243 fish were weighed during the tournament.

The previous record for the largest bull shark catch in the state of Alabama was set in 2015 at 448 pounds.