“The grab was instantaneous, and the shark cooperated with a quick left turn to allow the proper hook set,” said Patterson.

The fight lasted about 25 minutes. Patterson thought it was a mako shark until he got it close enough to the boat and skipper Conway Bowman identified it as a great white.

Interestingly, “Patterson” happens to be Jeff Patterson, director of sales for Abel products. He was conducting tests with their equipment about five miles off the La Jolla coast—or so the story goes. Be that as it may, it is believed to be the first great white taken off the coast of California using a fly rod and wheel. However, it is illegal to capture great whites because of their protected status, so it was set free shortly after this picture was snapped. So, watch your arse California beachgoers—Jaws is out there and presumed pissed. [LA Times]