HILTON HEAD, S.C. _ It's the most wonderful time of the year _ for great white sharks in the Lowcountry _ and this week a local fishing crew got their first catch of the season.
The crew at Outcast Fishing Hilton Head Island, led by charter boat captain Chip Michalove, hooked two great white sharks on Tuesday afternoon.
Michalove said on Facebook the crew hooked the "largest great white (he's) seen out there" _ estimated at 3,000 pounds.
Unfortunately the female shark escaped the hook and the crew didn't get a chance to tag her. Could it have been Mary Lee, OCEARCH's famous 3,500 pound great white shark that was located off the South Carolina Coast Sunday? We'll never know.
After almost calling it a day after the gigantic shark escaped him, Michalove caught his first male white shark. This one was smaller, but still put up a fight. Michalove said he put a tag on the shark and sent him on his way.
Michalove has had quite the year. In March, he caught, tagged and even touched the nose of a 2,500-pound great white.
"1-2 on whites in December isn't bad, but I'm going to get that monster," he said of the one that got away.
