BACK TO YOU. THEN. >> HE TRIED TO POSE WITH THE SHARK AND ENDED UP IN ITS JAWS TODAY. 47 YEAR-OLD SEAN HUGHES IS IN SURGERY AFTER HE TRIED TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH THAT LEMON SHARK. THE SHARK BIT HIM ON THE LEG ON SATURDAY ON CAYO COSTA NEWS’S FRIENDS MADE A TOURNIQUET OUT OF ROPE, THEN TOOK HIM TO BOCA GRANDE TO MEET UP WITH PARAMEDICS AND THEY AIRLIFTED HIM TO GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER FROM THERE. A SHARK FISHING IS FAIRLY COMMON IN OUR AREA. BUT THERE’S A RIGHT AND A WRONG WAY TO DO IT TONIGHT. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER KENDALL BRAND SHOWED YOU THE RULES OF THE WATER. >> AND I SAW THAT VIDEO. MY WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? WE’LL SOON AS YOU LOSE RESPECT FOR HIM. THEY’RE GOING TO GET CHARTER BOAT CAPTAINS LIKE CHAIR. QUITE TELL ME WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THIS VIDEO. >> ISN’T JUST BAD FOR THE SHARK. IT’S AGAINST THE LAW. AND I’VE SEEN PICTURES WERE CUSTOMERS WILL HOLD THE SHARKS. 3, 4, PEOPLE. >> OFFICIALS ARE BREATHING ANYMORE. YOU MIGHT LET IT GO AND IT’S SWIM AWAY. BUT IT COULD HAVE BRAIN DAMAGE OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT >> YOU KNOW, BREATHE IN A WHILE. THAT’S MY FWC RULES. MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO DELAY THE RELEASE OF A PROHIBITED SPECIES LIKE THE LEMON SHARK AND THIS YOU CAN SEE THE SHARK IS ALSO LYING ON DRY SAND WITH HIS SKILLS OUT OF THE WATER. ANOTHER FWC RULED THAT WAS BROKEN BY THESE ANGLERS TO ONLY IN THE WAVE COMING. >> BUT THE SAME TIME, THE FAILED TO THAT. HE WAS BASICALLY FLOODING AGAIN. SO AS A REFLEX THEY WANT SWIM. AND THEN THAT’S HOW THE LAST RAPE AND FORCING A BEATEN ANYONE WITH A VALID FISHING LICENSE CAN FISH OFF THE SHORE OF FLORIDA FOR SHARKS. BUT BEFORE YOU HIT THE SAND, YOU HAVE TO TAKE FWC SHARK SMART COURSE ONLINE. I TOOK THE TEST MYSELF AND ONLY TOOK 26 MINUTES AND PAST WITH 100% WHEN WE ASKED THE MAN WHO HAS BEEN IF HE HAD HIS SHORE-BASED SHARK FISHING PERMIT AND YET THEY ARE CLOUDS SHARK FIN FISH FROM LAND. >> FOR SHARK. BUT THAT’S WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, 30 MINUTE POSITIVE 3. AND YOU HAVE YOUR PERMIT. >> IT GOES TO SHOW NOT KNOWING OR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES CAN END IN DISASTER. THAT’S WHY CHAIR ACROSS AS TO USE A REPUTABLE CHARTER. IF YOU WANT TO REAL IN JAZZ. >> THE LONGER YOU FIGHT A FISH, THE MORE IT’S GOING TO HARM OF THE FISH. I MEAN, YOU WANT TO GET THAT BATTLE DONE
SHARK SMART: Lemon shark bite video sparks safety, wildlife concerns
Updated: 9:01 PM EDT Aug 19, 2025
A video showing anglers holding open the mouth of a lemon shark on a Florida beach has raised concerns about illegal fishing practices and the importance of respecting wildlife. Fort Myers Beach charter boat Captain Enzo Cerqua expressed his disapproval.”When I saw that video, I’m like, what are you guys doing? And you know what? The bite didn’t look that bad,” he said. “As soon as you lose respect for them, they’re going to get you.”Cerqua explained that delaying the release of a prohibited species like the lemon shark is against Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules. He said, “I’ve seen pictures where customers will hold the sharks, three, four people,” Cerqua said. “That fish isn’t breathing anymore. You might let it go and it’s swim away, but it could have brain damage or something.”The video shows the shark lying on dry sand with its gills out of the water, another violation of FWC regulations. Serge Thomas, the chair of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School, said the shark was confused. “Not only is a wave coming, but at the same time, the shark felt that it was basically floating again,” Thomas said. “As a reflex, you say, well, I’m going to swim, and then, that’s how they lost grip and unfortunately got bitten.”In Florida, anyone with a valid fishing license can fish for sharks off the beach, but they must first complete FWC’s Shark-Smart Fishing online course. The course takes about 26 minutes to complete and is free. When asked if he had his shore-based shark fishing permit, the man who was bitten, Shawn Meuse, admitted, “No.”Cerqua advised using a reputable charter for shark fishing to avoid such incidents. He said, “You’ll learn on the equipment. I don’t believe in using light equipment. The longer you fight a fish, the more it’s going to harm the fish. I mean, you want to get that battle done quick and release them right away.”DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —
A video showing anglers holding open the mouth of a lemon shark on a Florida beach has raised concerns about illegal fishing practices and the importance of respecting wildlife.
Fort Myers Beach charter boat Captain Enzo Cerqua expressed his disapproval.
“When I saw that video, I’m like, what are you guys doing? And you know what? The bite didn’t look that bad,” he said. “As soon as you lose respect for them, they’re going to get you.”
Cerqua explained that delaying the release of a prohibited species like the lemon shark is against Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules. He said, “I’ve seen pictures where customers will hold the sharks, three, four people,” Cerqua said. “That fish isn’t breathing anymore. You might let it go and it’s swim away, but it could have brain damage or something.”
The video shows the shark lying on dry sand with its gills out of the water, another violation of FWC regulations. Serge Thomas, the chair of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School, said the shark was confused.
“Not only is a wave coming, but at the same time, the shark felt that it was basically floating again,” Thomas said. “As a reflex, you say, well, I’m going to swim, and then, that’s how they lost grip and unfortunately got bitten.”
In Florida, anyone with a valid fishing license can fish for sharks off the beach, but they must first complete FWC’s Shark-Smart Fishing online course. The course takes about 26 minutes to complete and is free.
When asked if he had his shore-based shark fishing permit, the man who was bitten, Shawn Meuse, admitted, “No.”
Cerqua advised using a reputable charter for shark fishing to avoid such incidents. He said, “You’ll learn on the equipment. I don’t believe in using light equipment. The longer you fight a fish, the more it’s going to harm the fish. I mean, you want to get that battle done quick and release them right away.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.