11 October 2023 , 15:11
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Heart-stopping video footage has captured the terrifying moment a great white shark leapt out of the water just feet away from boaters.
The astonishing footage captured shows the enormous animal sinking its jaws into a large tuna fish, leaving the churned-up water filled with blood. The footage was filmed off the coast of Australia by a woman who was out fishing in the sea.
The camerawoman reeled in a big tuna fish but didn't get to keep her catch after a nearby shark spotted it and decided the fish looked tasty. Isabella Sesto, from Melbourne, caught the jaw-dropping encounter on video as the huge shark sunk its teeth into the tuna, leaving clouds of blood forming in the water.
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The huge great white had its eyes on Isabella's catch (isabella.sesto/INSTAGRAM)
The shark can be seen still hanging out near the boat after Isabella managed to reel the tuna in (isabella.sesto/INSTAGRAM)This dramatic encounter happened near Cape Jaffa in South Australia, around 150 miles south of Adelaide. Isabella had spent around an hour and a half trying to reel the 100kg bluefin tuna in before she was finally able to get it on board.
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She said she saw a "big grey shadow" come over the tuna, and quickly realised it was a great white shark, also known as a white pointer. She said: "We freaked out because we thought I was on a shark this whole time.
"As soon as we realised it was a great white coming over the tuna, I quickly wound a bit harder so we could get it closer to the boat and the shark grabbed the tail of the tuna. Because tuna have so much blood, the blood was going on the deck and dripping into the water, so the shark hung around the boat for ages and was grabbing the motors."
Isabella spotted the grey shadow in the water and knew there was a shark on her tuna (isabella.sesto/INSTAGRAM)
Isabella with her first bluefin tuna over 100kg, which was shredded by the shark (isabella.sesto/INSTAGRAM)But the powerful shark's jaws had torn the fish to shreds. In the background of the footage, Isabella can be heard saying: "My heart's kinda broken, but pretty cool. I'm happy but I'm sad. I don't know what to feel.
"This jerk, this big great white's come in, bit half my tuna off, and it's my first tuna. I've been targeting them for years."
According to an expert, the tuna's flailing movement as it was being reeled in on the line is likely what captured the shark's attention. Isabella said that while the encounter was intense, she wasn't frightened "at all".
The shark hung around after Isabella managed to haul her catch on board and seemed interested in the motors (Isabella Sesto/Storyful)"I've seen a fair few sharks while fishing - I'm on the water quite a bit so it doesn't scare me," she explained. "I love it. I absolutely love them they're such cool animals. I won't stop going [to Cape Jaffa], it's my favourite place ever. The fishing there is unreal."
Sharing pictures from her incredible encounter on her Instagram page, Isabella wrote: "I don't know if I should be happy or sad. 1.5hr fight and my first barrel!
"My friends would know I have put so much time into these fish and as the fight was over and I had the tuna at the boat a great white smacked it! I can't wait to show you some epic footage but for now I'm beyond happy for the most epic experience of my life! And to do it with my great friend and fiancé."