Fisherman's adorable reaction after spotting world's biggest shark by his boat
One fisherman got the experience of a lifetime when he spotted a massive whale shark just metres from his boat in a moment that would make most individuals fear for their lives.
But unlike all of those people, Cory Kauffman shouted and cheered when the shark raced through the waters near him.
Kauffman and his friend took the video on July 16th, while fishing near Destin in Florida. They filmed the giant animal while trying to get its attention - even beckoning the shark to come over to them. You can hear the excitement in the video, with Kauffman speaking to the shark in a high-pitched voice, as if he's seeing a puppy in the street.
An incredible video showcases the world's biggest fish prowling the water below a fisherman (WEAR Channel 3 News)"Whale shaaark! Come on! Found you! Hiiii! What's up buddy?" the fisherman can be heard baby-talking the largest existing fish species in the world.
To be fair, whale sharks actually don't pose a threat to humans, and these fishermen know the waters they're in - so while most people wouldn't be so courageous, this glorious shark was a fantastical sight for the two friends.
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More clips show the animal rest relaxing at the surface of the water. Although it was a nice encounter for this particular fisherman, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that these large fish usually stay far away from the shores. Whale sharks frequent the Gulf in the summer and fall to hunt for krill, fish eggs, and small fish, but it's likely that human interaction has lured them closer to shore.
The Whale shark was jetting around the water, likely hunting, says a marine biologist (WEAR Channel 3 News)"We seem to be finding whale sharks more frequently," Florida Aquarium associate curator and shark guide Eric Hovland told FOX13. "Or, at least, we’re getting those encounters recorded more frequently because everybody’s got an iPhone or a GoPro and great ways to record."
While Whale sharks are actually considered fish and are entirely harmless - shark attacks have injured over two dozen individuals this year. If this were a real shark, these fishermen wouldn't be splashing around and making noise.
Expert Ryan Johnson explained that there’s one thing you absolutely shouldn’t do under any circumstances if you want to survive. However, pulling it off isn’t easy. “If you encounter a shark while you’re in the water, the worst thing you can do is act like prey. "If you act like prey, they are possibly going to treat you like prey. Don’t panic, don’t thrash, don’t try to get away," he says.
"You should hold your ground and 99.9% of the time, you’ll have a wonderful time, and then it’ll go on its way. It’s important everybody who goes into the water is educated about sharks. Then when they start turning up in strange places, we know how to react," Johnson added.
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