Aggressive Sharks Nothing New for Tarpon Tournament Anglers

Aggressive Sharks Nothing New for Tarpon Tournament Anglers

Slow Tarpon Migration May Be Cause For Recent Attacks

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Aggressive, feeding sharks are nothing new for participants of the Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series Presented by Century Boats, and tournament officials believe that the lack of tarpon in Florida's Panhandle waters is the primary reason for the recent attacks, including one fatality.

The just completed televised tournament series held in Boca Grande Pass, Fla., features a live-release format where anglers catch, weigh and release tarpon. Adult tarpon, which can grow to more than 200 pounds, are one of Florida's top sport fishing species, and a primary prey for both bull sharks and hammerhead sharks.

According to Joe Mercurio, VP of Operations and Host for the Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series, "Breeding tarpon migrate up Florida's coast along the Gulf of Mexico, and usually enter Panhandle waters during the last week of June or the first week of July - and this migration has not happened yet."

"Due to the lack of tarpon, resident bull sharks will seek out other prey, often feeding on baitfish in shallow waters, where swimmers can be found, thus the reason for these attacks on humans," added Mercurio.

Mercurio stated that once the schools of tarpon make it to the Panhandle waters, bull sharks will follow tarpon to deeper waters further off-shore providing some reassurance to beach goers.

The Professional Tarpon Tournament Series will air its first show this Thursday at noon (EDT) on Florida's SunSports Network. "During the filming of our six tournament events, we were able to capture several incidents of sharks attacking tarpon," says Mercurio.

Anglers who participate in the tournament series frequently deal with sharks. "Safety is our number one concern while on the water, and bull sharks are aggressive, agile and extremely dangerous," says Kenny Hyatt, Capt. of Team Century/Fish Hog and winners of two Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series' events. "It only takes a few seconds for a bull shark to fatally attack a tarpon," Hyatt added.

"Sharks are smart, and this is a rare occasion to have several attacks in a localized area. Humans are guests in a shark's environment, and we encourage swimmers and beach goers take precautions," says Mercurio.

The Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series is the largest live- release tarpon tournament held in the state of Florida. The made-for- television event will air as a 13-week series on SunSports Network starting June 30 at noon (EDT), and is available nationally via satellite television. For tournament footage, photos, and show airdates, please visit http://www.tarponanglersclub.com/.

Source: Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series

CONTACT: Bob Bartels, +1-334-332-0025, bartels@charter.net , for Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament Series

Web site: http://www.tarponanglersclub.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For shark video footage or to arrange an interview with Nextel Professional Tarpon Tournament officials or professional anglers, please contact Bob Bartels

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