‘It’s breathtaking’: Fishermen catch, release massive great white shark off Hatteras Island shore

Fishermen were in for the greatest catch of their lives along the North Carolina coast.

Video along the shores of Frisco on Hatteras Island captured fishermen catching and releasing a nearly 13-foot great white shark.

Fisherman Luke Beard said it was an extraordinary moment.

“It’s breathtaking seeing a 12-to-13-foot, 1,400-to-1,800-pound animal jump out of the water on the hook set,” he said.

Beard and Jason Rosenfeld, who were fishing together on Saturday, believed it could be one of the largest sharks caught in North Carolina while fishing from the beach.

"There have been a few great whites caught in North Carolina. None of them have been as big as that one," Beard said.

The two have a combined 40 years of experience in fishing. Beard described how they safely released the shark back into the water. 

"There's no delay," Beard said. "It's such a small window of time and you have to be super accurate with what you are doing."

They worked with a team, along with specialized equipment, to quickly return the shark to sea.

In North Carolina, recreational fishermen are required by state law and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration to release any shark captured, including from prohibited species, without removing them from the water and in a way that maximizes their survival.

Commercial fishermen can keep some types of sharks in season.