San Antonio-area man catches huge bull shark on Texas coast, wins $20,000 at Sharkathon
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A Spring Branch man caught an 8 feet 8 inch-long bull shark from the shore during Sharkathon off the Padre Island National Seashore on Oct. 17 — the largest catch ever submitted for the competition.
Duke Washmon, 36, said he hooked the 104-inch shark at about 2 a.m. and fought against the shark for an hour and 45 minutes before bringing the massive fish to shore. He was able to measure the shark, take a photo of himself with it to confirm proof of catch, and then released the shark back into the wild waters of Padre Island National Seashore.
The red tide in the area made it especially difficult to reel in, he said. The naturally occurring algae bloom releases aerosols into the air that can cause coughing, gagging and wheezing. Washmon fought through this by wearing gear that covered his face.
Washmon works alongside his fishing partner, Blayne Mozisek, with the two of them earning money five times during their entries into the Sharkathon, which has been held every year since 2004.
