Fisherman Attacked by Lemon Shark During Night Fishing Trip

A fisherman in Florida narrowly escaped a serious injury after being bitten by a lemon shark while taking a photo with his catch. Despite the frightening incident, he remains eager to return to shark fishing.

Shawn Meuse and friends were nighttime fishing off Boca Grande when their catch suddenly turned dangerous. While posing for a picture with a large shark they had caught, the shark unexpectedly bit Meuse in the leg. He recounted, “We finished removing the hook and were about to release the shark when it turned and bit me.”

The attack was captured in a social media video showing Meuse holding the shark’s mouth open just before it lunged and clamped down. The shark’s sudden thrashing caused Meuse to fall back, bleeding from the leg while friends shouted for help.

Emergency services responded quickly, with the Boca Grande Fire Department treating Meuse on scene. A tourniquet was applied to control bleeding before he was airlifted to a nearby hospital. “He’s awake, with a towel on his leg to stop the bleeding,” an emergency dispatcher reported.

Despite the ordeal, Meuse expressed determination to continue fishing for sharks. From his hospital bed, he said, “I’d go back today if I could leave the hospital.” He noted that luckily, the bite only caused minor injuries and described the incident as a memorable story, emphasizing the importance of caution around sharks.

Local authorities advised caution during the current tarpon season, when sharks often migrate into shallower waters. Fire Chief C.W. Blosser commented, “There are many sharks around now, especially during this season. Fishers need to be careful when dealing with wildlife.”

Meuse is expected to recover fully from his injuries and remains passionate about shark fishing, jokingly saying, “See you next time” to the shark.