Diver Removes a Massive Hook From a Struggling Shark’s Mouth

Deep-sea and sport fishing are two of the most popular pastimes for Florida residents. With an abundance of colorful marine life just a mile away from the shoreline, it’s easy to see why so many people pick up a rod. 

However, fishing in the ocean can have unintended consequences. 

In a recent video shared online, we see one of these adverse outcomes as a diver stumbles upon a nurse shark that has become stuck. After further investigation, it becomes apparent what has happened as the camera zooms in on the animal. 

A massive hook with a fishing line still attached is stuck deep in the shark’s mouth. Unfortunately, as the shark was swimming, the line got wrapped around a reef and trapped the creature. Thankfully, after a few intense minutes, the diver was able to cut the line and free the animal. 

While accidental captures like this are a sad reality of open sea fishing, they serve as a constant reminder of our responsibility to minimize our impact on marine life. 

In the following sections, we’ll discuss the dangers of discarded fishing gear, how it can harm marine animals, and what to do if you find a nurse shark in a similar situation. 

What Are the Dangers of Discarded Fishing Gear in the Ocean?

The durability that makes fishing gear effective also makes it dangerous when lost at sea. Ghost gear doesn’t break down easily. Instead, it drifts silently through marine environments, trapping animals, injuring species, and damaging delicate ocean habitats.

Entanglement

Items like fishing lines, nets, and traps can pose a serious threat to wildlife and easily entangle marine animals. Once caught, it’s almost impossible for an animal to break free from the gear without assistance. 

In most scenarios, a sea turtle, seal, or even nurse shark may struggle to move, feed, or surface for air, leading to their unfortunate death. 

Even if an animal is able to survive the initial entanglement, the gear can wrap tightly around fins, flippers, or necks, causing deep lacerations. These wounds often linger and result in infection or death.

Ingestion

With the ocean having many low-light areas, it’s fairly common for marine animals to mistake hooks, lines, and small plastic fishing gear for food. 

When swallowed, these materials can puncture the creature’s digestive tract or cause dangerous blockages. Unfortunately, many of these scenarios lead to the animal eating less and less until it dies from starvation.

Habitat Damage

Not all the impact of ghost gear is visible. In fact, much of the habitat damage it causes isn’t noticed until it is too late. 

When ghost gear settles on the ocean floor, it can drag across sensitive areas like coral reefs and seagrass beds. These habitats serve as vital breeding and feeding grounds for countless marine species. And, over time, the weight and movement of abandoned nets or traps can break apart coral structures. 

Since much of the damage occurs gradually, it often goes unnoticed until long-term ecological impacts begin to become apparent.

Unintended Capture

Out of sight, out of mind…it sounds nice, but abandoned fishing gear doesn’t stop working just because it’s no longer being used. Nets and traps continue to catch fish, crabs, and other sea life — an effect known as “ghost fishing.” Unlike regular fishing, though, there’s no one to capture or release these animals, so they usually suffer until they pass. 

How Would You Approach a Shark in this Situation? 

Approaching any injured or trapped wild animal comes with risk. But with sharks, their size and power make it especially important to proceed with caution. Divers who step in to help should read the creature’s behavior carefully, stay calm, and remain alert throughout the encounter.

Observe the Shark First

Before making any move toward the shark, it’s important to take a moment and assess the situation. 

Is the animal calm, agitated, or in visible distress? Does it appear to be swimming freely, or is it struggling against something? 

Reading these cues can help divers determine whether it’s safe to approach and whether intervention is even possible. Rushing in without understanding the shark’s behavior could escalate the situation or put both parties at risk.

Approach Slowly

If the shark appears calm and it seems safe to help, the next step is to move in carefully. Quick or sudden movements can startle the animal, triggering a defensive reaction or causing it to thrash about, similar to the video. 

Instead of moving directly at the shark, you should try to approach from the side. Many animals, sharks included, will see you as a threat if you come at them head-on. 

While it may seem difficult in the moment, staying relaxed in the water will help maintain a sense of calm and lower the chances of the shark reacting out of fear. 

Avoid Direct Eye Contact with the Shark

Even though it may seem counterintuitive, maintaining direct eye contact with a shark can sometimes be perceived as a challenge or threat. Instead of locking eyes, try to watch the shark’s movements using peripheral vision and body positioning. Using these techniques will help you remain non-confrontational while monitoring the shark’s behavior.

Use the Right Tools

Good intentions are great when helping an injured or trapped animal. However, it’s never recommended to approach a shark without the appropriate equipment. 

Divers who work with rescue organizations to free marine animals from ghost gear often rely on tools like long-handled pliers, line cutters, or underwater shears. Approaching these situations with the proper equipment can greatly reduce the risk of injury to the animal or yourself. 

Retreat When Needed

Even with the best planning and intentions, not every rescue attempt will go smoothly. 

If the shark becomes agitated or begins to show signs of distress, the safest choice is often to back off. Forcing an interaction can escalate the situation, putting both the animal and the diver in greater danger. 

Knowing when to step away is just as important as knowing when to intervene. In some cases, observing and reporting the situation may be the most responsible course of action.

How Would a Shark Recover from a Ghost Gear Incident? 

Sharks are built to handle a rough life in the ocean. Their immune systems are strong, and many species can recover from injuries caused by prey, predators, or even other sharks. As long as they’re able to keep feeding and no vital organs are affected, a full recovery is possible.

However, the exact healing time depends on the nature and severity of the injury. Surface wounds generally heal faster, while internal injuries from swallowed hooks or tangled gear can take longer. 

Some sharks, like nurse sharks and tiger sharks, are quite hardy and tend to recover well, even from serious injuries.

In recent years, researchers have monitored sharks after rescues like the one in the clip, and many go on to heal fully. 

What is the Message for Marine Conservation?

The diver’s rescue of a trapped nurse shark is more than a feel-good moment — it’s a reminder of the ongoing impact human activity has on marine ecosystems. Ghost gear may not always be visible, but its effects ripple through the ocean every day.

Fortunately, there are steps we can take:

• Properly discard fishing lines instead of leaving them in or near the water.
• Use biodegradable or wildlife-safe gear whenever possible.
• Support or participate in coastal cleanup efforts, especially in high-traffic fishing areas.
• Report entangled or distressed wildlife to local marine rescue organizations.
• Raise awareness among fellow anglers and boaters about the dangers of ghost gear.

Protecting marine life doesn’t always require large-scale action. Often, it starts with individual responsibility and an awareness that what we leave behind can have lasting consequences.