Great white shark exploding on bass a lesson for Cape Cod anglers

A Massachusetts shark researcher on Saturday shared footage showing a great white shark launching an explosive attack on a striped bass at the end of a fishing line.

“Doug Nelson took this footage 5 yrs ago today while fishing with Columbia Sportfishing out of Rock Harbor,” John Chisholm described via X. “We’ve had a few reports of sharks taking bass this year. This video shows just how fast it happens.”

Doug Nelson took this footage 5 yrs ago today while fishing with Columbia Sportfishing out of Rock Harbor. We’ve had a few reports of sharks taking bass this year. This video shows just how fast it happens. Fishermen should keep this in mind when retrieving & releasing fish. pic.twitter.com/HpqL6ghZyT

— MA Sharks (@MA_Sharks) July 20, 2024

On July 20, 2019, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy shared the same clip under the title, “Air Jaws Cape Cod Bay!”

The footage is reminiscent of a similar Cape Cod “Jaws” incident that was caught on video in 2018.

In that clip, a boy is struggling to reel in a striped bass when a white shark charges from the depths and steals his catch just yards from the stern.

With white sharks feeding off Cape Cod throughout the summer and early fall, Chisholm advises anglers to exercise caution “when retrieving & releasing fish.”