12-Year-Old Catches Shark While Fishing At NJ Beach

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A 12-year-old boy caught a sandbar shark while out fishing at a New Jersey beach Saturday
He initially thought he was reeling in a striper before realizing it was a shark
The boy released the animal back into the water and went surfing right after the big catch

A 12-year-old boy was able to catch a shark while out fishing along the shores of North Wildwood in New Jersey over the weekend.

"I just felt this big tug on the line and I just heard my drag go straight out into the ocean and then I was like, 'Oh I had something big on it,'" Cole Hagy told CBS 3 Eyewitness News.

He initially thought the animal he was reeling in was a striper, but he said he realized it was a shark because he saw its two fins.

A witness of the moment Hagy caught the shark between 2nd and 3rd Avenue Saturday captured the scene on video, which showed the boy posing with the animal while it was held down on the ground.

According to Hagy, the shark, which was later identified as a sandbar shark, was released back into the ocean following its brief capture. The boy went surfing right after the big catch.

He said he planned to go fishing again Sunday in the hopes of getting an even bigger catch, according to the outlet.

The boy's proud father, Matthew Hagy, also shared photos of the catch to his Facebook page.

Matthew told Fox News that Cole had caught smaller sand sharks before, but the sandbar shark was his biggest catch so far. He added that when it comes to fishing, his son is "hooked for life" after catching the shark.

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

A similar story happened in April when a 13-year-old girl was able to catch a 6-foot, 4-inch-long bull shark while fishing along the shores of south Texas.

Emily Davis, of Conroe, had been surf fishing at Padre Island National Seashore on April 24 when she reeled in the animal while using stingray as bait.

"I was surprised that I could reel that in with my weak muscles," Davis said.

The teenager said she was excited about her accomplishment, especially considering she was afraid of being eaten by a shark.

According to Davis, she had decided to give fishing a shot with her father, Brandon Davis, and expert shark guide Eric Ozolines there to watch her back and check her line. She said she was proud of the catch because she was able to reel in the shark without anyone's help.

"I think every girl should try this," Davis said.