Shark fishing tournament held in Charlotte Co.
May 06, 2012 5:53 PM EDT
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL -
The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge, created by the shark brothers – Sean and Brooks Paxton, was held in Charlotte County this weekend.
The tournament, which advertises itself as one that combines the goals of sport, science, and conservation, is putting a new twist on shark fishing.
"We're flipping the scripts on sharks and the art of shark fishing with this event," says Sean Paxton.
Unlike the popular sport that kills the predators, this tournament focuses on educating the public and promoting conservation.
"Shark conservation is what we are trying to obtain and set sustainable use of shark population for a whole host of reasons," says Dr. Bob Hueter with Mote Marine Laboratory.
The sharks are caught and then released by more than 15 registered teams. Sharks more than five feet long are tagged for research.
Camera crews on the boats broadcast back to those on shore, who are able to watch the events unfold on large television screens.
"The technology changes every year. So every year it's gotten better," says Brooks Paxton.
After three years of success, the Discovery Channel is filming a documentary on the tournament. It will air during the channel's "Shark Week," typically shown in late summer.
"We're really happy about that and proud because now we can get our message out to a much larger audience. It's huge for us," Brooks says.
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