March 13, 2009 -- A two-hour wrestling match last June between a spear-fisherman and a tiger shark in the Gulf of Mexico puts the spotlight on spearfishing, which some experts believe may have escalated the deadly encounter. After stabbing the tiger shark multiple times, spear-fisherman Craig Clasen managed to kill the fish, which had reportedly charged and then encircled Clasen's companion Ryan McInnis, a videographer who captured the event on film. Photographer D.J. Struntz was also among the men and took photos of the bloody battle. "I would have popped the shark on the nose first and then prodded it with a spear if I had been in a similar situation," George Burgess, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research and the International Shark Attack File, told Discovery News. While Burgess added that he couldn't pass full judgment on what happened, having not been with Clasen and his crew, he said, "tiger sharks are not uncommon around oil rig platforms." Related Content:
That June day the fishermen were near Medusa, a rig located several miles off the Louisiana coast. The floating structure features some coral growth, supporting a mini-ecosystem with many species of fish, including sharks. Clasen and his group had just finished hauling up their mahi mahi and wahoo catches when the tiger shark began to maneuver around McInnis, who was distracted filming some squid. "My first thought was, 'Wow, it's beautiful.' But then I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm in a bad situation,'" McInnis later told Discovery News. McInnis says he called for help, which led to the videotaped wrestling match between Clasen and the 12-foot shark. "Tiger sharks are an aggressive species," Burgess said. "You need to watch out for them when diving. It's plausible the men were defending themselves." "But, in this case, spearing may have created a more difficult situation," he added. "The spear attack could have aggravated the shark, which then appears to have come back with more aggressiveness." Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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