GH-USC Miami Herald Article

SARASOTA - Theater-goers at this southwest Florida marine attraction and research laboratory (Mote) were attending a rare event: an all catch-and-release, big-money, science-centered shark fishing tournament broadcast from the water.

 Photo: Sue Cocking / Miami Herald Staff

The scientists on the big screen -- Robert Hueter, director of Mote's Center for Shark Research, and colleagues Jack Morris and John Tyminski -- were busy fitting the shark with a satellite tracking tag the size of a large cigar. After they finished drilling and secured the tag, they removed a lasso from around the shark's tail and set it free. It hovered disoriented on the surface for a few seconds, then swam away.

"Outstanding,'' Hueter said later.

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GH-USC Washington Post

We were joined on the water, during the qualifying round, by Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post Staff Writer. We'd like to thank her for making the trip down from Washington to cover the tournament and share this story with the many Washington Post readers around the world.

L-R: Brooks Paxton II, Sean Paxton, Juliet Eilperin, Bob Hueter

PUNTA GORDA, FLA. -- Most shark tournaments follow a similar ritual: Contestants haul up sharks and bring them back to the dock, where the by now dead animals are weighed and measured so judges can declare a winner. But in the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge, which had a qualifying competition earlier this month and will culminate in a final round of fishing this weekend, the sharks get away with their lives.

The idea of catching sharks and freeing them for entertainment is a new twist on the old sport -- the latest effort by conservationists and scientists to protect dwindling shark populations.

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Grand Championship Winner Announced!

The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge wrapped up Sunday at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium with the presentation of a $10,000 grand prize check to team Pole Dancer.

But the real winners in this all-release shark fishing tournament were the sharks, said the organizers, scientists, anglers and conservationists who came together to create a successful event.

The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge was designed to be a "next generation" model for shark fishing competitions that supported shark protection while still providing spectators and anglers a thrilling event. Read Full Press Release ...

Grand Championship This Weekend!

The weekend has a full slate of activities for the public including a line-up of internationally recognized speakers on Friday, May 21, a day full of sharky activities for children and adults in Mote Aquarium on Saturday, May 22, and, of course, the final round of the all-catch and release Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge taking place Saturday and finishing up on Sunday, May 23.

During the competition Saturday and Sunday, video of the fishing and tagging action will be shown throughout each day in Mote Aquarium's Immersion Cinema. The Friday afternoon program will be open to the public with limited seating available, and the Saturday and Sunday activities are free for all Mote Aquarium visitors. Read Full Press Release ...

Shark Tracking Website is Live!

We're proud to announce the tournament's shark satellite tracking website is now live and can be viewed at: http://www.wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=483

The first shark affixed with a satellite tag in the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge, "Bucky's Baby" has been reporting in at the surface and transmitting her location approximately twice a day since her release this Past Saturday. As part of our vision and initiatives in this tournament, anyone with an internet connection can follow her movements, along with any other sharks we'll be tagging in the future.

This state-of-the-art, interactive site includes:

- The option for viewers to subscribe to a daily project update by email (works great if you're interested in the day-by-day movements)
- Additional tournament info with links
- Specifics on Bucky's Baby and general information on bull sharks
- An option to "Adopt" Bucky's Baby to help fund the research

See more photos and commentary about thecapture, tagging and release of Bucky's Baby in a first-hand report by the Shark Brothers.

More information about the specific scientific objectives of the tournament can be viewed here.

A special thanks to everyone involved in making this happen.

Bucky's Baby (pictured below) smiles for the cameras during her satellite tracking tag attachment procedure.