The Amazing Stuff

Most people tend to avoid sharks. It’s just a basic instinct to steer clear of massive animals with a taste for blood. These amazing predators have taken more than a few lives, and have left thousands of people with crippling injuries. People tend to avoid putting themselves in harm’s way by hanging around with sharks.

Max Muggeridge, however, is not most people. He’s an Australian angler who’s perfected a technique that lets him catch giant sharks from the shore. Don’t believe me? Then check these out.

This teenager loves fishing for sharks off the coast of New South Wales, Australia.

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

Some of the sharks that he catches weigh as much as 800 pounds.

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

He’s pretty familiar with the water, since he works as a lifeguard in Queensland.

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

Muggeridge has caught over 200 sharks, and he doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

It sometimes takes the teen hours to pull them ashore.

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

But the best part about his process is that he tags the sharks and releases them back into the water!

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

He makes it his mission to tag them without causing any harm.

He’s even caught a hammerhead shark, which is unheard of, since they rarely venture that close to shore.

Facebook TBDsharkfishing

(via BuzzFeed / Facebook)

Max Muggeridge hasn’t even been on this planet for two decades, and he’s already caught hundreds of sharks. Honestly, that just makes me feel bad about myself.

When this scuba diver went deep into the ocean, he had an insane goal in mind: attach a GoPro camera to a hammerhead shark. Fortunately, that’s exactly what he did without getting hurt.

When the daring diver eventually caught up to the shark, he was completely blown away by the footage it captured. No one was ever able to accomplish such a feat in the wild before — until now.

Yep, this seems like a great idea…

Rumble

Source: He Put A GoPro On A Hammerhead Shark. And It Was The Best Idea He Ever Had. by dritancela on Rumble

GoPro cameras have truly allowed us to see nature in a ways that were previously impossible. Sometimes, though, it might be a little hairy attaching them — especially when there’s a shark involved!

For more incredible stories in nature, check these out:

If you’re in England right now, you might want to stay away from the water. Locals recently found a giant school of sharks near a nature reserve in West Sussex. The mere sight of these things would make anyone think twice about taking a dip in there again.

To be fair, these finned creatures might not be as dangerous as they look. Watch the sharks in action below to learn more about this strange congregation.

Source: 50 sharks spotted off coast in England by rumblestaff on Rumble

These sharks are actually smooth-hound sharks, which are mostly harmless to humans.

Wikimedia Commons

The sharks, which measure up to 1.5 meters in length, are called “hounds” because they often travel in packs. Instead of feeding on people, they like to eat crustaceans, cephalopods, and some species of fish.

Smooth-hounds are often found in coastal waters. The reason this gathering in West Sussex is so strange is that those waters are mostly inland.

Flickr / @Sage_solar

This one was found washed up on the beach. It is possible that warming ocean temperatures are changing their migratory patterns.

Sure, they might not snack on you if you swim nearby, but they’re still sharks. It’s probably best to just stay away.

For more shark stories, check out these articles:

As magnificent and fascinating as sharks can be, you never want to hear about a person getting attacked by one of nature’s most ferocious predators.

While professional surfer Mick Fanning was taking part in a surfing competition this past weekend, people didn’t have to hear about the vicious encounter he had with a great white shark. Instead, they had the misfortune of watching it unfold on a live TV broadcast.

Fanning fortunately made it out unscathed, but wait until you see how he managed to fend off the beast.

A reporter caught up with Fanning to hear his incredible story:

(via BuzzFeed)

That’s right. He punched the shark.

Even though this is every surfer’s worst nightmare, the World Surfing League stated that this was the first shark attack in the history of their competitions. But at the end of the day, I think it’s safe to assume that Mr. Fanning is the most badass surfer in the game right now.

If you like sharks, you’re going to love these posts:

What would a mermaid carry in her purse? If you’re thinking pearls and pretty shells, well, we have some bad news. Try shark eggs.

We’re of course not actually talking about mythical fish-people accessories, but the egg cases of sharks, skates, and chimaeras (or chondrichthyes, if you’re fancy). These leathery, usually black or dark brown pouches can be found washed up on beaches the world over and, to the untrained eye, can look like weird, alien artifacts. They’re commonly called “mermaids’ purses,” or, less optimistically, “devils’ purses.” They’re also very rarely referred to as “skakets.”

To be fair, they’re not all shark egg capsules. Some of them, like these with the four prongs, come from skates.

Twitter / MissBlue Kitty

They look a bit frightening, but they’re just made of collagen protein, and they’re actually soft and leathery.

When not full of eggs, their centers are hollow and full of air.

Instagram / mskatmonroe

If you find one on the beach and it is empty, you’ll probably see a tear in one side. This is where the babies swam out! And because they’re lightweight, they get tossed up on shore all the time.

Instagram / nolecore

Sure, they look a little menacing, but they’re just evidence of new ocean babies!

Instagram / kym_tomlinson_ryan

Instagram / stiffseagoat

Wikimedia Commons

Egg cases also come in some other amazing shapes.

Twitter / CHS Aquarium

These are the egg cases of a horn shark. These were seen in an aquarium. Their spiral shape allows the cases to wedge themselves into the sand or into rock crevices, thus anchoring them down and keeping them stationary and safe.

They almost look fake!

Instagram / rickcb

Or like evil pasta.

Instagram / kundalini_yogini

Either way, they’re pretty nifty, and finding one on the beach is even cooler than finding a shell!

Instagram / the_adventurjournal

(via BuzzFeed, Wikipedia)

The next time you’re on a beach and find a mysterious, black bubble of an object, don’t freak out! It’s not a hideous mutant creature and it’s not a dangerous substance — it’s the former home of a baby shark. And if you don’t like sharks, consider yourself lucky that you’re only finding the egg case.

Animal babies are almost as weird as human ones, and here’s the proof:

Most people try to avoid sharks at all costs. They are dangerous predators of the deep, and encountering one could mean risking life and limb…literally. When people do try to see sharks, it’s generally under the guidance of trained professionals.

And then there are these two morons. They decided they’d hitch a ride on a shark’s back.

(via facebook)

These two dummies risked not only their safety, but the shark’s safety as well. It may have gone off without a hitch this time, but the shark might not be so accommodating the second time around.

Most people would really love to avoid sharks at all costs. Some people won’t even step foot in the ocean for fear that a sea-dwelling predator will come and snatch them up.

Other people, however, relish in the presence of some of the world’s most dangerous predators. For instance, when this diver was approached by one of the largest sharks ever caught on video, he didn’t shy away from it. In fact, he did something absolutely insane.

(via Facebook / Mauricio Hoyos Padilla)

I bet no one reading this would ever think to try to high-five a giant shark, but that’s exactly what this diver did. Kudos on being the bravest person in the diving industry, sir.