12-year-old lands record shark

PALM BEACH SHORES, Fla., Jan. 2 (UPI) -- A 12-year-old boy has caught a 551-pound shark, believed to beat the Florida state record, in Palm Beach Shores, Fla.

Aidan Murray Medley, who has been fishing since he was 5, hooked the 9.58-foot bull shark Tuesday while fishing north of the Palm Beach Inlet, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post reported Wednesday.

"This thing was huge," Medley said.

The massive shark is believed to top a 1981 record for largest shark landed in Florida -- a 517-pound behemoth captured at Panama City Beach. The boy's family said it planned to submit the catch for certification as a record.

"Of course, I'm happy. I'm proud," said Maureen Murray, Aidan's mother. "It's not really surprising to me. I'm still pretty happy."

Murray had reason not to be surprised by the catch -- last summer Medley reeled in a 461-pound shark.