Researchers land 11.7-foot tiger shark at North Carolina beach

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, Fla., July 1 (UPI) -- A group of researchers reeled in a massive 11.7-foot tiger shark at a North Carolina beach and snapped pictures before releasing the predator back into the ocean.

A video posted to Facebook by witness Laura Harrell shows U.S. Marine David Schmidt landing the shark Wednesday at North Topsail Beach.

Schmidt was accompanied by researchers with the Apex Predators Program, which catches and tags sharks to collect data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Schmidt said the group decided not to tag the tiger shark, which weighed an estimated 600-700 pounds, before its release.