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South Carolina fisherman reels in 9-foot lemon shark from shore

By Ben Hooper
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SULLIVAN'S ISLAND, S.C., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- A South Carolina fisherman casting his line from shore reeled in a 9-foot-long lemon shark after following it for about a mile.

Robert Lewis, founder of the amateur research group Lowcountry Sharkaholics, said on the group's Facebook page he reeled in an 8-foot, 10-inch lemon shark Thursday from Breach Inlet off Sullivan's Island.

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Lewis said it took about an hour to get the shark to shore, where he took measurements and photos for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

"As soon as we get it out, I will usually jump on the shark. I'll open up the mouth and get the hook out. If we can't we'll cut the hook, it will rust out within a few days to a week and then we'll take our measurements, total length, fork length, and we'll take a photo I.D." Lewis told WCIV-TV.

He said Thursday's catch was particularly difficult.

"It started over here by the bridge and I had to follow it probably about a mile or more down the beach," Lewis said. "It was probably just about touching the bottom of the sand and I wasn't going to be able to get it any closer but I had it swimming knee deep when I went out to grab it, so you can definitely be swimming next to them at any point."

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The fisherman said swimmers don't have much to fear from lemon sharks.

"Lemon sharks aren't known to be aggressive there's very few attacks on humans by lemon sharks but all sharks are very curious and they will take a bite just to see what it is so there a chance for anything," he said.

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