MARTHA'S VINEYARD, Mass., May 7 (UPI) -- A fisherman says he spotted a 20-foot great white shark off the coast of Martha's Vineyard on the U.S. eastern seaboard.
Jeff Lynch, a commercial fisherman, told The Boston Globe the shark was circling the carcass of a minke whale off the western tip of the island Friday morning.
"The funny thing is I was going mackerel fishing to get shark bait," Lynch said. "He was kind of following me around."
Lynch said the shark, estimated at 2,000 pounds, got within 2 feet of his fishing boat.
"I had a few 'Jaws' quotes going through my head," Lynch said. "I go shark fishing all the time. But to see something that size was absolutely incredible."
Wildlife officials said the shark sighting is no cause for panic. Sharks are often seen in the area, although usually a little later in the spring.
The shark disappeared when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental police towed the whale carcass away.
