New Yorkers invited on shark hunting tours

Many are trying to stay away from the beaches after reports that sharks have been sighted in record numbers off the coast of the East Coast. But Tom LaCognata sails the waters boldly, like the real Captain Quint from Jaws, reports New York Post.

Captain LaCognata of Rockaway Fishing Charters went fishing for days on Long Island in the Atlantic Ocean. He decided to see if these sharks really lived up to the deadly advertisement.

Partners Gene Rudd and Tom Label take turns fighting a hammerhead shark that weighs more than Shaquille O'Neal. Every time one of the anglers gets tired, he passes the line to another to drink water and dry himself with a towel in between. After an hour-long tug-of-war, the team drags a 5-meter sea monster close enough to the boat to fire a harpoon. It's a heart-stopping dramatic moment as the sea beast drags the fishing line back out into the open ocean forcing those shark bosses to start the battle over again.

"It's a pretty interesting, fun game," said LaCognata, who charges $1400 for seven-hour shark fishing excursions. “You get a bite and then chaos ensues.”

It's time to chase the sea predators

There has been a real "sharknado" on the East Coast lately. Moreover, over the past two years, more individuals have been seen than in the previous decade. A record 26 individuals were sighted last summer in Nassau County alone. The US leads the world in unprovoked shark attacks after a three-year decline. The death toll peaked in 2021 at 11, surpassing the previous 2020 high of 10.

Anxiety about the 2022 season began to rise in December. A viral tweet then revealed that global shark trackers Ocearch had mapped 100 tagged individuals congregating in the Atlantic Ocean off the US East Coast.

LaCognata, 54, said he did spot more cougars and they were closer to shore than ever before.

Authorities step up security measures on the region's beaches

Earlier this month, the Hempstead Town Shark Patrol was organized on Long Island. Lifeguards on jet skis scour the water for predators after a fisherman spotted a 3-foot mako shark on Long Beach's Barrier Island.

Over the past 15 years, LaCognata has caught a huge number of these toothy predators: from small dark specimens to a 133-meter hammerhead shark - the largest sea predator in his life. He also caught a monstrous 98-meter short-toed mako shark. I classify it as a cannibal and the fastest species in the world, reaching speeds of up to 74 km per hour.

In 2020, Manhasset resident TJ Minutilo caught a nearly 2,5-meter bull shark. Usually this warm water species is the culprit of most attacks in the US along with the great white and tiger sharks.

This news may upset beach lovers, but not La Cognata, whose goal is to get a shark bite.

“Somehow we caught large white predators from 2-3 meters in size,” LaCognata said. But he had to release them because this species is protected by the Law. “We brought them closer to the boat and just cut the line. You don’t want to get too close to their teeth.”

“I saw two great white sharks swimming under the boat,” LaCognata said of another encounter that brought to mind the iconic breakout scene in Jaws. “I was there, chatting with friends and just looked over the stern of the boat. I also saw a great white shark swimming by, and then another one right after it. ”

Then the hunter added: “Fortunately, the predators noticed our baits, otherwise they would have simply reeled in all the line.”

What is the beauty of chasing these ferocious hunters? “It's the excitement of the game,” LaCognata explained. “Luring them to the nets is a very difficult task. And getting them inside is even harder. And if you want to free them, that is also quite difficult.”

One of his favorite sharks to catch is the mako because it is fast and jumps a lot.

Is Shark Season in New York Worth It?

Many believe that the fear of sea predators in New York in 2022 is exaggerated. Most of the species identified last year were common sand or hammerhead sharks, which do not attack humans.

“They don't really need to be afraid of hammers, they don't bite,” LaCognata said. “They just hunt schools of fish.”

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Long Island fisherman Luke Alter believes there are as many sharks here as they used to be: “We have always lived with these fish in the ecosystem. People are only now beginning to realize this thanks to social media.”

“They forget that we live on an island. Where do you think the sharks are? They are all around us,” Alter added.

On the subject: 'Shark Patrol' activated in New York: predators were spotted on the beaches of the city

LaCognata tells would-be shark hunters that they shouldn't be afraid of catching these critters. An experienced sea wolf claims that during his shark trips, no one even got a hook in the hand.

“I had a husband and wife who did it, a father and a daughter. They got it all,” LaCognata said. There are six girls who want to hunt sharks. They went fishing with us. They liked it so much that they wanted to try shark fishing.”