From the sugar-white beaches near Destin to the deeper green water off Pensacola, anglers know these shores can produce serious fish. Bulls, tigers and hammerheads have made the Panhandle a destination for land-based catch-and-release shark fishing.
Charter operations like Drop Zone Fishing Charters, led by Captain Zachary Burnette, have become part of that growing surf shark scene, helping anglers encounter sharks from the beach with specialized gear and an emphasis on careful handling and release.
Every so often, though, something shows up that stands apart from the usual catch.
That’s what made two great white sharks caught from the surf in the Panhandle by Captain Zach and his clients so special. One was 14 feet, the other 13.5 feet, both females and both safely released. They weren’t targeting whites but that’s what showed up on those days.
Captain Zach also noted that the crew from Tampa Bay Sharks Fishing were out on the sand as well, assisting and supporting the effort on these memorable trips.
Learn more about great white sharks in the Gulf →
👉 https://gulfgreatwhites.com/great-white-sharks-in-the-gulf-of-mexico-complete-guide/
Great whites are not common in Gulf waters, but catches are increasing over time. The Gulf Great White Shark Sightings Database includes confirmed encounters stretching across decades, with reports from Texas to Florida and several notable catches along the northern Gulf Coast.
Most anglers fishing the surf are expecting the steady power of a bull shark or the heavy acrobatics of a big blacktip or spinner.
A white shark is different, not because it’s some mythic creature, but because it’s a rarer part of the Gulf’s shark mix, and an animal more often associated with cooler Atlantic waters.
Encounters like this are a reminder that the Gulf is connected to the wider ocean, and that its waters still hold surprises, even for experienced fishermen.
And it shows great whites are moving into Gulf waters during winter.
Responsible practices on the beach help protect both anglers and sharks, and they play an important role in documenting the continued presence of great whites in Gulf waters.
For researchers and shark enthusiasts, it’s another piece of the evolving picture of great white sharks in Gulf waters.
I am logging these catches in our database of sightings here which is growing all the time.
And I’m working on getting some info in anglers hands to show them all of the points to photograph any white sharks that are caught to help scientists identify them.
Separately, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy maintains an excellent public resource called the White Shark Logbook, built from data collected through their tagged sharks. I’m sharing it here purely as an educational reference for those interested in white shark research and identification. Their work has contributed enormously to public understanding of these animals. The photos below of one of their tagged sharks, “Zero,” highlight key areas to focus on for documentation.
A Message From An Angler-Conservationist
I know some shark enthusiasts dislike shark fishing altogether and that’s their perogative.
I got my interest in sharks from “Jaws” and fishing and my heart for conservation by seeing, catching and releasing them.
That eventually led to doing tagging of blacktip sharks for two years off the Texas-Louisiana Coast for the Mote Marine Laboratory.
People are going to fish for sharks and it’s best that those who do understand proper catch-and-release tactics, use the right gear and also can start understanding how to work with shark scientists and get good documentation of the individual sharks they catch.
I salute everyone who appreciates sharks, whether from a distance, while wearing scuba gear or holding a rod in their hand.
And I’m glad to see some of the positive things happening with focused care given for catch-and-release shark fishing along the Gulf Coast.
Chester Moore
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Learn more about great white sharks in the Gulf →
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Email Chester at chester@chestermoore.com.
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