Big Shark Is Snagged And Then Shot—Newport Beach, Oct. 30—A genuine “man eating” shark, fourteen feet long and weighing approximately 1800 pounds, said to be the largest fish ever caught from the Newport Pier, was hauled to land shortly after 2 o’clock Monday afternoon by Frank Claudenia.
The battle between the huge sea monster and Claudenia waged only for fifteen minutes when onlookers, realizing that the catch at the end of the line was of such nature that it could not probably have been landed, made for their homes for a rifle which to shoot the monster.
R. J. Shaffer of this city, who had been fishing on the pier, was the first to reach shore and return with a rifle. He immediately took four shots at the monster. The last of the shots succeeded in hitting the “man eater” in a vital spot and he floated quietly on the water. A team of horses was secured to draw him upon the beach.
The news of the large catch soon spread and hundreds of persons from both Balboa and Newport rushed to see the huge fish.
Fishermen immediately had a considerable discussion concerning the species of the monster. Several declared that the fish was a mackerel shark and others declared that they knew it to be of the “man eater” species. One fisherman, who professed to know, declared that he had killed scores of this species which he generally found at a considerable distance from shore, and declared that this was as close to a “man eater” as he had ever seen if it was not a genuine shark of the “man eating” variety.
According to the version of the catch as explained by Claudenia, the monster had tackled several hooks of other fishermen but had succeeded in breaking their lines. The fish then took his bait which consisted of a three pound mackerel and started for deep water. While he held him others ran for a rifle and the huge sea monster’s life was soon ended.
The large fish has been hailed beneath the pier and will be preserved and kept whole for a while and will be placed on exhibition.
The battle between the huge sea monster and Claudenia waged only for fifteen minutes when onlookers, realizing that the catch at the end of the line was of such nature that it could not probably have been landed, made for their homes for a rifle which to shoot the monster.
R. J. Shaffer of this city, who had been fishing on the pier, was the first to reach shore and return with a rifle. He immediately took four shots at the monster. The last of the shots succeeded in hitting the “man eater” in a vital spot and he floated quietly on the water. A team of horses was secured to draw him upon the beach.
The news of the large catch soon spread and hundreds of persons from both Balboa and Newport rushed to see the huge fish.
Fishermen immediately had a considerable discussion concerning the species of the monster. Several declared that the fish was a mackerel shark and others declared that they knew it to be of the “man eater” species. One fisherman, who professed to know, declared that he had killed scores of this species which he generally found at a considerable distance from shore, and declared that this was as close to a “man eater” as he had ever seen if it was not a genuine shark of the “man eating” variety.
According to the version of the catch as explained by Claudenia, the monster had tackled several hooks of other fishermen but had succeeded in breaking their lines. The fish then took his bait which consisted of a three pound mackerel and started for deep water. While he held him others ran for a rifle and the huge sea monster’s life was soon ended.
The large fish has been hailed beneath the pier and will be preserved and kept whole for a while and will be placed on exhibition.
—Santa Ana Register, October 30, 1923