A fisherman in Florida may have had the worst excuse for why he was punching a hammerhead shark after he caught one in the surf and was subsequently charged with a misdemeanor.
Granger Ray Wooten, 21, of Lafayette, Georgia, and his friend landed a 9-foot hammerhead shark while fishing near St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach on October 24.
The men then took the shark out of the water and put a child on top of the shark for a picture. Apparently, they were unaware sharks need water to survive because the shark was in terrible condition when they put it back in the water. They attempted to revive the shark by giving it CPR. In reality, what they were actually doing was holding the shark by its head while repeatedly punching it in the stomach.
In reality, what they were actually doing was holding the shark by its head while repeatedly punching it in the stomach.
The shark was discovered by FWC officers, motionless and floating under the pier.
Wooten first saif that no one had messed with the shark, but his story quickly changed when witnesses said otherwise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaIfh5npl6E
“Mr. Wooten then changed his story and attempted to explain to me that he was punching the shark around the stomach area to get the air out of its lungs,” officers wrote. “Then he said, ‘It’s kinda like doing CPR on a shark.'”
Wooten’s unnamed friend will not face charges, unlike his buddy, who could’ve avoided the whole situation had he immediately released the shark after catching it.
