Goblin Shark Snagged By Fisherman Off Florida Waters

A goblin shark was caught by a shrimp fisherman off the coast of Key West, Florida, recently.

Goblin Shark (Photo courtesy of NOAA)

Commercial fisherman Carl Moore was surprised to see the 18-foot goblin shark in his net full of red shrimp.

"I didn't even know what it was," Moore told Houston Chronicle. "I didn't get the tape measure out because that thing's got some wicked teeth, they could do some damage."

After taking photos of his rare catch, Moore said he released the shark back in the ocean.

According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), it was only the second time that a goblin shark was seen in the Gulf of Mexico. It is now working with the fisherman to collect important information about the shark, a known deep water species.

NOAA added that such rare sightings and catches should be reported to them as the information they can collect allows them to know more about a species.

The goblin shark is a bottom-dwelling shark that is rarely seen at the surface or in shallow coastal waters. This species is found along the outer continental shelves, upper slopes, and off seamounts.  Few specimens have ever been caught making it one of the rarest species of sharks.