Corpus Christi woman reels in 9-foot tiger shark near Bob Hall Pier on Padre Island

A Corpus Christi woman reeled in a 9-foot tiger shark just south of Bob Hall Pier on Labor Day.

Josie Silva said she caught the shark around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 around mile marker 300 on Padre Island. It took her about 40 minutes to reel the female shark to shore.

"My initial reaction to the catch was complete excitement," Silva said. "I knew it was going to be a big shark, but I was in complete shock when we found out she was a 9-footer. Tiger sharks can be as large as 12-15 feet. So, she was definitely up there in size."

After measuring the tiger shark, Silva said the large fish was tagged and released back into the Gulf of Mexico.

Silva said the catch and release was a part of the Texas Shark Rodeo. The rodeo is a shark fishing tournament with an emphasis on tagging and collecting data for the conservation of sharks. 

Silva said marine biologists will use the tracker she put on the tiger shark to track its health and migration pattern. 

"It's all for a really good cause," Silva said. "Our team the 3rd Coast Beach Bums participates every year. I've been with the group for about a year and a half, and in that time, this is my second shark catch, but it's definitely my personal best."

Silva said she caught the female tiger shark with a homemade fishing rod she designed.

“I made the rod about a week before the tournament,” Silva said. “The rod I used is by Steadfast and the reel is an Avet TRX80. My fiancé is a rod builder with MLJ rods and is showing me how to build as well. The fact that I made the rod, it just made the catch so much more special for me."

Silva said while sharks can look ferocious in the water, people should not be afraid of them when visiting the beach.

"I just want people to understand that these animals are out there and should be respected like all marine animals," Silva said. "I thought that I was going to be afraid of sharks when I started fishing, but it really isn't. The most important thing is to have fun, keep the beaches clean and respect the waters."

She said Corpus Christi-area residents who are interested in joining tournaments with 3rd Coast Beach Bums or would like to join the group for shark fishing can visit the group's Facebook page for more information.

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Meagan Falcon covers entertainment, things to do and trending news. Support more coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe