A fishing trip intended for father-son bonding turned into a digital controversy for Sammy Tilyard, who found himself at the center of online criticism after catching a massive three-metre bronze whaler shark off the coast of Bridport, Tasmania. The viral footage of his 45-minute struggle with the shark quickly garnered mixed reactions, with many commentators praising his catch while others accused him of mistreating the creature.
Initially excited about the catch, Tilyard’s enthusiasm shifted as the online backlash focused on the shark’s welfare. He emphasized that the animal was unharmed and that he had recorded its release after a brief encounter on the shore. “The main thing that cops a lot of heat online is the assumption it was killed,” Tilyard stated. “I don’t have to defend myself but I’d like to. Some of the names I’ve been called are crazy.”
The shark was on the shore for less than three minutes, during which time Tilyard ensured water was reaching its gills while he removed the hook and took a photograph. He expressed frustration over the quick judgment from online viewers, noting, “People very quickly jump to the conclusion that it was killed. They don’t read the articles first and jump to conclusions.”
Tilyard, who has been fishing since childhood, was on holiday with his family at Bridport when he heard rumors of large sharks being caught in the bay. Intrigued, he decided to take a chance. “I thought why not have a try?” he recalled. Tilyard kayaked approximately 400 metres offshore to drop a full-sized salmon bait before returning to his rod on the beach.
An hour later, he felt a tug on the line. “From the moment the shark took the bait, I knew it was something far larger than I expected,” Tilyard explained. “I was kind of shocked; I didn’t know what I had. I had never had a stingray take that much line and pull that hard.” The excitement escalated when the shark leaped out of the water, confirming its identity.
In an unexpected turn, another shark followed Tilyard’s catch to the shore. “When I went into the water to grab her, there was another one equal size by her side,” he said, describing how the two sharks often swim together to round up fish. “I reckon that was my favorite part about it, seeing the other one. It was very special.”
Tilyard believes his catch may represent a significant milestone in local fishing history. “It’s a bold statement, but I’m pretty sure it would’ve been the first recorded land-based bronze whaler shark caught in Tasmania,” he remarked. He added that while he has caught sharks in Hobart before, nothing compared to the scale of this catch, especially using a hand-held rod and reel, which are typically not employed for such large fish.
With no intention of harming the shark, Tilyard described the experience as purely sportsmanship. “It was a pretty special time for me and my young fella; he’s fishing-mad,” he said, noting his son’s excitement at being part of the moment. “He put his hands on it and was pretty stoked.”
As the digital conversation continues, Tilyard hopes to shift the focus from criticism to the joy of fishing and the shared experiences that bring families closer together.
