The original goal was simple. Tag the striped marlin for scientific research, and make an instructional video that demonstrates the proper way to release a marlin after tagging.

Things were going smoothly. The marlin had been successfully tagged (1 of 2500 as part of the New South Wales Game Fish Tagging program, the largest of its kind in the world) and photographer/angler Al McGlashan was now underwater capturing some great closeups for the instructional video, just like the one below.

 

 

 

Al decided to swim about ten feet from the boat for some distance shots and different angles. That’s when everything changed.

 

 

 

 

Seemingly out of nowhere, a 10-ft, 600-pound Mako shark appeared and it was feeling peckish. The shark instinctually went for the tail as biting it off immediately disarms big fish like marlins, swordfish and tuna.

 

 

 

 

Just like the shark’s natural instinct was to go for the tail, Al’s photographer instincts had him reaching for the shutter. He snapped away, feeling a slight sense of security knowing that the shark was totally zoned in on its target and everything else was inconsequential.

 

 

 

 

As the shark claimed its meal, Al made his way quickly back to the boat. Blood was now in the water and that sense of security he had moments before was quickly fleeting.