Angler all smiles despite losing part of catch to great white shark.
Angler is all smiles despite having paid the shark tax.

A Cape Cod sportfishing company last week shared an image of an angler posing with half of a striped bass, thanks to a great white shark that collected the other half.

Reel Deal Fishing Charters stated via Facebook: “First shark attack of the season as a large white shark sheers this striped bass in half and then just evades the video with a quick takeoff.”

It probably won’t be the only such incident this season, with white sharks present off Cape Cod to fatten up mostly on seals, and with striped bass having migrated into the region.

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As shark researcher John Chisolm said to the Boston Globe: “Fishing is starting to pick up with better weather, and striped bass are returning just like the sharks.

“Many people think sharks just eat seals, but they don’t as we know. So when fishing from the side of a boat, be aware that sharks are looking for fish too, and you need to be cautious.”

In other words, be extra careful while leaning over the rail to handle your catch.

As always in the fishing universe, when a hooked fish is attacked by a shark, references are made to the “taxman,” or “tax collector.”

Reads one of the top comments beneath the Reel Deal Fishing Charters post: “The Tax man giveth and taketh, lol.”

Another follower asked, “How big was the ‘tax man’?”

Reel Deal FishIng Charters responded: “About 12 feet, [a] smaller one.”

This article originally appeared on For The Win: If you plan to fish off Cape Cod, be prepared to pay the shark tax

Reporting by Pete Thomas, For The Win / For The Win

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