Mako shark caught off Jersey Shore was a monster but can't claim a record

To be or not to be.

It looks as if the 12-foot, 926-pound mega mako reeled in over the weekend is not going to set a record as New Jersey's largest shark ever caught.

Yes, the mako is bigger than the 880-pound tiger shark caught in 1988 and recorded by wildlife officials as the largest.

But  the state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife does not recognize a fish caught by more than one angler. So the six guys who hooked and took turns reeling in the marine beast are not record-setters, said Lawrence Hajna, a department spokesman.

"Technically it will not qualify," Hajna said. "If you look at the shark alone, it would appear to be a record shark."

It's a little confusing on the department website's list of regulations. According to Rule No. 3: "New Jersey state records are determined by weight alone."

Not so. Hajna points to the bottom of the application where it notes that the angler (singular) must swear that the fish was caught without anyone's help.

It may sound bureaucratic, but that's the rule, Hajna said, adding that the mako was still "quite a haul" and an "interesting fish story."

Mark Miccio, who was among six family members and friends who booked the Jenny Lee recreational fishing vessel in Brielle, is not defeated.

"It's a record for us," he said with good humor.

They had the mako's weight certified at Hoffman's Marina in Manasquan, and sent a picture to fish and wildlife officials. They did not submit an application because of the single-angler rule. They have 30 days to do so, but Miccio said he does not plan to.

Meanwhile, the group has become part of a social-media controversy in which animal rights activists have accused them of killing simply to get a trophy for a group photo. Activists argue the shark is overfished and should be released when caught. The anglers shot the shark with a 12-gauge shotgun to kill it before pulling it on board the boat.

Others defended the fishermen, noting the mako was not a trophy because it was cut into steaks.

Miccio said the crew explained that shooting the shark was the humane way to put down the fish and to protect the safety of those on the boat.

Miccio likened it to hunters who wound a deer. They wouldn't strap the animal to the hood of their truck while it was still alive, he said.