Man Vs Shark!

Ryan McInnis, new Vice President of North Carolina's Advanced Metal Roofing Company, recently went on the national talk-show circuit, including CBS's The Early Show, CNN, and Discovery News to discuss a battle he and his diving mates encountered with a 12-foot tiger shark. His story is also recounted in the New York Post.

In addition to his executive position with Advanced Metal Roofing, Ryan McInnis has a degree in marine biology and is also a free-swimming (without scuba gear) spear-fisherman and videographer. He was on a game fishing trip with friends during the making of a video about the topic when the battle with the tiger shark ensued.

Accompanying McInnis on this trip in June, 2008, were experienced spear-fishermen Craig Clasen, Brian Head and Cameron Kirkconnell as well as photographer D.J. Struntz who was working with McInnis on the video project.

Together, they boated 60 miles into the Gulf of Mexico to a spot where they'd fished before, and all was going well until McInnis became isolated from the group towards the end of the trip, when all the catch was in the boat and he was filming some extra underwater footage. McInnis suddenly noticed a 12-foot tiger shark (The tiger shark is the second most aggressive shark after the Great White) charge towards him and he tried to scare it off by kicking in his direction. While he momentarily redirected the shark, the shark came in again and began swimming in tight circles around him.

McInnis yelled for help and, after concluding that the shark was not retreating, Craig Clasen fired his spear-gun which penetrated but did not work to kill the shark. As spear-fishermen, the men believe they must finish the kill as the most humane outcome for the animal. What ensued was a 2-hour battle of man versus shark, caught on McInnis's camera. Clasen speared, wrestled, and knifed the shark - all in an effort to make sure the shark was dead.

McInnis, Clasen, and their diving team felt deep remorse at the outcome of this situation. They all have a tremendous respect for the ocean and marine life and beleive that spear-fishing is still the most humane way to hunt and kill fish to eat.