Great White Shark Chomps Small Shark On Camera

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — A real life "Jaws" moment occurred off the coast of Virginia this Friday, when researchers fishing in the Virginia Beach region witnessed a great white attack a smaller shark on their longline.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science researchers first caught a 4-foot black tip shark during a longline fishing survey three and a half miles off the coast of Sandbridge Friday afternoon, according to The Virginia Pilot.

To their surprise, a 12- to 13-foot great white shark then showed up to feed on its smaller predator.

The researchers rushed to save the other sharks they caught, which they tag and release, while the great white enjoyed his meal and swam away.

"We weren't expecting that one," researcher Kaitlyn O'Brien, who took the picture, told The Virginia Pilot. "It made a real mess of our lines."

See the full story here.

Photo via K. O'Brien/VIMS