On September 21, 2026, anglers on the Johnnie Mercers Fishing Pier, off the coast of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, spotted an 8 to 9 foot hammerhead shark with albino coloration.
Because the anglers had no interest in harvesting the shark and were not equipped with shark-harvesting gear, they left the animal undisturbed. The pier’s owners stated that the anglers reeled in their bait to avoid interacting with or harming the shark, while also protecting their fishing gear.
The pier’s owners also emphasized that shark harvesting, and the possession of shark-harvesting gear are strictly prohibited on the pier.