Criminal The Longline
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Apr 3, 2026 Tanner Mansell, a former corporate worker turned shark‑diving guide, and John Moore, a veteran boat captain and tour operator, recount finding a longline tangled with dozens of sharks. They describe cutting sharks free, the viral photos that followed, clashes with authorities and local fishers, a contentious prosecution and trial, and an unexpected presidential pardon that changed their lives.
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Rescuing 19 Sharks From A Hidden Longline
- John Moore and Tanner Mansell found an orange buoy tied to a very long, thick fishing line and pulled up sharks one after another, cutting 19 sharks free from the line.
- They hauled the line onto their boat, coiled it to prevent more entanglements, and passengers helped film and cut sharks loose as the effort took hours and backbreaking work.
Illegitimate Longline Looked Like A Clandestine Trap
- The longline they found looked improvised and unmarked compared with regulated commercial longlines that carry large buoys and permit IDs.
- John noted pink Walmart weights and a faded buoy with no radar dome or permit info, signaling an illegal or clandestine setup that threatened shark survival.
Viral Photos Turned Rescuers Into Targets
- After bringing the massive pile of line to the marina, John and Tanner became local celebrities as people photographed the gear and the story went viral on a fishing blog.
- Online attention then spawned rumors that the line was permitted, and commenters warned they might be in trouble.