‘I hope this haunts you for the rest of your life’: Boy, eight, who snagged record-breaking 314kg tiger shark is trolled by animal activists for killing the ‘beautiful’ predator
- Jason Millauro, 8, caught the 314kg tiger shark off the coast of south Sydney
- The boy snared the creature when it swam up the back of the 7.3 metre vessel
- The previous record was held by Ian Hissey who caught a 312kg beast in 1997
- He is now being trolled by animal rights activists for killing the shark
An eight-year-old boy who reeled in a record-breaking 314kg shark is now being trolled by animal activists.
Jayden Millauro was fishing with his dad Jonathan and boat captain Ibby Dardas off the coast of south Sydney last weekend when he reeled in the monster tiger shark.
While fishing circles have commended his effort, animal rights activists say the boy should never have killed ‘the beautiful creature’.
‘Another up and coming environmental vandal killing threatened species for a photo opportunity to prove what a man he is,’ one man wrote on a post congratulating Jayden.
‘Pathetic and disgraceful that the fishing fraternity would celebrate the unnecessary slaughter of such a vital animal to the ecosystem… May this haunt you for the rest of your life.’
Jayden Millauro (pictured), eight, was fishing last weekend with his dad when he caught the 314kg beast (pictured)
Others slammed Jayden’s parents for allowing the young boy to kill for sport.
‘So sad that this gives pleasure. They are magnificent creatures, Jayden should take up scuba diving and observe and respect the creatures of the sea.’
‘Can someone explain why are we proud of this kid killing another shark?’
‘Very sad, why did this beautiful animal have to die?’ asked another, while a third simply wrote: ‘Nothing to be proud of killers.’
Other people were upset the boy was receiving so much praise from others for killing the shark, rather than tagging it up and releasing it.
The boy and his father claim the shark followed them just like Jaws in the iconic Spielberg film.
Others said Jayden’s parents were in the wrong for allowing him to kill for sport
The creature was swimming toward the back of their 7.3 metre boat, called The Undertaker, when Jayden managed to hook it.
Jayden told The Daily Telegraph he was ‘nervous’ as the shark was dragged on to the boat.
‘I was thinking that I hope the crew can (get) the shark (on the boat) because I don’t want to lose it. I was really excited when they got it.’
When the trio arrived back at Sylvania Marina they realised the shark was two kilograms heavier than the previous junior record held by Ian Hissey.
When the trio weighed the shark they realised the shark was two kilograms heavier than the previous junior record (pictured: Jayden Millauro and his dad Jonathan Millauro, left)
While fishing circles have commended his effort, animal rights activists say the boy should never have killed ‘the wonderful creature’
Hissey caught a 312kg tiger shark in April 1997 and held the International Game Fish Association’s ‘small fry’ record for 22 years.
While the boy’s father Jonathan Millauro wouldn’t reveal the exact location of the catch, he did say it was near Brown Mountains, off the continental shelf.
‘It was rainy and the seas were rough. We were berleying up and at 11.15 we spotted the shark as it came up to the back of the boat.’
The proud dad said the shark was lured in after they threw bait off the back of the boat.
Jayden, who has been fishing since the age of two, said the catch was a big achievement.