I love swimming, and I prefer oceans to pools. But there’s always that fear of sharks.

And after years of going to the North Beach, a state park in Fort Pierce, it finally happened. People at the beach gathered and grabbed their cameras. The man who hooked the small shark reeled her into the beach where she was pulled onto shore.

I wasn’t scared but fascinated by the five-foot black tip shark. I acted like a photojournalist instead of a beach-goer, taking pictures while circling the shark closer than anyone else in the crowd.

Here’s some of the best photos from the eventful day: