The 2nd Annual North Atlantic Shark Tournament is already off to a better start than last year's.

The tournament, with it's home base anchored at Pier 3 in New Bedford, welcomed it's first catch of the weekend Friday afternoon, with the fishing boat Soul Mate hauling in a 329-pound Porbeagle shark.

Tournament organizer Frank Papp tells WBSM News it's an encouraging way to start the event. "He actually got the shark on the boat at 11 o'clock. And then he got back here, I think, at about 2 o'clock. It was nice. That's how we kicked off last year, too, on our Friday," said Frank.

Last year's winning catch was a 282-pound Mako shark.

21 boats are participating in this year's tournament, which not only awards $20,000 in prizes, but donates proceeds to several organizations including the Center for Sustainable Fishing, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and the UMass Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology.

The public is invited to watch participants bring their catch to shore at Pier 3 Saturday afternoon from 3-6pm.

A young shark enthusiast gets close and personal with the detatched head of a Porbeagle shark on Pier 3 Friday afternoon. - Taylor Cormier/Townsquare Media
A young shark enthusiast gets close and personal with the detatched head of a Porbeagle shark on Pier 3 Friday afternoon. - Taylor Cormier/Townsquare Media
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