Military fishing team snags 10-foot mako shark offshore in Navarre, Fla.

NAVARRE, Fla. (WEAR) - A fishing team that helps military members and their families with a special experience caught quite the big surprise in Navarre.

American Yakers says it took two baits and more than two hours to reel in a 10-foot-2 mako shark.

The shark was caught offshore with a fishing rod.

American Yakers is a kayak, boat and land-based shark fishing team that offers no-cost charters to military members and their families.

David Wood and Chester Gamble are co-founders of the organization and have taken more than 80 charters since it first began in 2015.

They say they use fishing as a tool to help veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other issues associated with being in the military.

"Fishing with vets who share the same issues tends to help with the communication," they said in a message. "We can relate with each other. We don't force conversation about our issues."

American Yakers says this experience allows veterans to share their stories and experiences while enjoying a beautiful view of Florida.

With the catch of such a large shark, the team decided to keep the mako and harvest her.

American Yakers says they have caught hundreds of sharks over the years. They usually tag and release them for theNOAA Apex Predator program to help provide information on the mortality rates of different shark species.