Derek Colton, 11, of Vero Beach, Fla., landed this 6-foot long, 115-pound shark Feb. 24 from the beach after a 90-minute battle on rod and reel.

TCPalm.com/Justin Colton

TCPalm.com/Justin Colton

Derek Colton, 11, of Vero Beach uses great stand-up fishing techniques to battle a shark that weighed more than he did on Feb. 24 near his home in Angler's Cove. Justin Colton photo

Justin Colton of Vero Beach attempts to revive what he believed to be a blacktip shark after his son, Derek, 11, battled it from the beach for 90 minutes on Feb. 24.

Justin Colton of Vero Beach removes the hook from the corner of the shark's mouth after son Derek landed it Feb. 24. The Coltons prepared to release the shark back into the ocean.

After realizing the shark could not be revived, Justin Colton learned the shark was also pregnant. Here he prepares to release the first of six baby blacktip sharks he found alive in the mother shark and released to swim off on Feb. 24.

TCPalm.com/Justin Colton

Big brother (or sister): The first of six newborn sharks released from a beach in Vero Beach Feb. 24 after the mother shark could not be revived following a long battle with an angler.

Sherri Nichols