OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) — Just as summer begins, some interesting sights in the surf were spotted recently at a North Carolina island south of Wilmington.

Oak Island in Brunswick County is nearly 20 square miles and features all kinds of wildlife.

As the Atlantic Ocean warms up along Oak Island’s 10 miles of beachfront, a shark was accidentally caught in the surf just last week and released.

Sharks are common sights around the 12-mile long island, where at least one charter operates taking folks out on the ocean to try to catch sharks.

Last Saturday, a fisherman accidentally hooked an 8-foot lemon shark, a species that is not normally aggressive toward humans.

The shark was caught as the June Strawberry moon could be seen over the fishing pier. After catching the shark in the surf, the fisherman struggled a bit to unhook the fish — finally letting it go.

And around Memorial Day, a rare alligator was caught on video at the same Oak Island pier. The gator — a baby — was spotted in clear shallow water.

Mary Frances Barnes Rodriguez caught the video of the gator swimming and floating along the waves.

Oak Island has warned about sharks in the past — and uses a purple flag on beaches to let beachgoers know about possible threats from sea creatures.

So far, on the North Carolina coast, a 14-year-old boy was bitten by a shark last weekend in North Topsail Beach, north of Wilmington in Onslow County.

Five days before the teen was bitten, there was an initial report of a “shark bite” at Sunset Beach in Brunswick County, near the South Carolina line, according to WWAY-TV. Police at the island later said a man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after he was bitten by a sea creature, but officials could not confirm it was a shark.

If you like excitement, get ready because the Washington Spirit are about to face a fiery test against the North Carolina Courage. At Audi Field this Saturday, during Pride Night, the league leaders will square off against one of the most resilient and defensively solid teams in the NWSL.

The Washington Spirit, with their ten wins, are making NWSL history. They became only the third team in league history to win ten of their first fourteen regular season matches, a feat only Seattle and the North Carolina Courage themselves have managed before. Coming off a physical and decisive win against Gotham FC, the Spirit are fired up and confident. Courtney Brown and Croix Bethune were outstanding in the last match, with Bethune collecting her ninth assist of the season, a milestone that puts her among the best in league history.

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On the other hand, the Courage, despite an uneven start, have been recovering with an iron defense and an attack that has finally found its rhythm. They are coming off an impressive win against the Chicago Red Stars, where three different players scored. This result is a sign that the Courage are not messing around and can surprise any opponent.

The Spirit know it won’t be easy. The Courage have dominated possession this season, leading the league with 58% possession and over 5,800 passes completed. That means the Spirit need to be surgical in the opportunities they get. And speaking of opportunities, the Spirit attack is one of the most lethal in the league. With Trinity Rodman, Ouleymata Sarr and Croix Bethune leading the charge, the Spirit have an offensive line that can pick apart any defense.

This clash also marks the return of Ashley Sanchez to Audi Field. Sanchez was traded at the beginning of the year, and her performance has been solid with two goals and three assists this season. Will she put on a show against her former team? It’s the kind of storyline that makes this sport so exciting.

What’s more, the Spirit’s unbeaten run in their last six matches adds an extra layer of pressure. They know that a stumble could cost them dearly in the title race. On the other hand, the Courage are still looking for their first away win this season, and toppling the leaders would make a powerful statement.

And if you think Spirit will settle for the lead, think again. This team has shown an insatiable hunger for victories, and Pride Night is the perfect setting for yet another spectacle. With the fans on their side and extra motivation, Spirit are determined to maintain their position at the top.

The team needs to be alert and take advantage of every opportunity, while the Courage are looking to keep possession and exploit any gaps in the defense. The question remains: who will emerge victorious? No matter the result, one thing is certain – high-quality soccer and lots of excitement are guaranteed. Let’s follow along and hope for a great spectacle!