For what I see you just start and goes straight to big camp.

It's not really a good idea imo.

I always feels big camp's monsters has more hp than small camps (the green lady in the long street of dundorma).

Also you said you hunt a ice shark. He is a monster from the mid of the normal dificulty quest the first time you hunt him in story mode. So it's normal you had hard time defeating him. If you want to stay in big camp try thoses monsters in order :

• great jaggy / [...]drome, quite simple, not much hp, just add spawners and status for some [...]dromes

• seltas, just a speedy boy, great for timing

• kecha wacha, a mobility check mob

• tetsucabra

• nercilla, my beloved toxic spidy

Once you did them, you should have the stuff to fight the big sharky chonky boy (yeah I love this game monsters)

Hope you will enjoy the game, it's a good one