Ron Burgundy ... FOUGHT A SHARK!!!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the "Anchorman" franchise ...

Check out Will Ferrell -- aka Ron Burgundy -- battling a mechanical Great White last week off the coast of Georgia, where "Anchorman: The Legend Continues" is shooting.

If it were a man, he'd punch it. Punch it right in the mouth.

Burgundy had a stand-in on the film ... but judging by the pics, he went ahead and performed his own stunts for the shark attack scene.