Thread: Shark fishing

i got my cobia rod and gaff waiting to bust a blacktip ..waiting on the phone call to get picked

I don't know what will be more entertaining...seeing the sharks caught, or seeing the array of 30' "release poles" those Bama 'necks will come up with!

WE are going to need a 'Live Stream' of said sharking event. I would love to see someone stream it for all of us to enjoy. Thanks to everyone (esp. Tato) for constantly pushing to get this to happen!

Have you ever tried to remove a hook from a shark? There is no device on the end of a 30 ft pole that's going to do it! Bring the poles to satisfy the rule and then break them off!

Maybe use a relatively weak hook and have a large loop at the swivel end of the leader. Use a long pole with a hook shaped end to catch the loop and pull the leader until the hook straightens?? All I can think of.

I'll do my part to land a few sharks that escape to fort morgan. Good luck to those who participate.

I don't see where dehooking an undersized or illegal shark is mandatory.
Just need something to cut the line or leader as close to the fish as possible.
That would minimize handling and mortality (bad press is something the park would prefer to avoid ;-)
Besides these sharks have been wearing plenty of bling-bling in their mouths for years now anyway ;-)

IMHO if the folkses selected go out there 'equipped' for sharks they are likely to be disappointed.
After all these sharks (mostly blacktips and spinners) are 'educated' and used to eating mackerel.
We need to use that against them!
I think 'stealthy' oversized king tackle is going to land more of these sharks that have been the biggest PITAs.
Fishing with a king head or 1/2 a spanish carcass with a 1/0 4X treble on a 3 foot piece of 90# wire and a 10 foot 80# mono ought to trick them into letting their guard down.

Back in the 1970s and 80s we used to catch blacktips like this from DI Pier all night long using live white trout and croakers for bait.
You'd be surprised at the numbers brought up to the pier even with mono leaders guys were using to target bull reds.
And all we had to get them on the pier was a couple of 18 foot bamboo pole gaffs!

For the newbies: If you ever are able to participate in this or a similar situation where you're bringing a big fish up with a gaff, make sure you free-spool once the fish is gaffed. Imagine getting a 150# shark halfway up and he comes off the gaff and you've kept a tight line! Horrors!

A question from someone (me) who don't know jack, but are the reg's talking about 30' dog catcher's pole? Can't grasp how that would even be workable. And are the sharks meant for harvest, if legal sized?

Shark fishing season announced for Gulf State Park Pier - WKRG
Baldwin County

Shark fishing season announced for Gulf State Park Pier

By:

• Debbie Williams

Posted: Jun 15, 2018 05:23 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 15, 2018 09:12 PM CDT

GULF SHORES, Ala. (WKRG) - Next week, the Octagon at the end of the pier will be shut down from eight o'clock till midnight Tuesday the 19th and on the 26th. For those two nights when an angler hooks up on a shark they will actually be able to land it.
"It's a good thing," says Anthony Dudley, "try to take some of these sharks from the area and see what happens from there."
The Alabama Department of Conservation has announced a limited shark season at the pier in response to angler's angst over all the sharks.
"I don't know if two nights is going to correct the problem that is out here," says local angler George Arterbure. "I mean, they don't have any fear, they know everything is here and they are not even getting our baits anymore they are waiting for us to actually catch something before they hit it. "
But not everyone thinks it's a good idea. Matthew Holland considers himself an avid fisherman and a regular at the pier. "It's not going to keep them away. They have to eat just like everybody else does. It's a feeding ground. They are going to come back but I don't think they should be killed, I think they should be caught and released."
Registration has already begun through the pier and the Department of Conservation's website. Fishing will be limited to 10 anglers each night along with two assistants to help haul the shark onto the deck of the pier. Size and bag limits will apply.

http://www.wkrg.com/news/baldwin-county/shark-fishing-season-announced-for-gulf-state-park-pier/1242099742