Landing Mako sharks -- Archive

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Subject: Landing Mako sharks
Author: Jim Day	[ Next Thread \| Previous Thread \| Next Message \| Previous Message ] Date Posted: 1029188755PDT
	Don't shoot E'm!! Lot's of guys have been talking about shooting Mako's. There is no need to shoot sharks if you have the right gear and know what your doing. Years ago a fished with a guy who was trigger happy as soon as the shark was up he'd start popping away at it. Several times he shot through my leader another time he hit the edge of the boat below the water line and took a good chunk of Gel coat off. I finally said no more. Last year a good friend had a thousand pound Mako too his boat and decided to shoot it. It's not something he usually did but because of the size and the fact he was fishing solo he thought it might be a good idea. He shot it, it took off on a run then died and sunk out before he could gaff it. He ended up killing and loosing the biggest Mako he'd ever seen. Most Mako's are lost at the gaff, it's an exciting high stress time. Messing with guns at that point is just asking for trouble. You could loose the shark or worse shoot somebody or put a hole in your boat. I'm not anti gun but just think shooting them is a very bad idea. Gaffing Mako's is different then other fish. Don't do it without a fly gaff. If you don't have one buy one. You want a good size gaff with a slide out detachment not a twist lock and at least ten feet of half inch rope. Makos are dangerous and can jump in the boat or twist off a hand gaff. Always keep the jumping factor in mind. I've seen 150 lb. Mako's 8 ft in the air at the rail and though awesome it's also just scary as #ell. A number of guys have been killed when Makos jumped in their boats. First off clear all gear before you get them to the boat then bring the fish up along side. Don't rush it take your time and set up a good shot. You want to gaff them over the back or from below between the gills and the dorsal close to the fin. Don't head gaff them like tuna. It's easier to gaff over the top but personally I do it from underneath to use theirs weight against them. The reasoning is: if you head gaff them the head will pull up and they may jump right in your face. This is just common sense Mako's often freak out when you stick them and you don't want them pointed at you. Additionally hitting them in the midsection causes a lot of internal damage and bleeding. Go for the heart As soon as you stick them let the hook detach and leave them in the water. Don't lift up on them or they'll freak out. Just relax for a minute and let him bleed out. You've got him just chill out, stow your gear etc. Here's a good shot of one doing just that. http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=16734 After about five or ten minutes he should be ready to kill. Cleat off the fly gaff rope and have your buddy hand gaff the tail. Now stretch him out long ways along the side of the boat. Take a long sharp filet knife and stab him in the back behind the head. The idea here is to cut his spinal cord. Just slide the knife in on one side and cut across inside to the other. You can feel the cord with the knife. It's not bone ( no bones in sharks) so it cuts easily, once you cut it the shark will go limp. Now you can pull him aboard. He's not dead but he won't be able to move so it doesn't matter. He's still alive though so don't try to get the hook out for a while unless you want to loose your hand. Here's a good shot of one just decked: http://www.momentoffame.com/snapshot.html?id=16733 Take a good look. The fly gaff is still in him with the rope attached. A little too far foreword really. You can also see the hand gaff still stuck in his tail. If you look closely you can just see were the knife went in on top behind the head. This shark is still alive but can't do anything with the cord cut. The thing most people don't realize as the actual shark tissue lives on for a long time. You may of heard about sharks coming back to life. Sometimes when shot or hit with a bat they go into shock but then later come to and tear up the cockpit. Unless you hit the brain or spinal cord shooting doesn't really stop them. That's why I started cutting the cord it's a sure thing. I've killed a lot of Mako's this way. It's the surest safest way to take them. They deserve a lot of respect. Not many things out there an really hurt you, these sharks can. I don't recommend fishing them solo. Keith and I do but we've caught thousands of them. If your new to it try and fish with someone else who's got some experience. Mako's are a blast. I love 'Em.. just treat them with respect and you'll have a great time. There's lots of them around but keep and mind these are babies. I personally set a boat limit of 60 inches and a personal limit of 100lbs. Practice conservation and we'll be fishing these things for years to come. Tight lines Jim