Discussion Board

Ryanfish

Joined: 12/31/1999
Posts: 9

Fall turns to Winter... prospects for shark fishing?

Hi all,

This summer I started to get in to sharking, dragging chum buckets around the 14, 267, 209 for some small makos and blues. I've kind of always been a geek for sharks, so it was fun to get out there and get close up to these cool animals.

I would appreciate input as to what you all think about shark fishing in the winter and off season months of November-March? What are your experiences?

I hear people talk about the Makos being gone in this time as the water gets colder. But I have also read that blue sharks prefer colder water temps. Where could I go (southern California) to get some shark action do you think? I am familiar with fishing local banks, etc... anyone have #'s on sharky areas? Are there any rules with regards to water temps, chlorophyll, etc during this time of year?

I am exclusively C&R with sharks. Also, I am in the process of making a shark diving cage; I would like to do some of that this winter as well.

Bored in the off season,

Ryanfish

11/12/2009 12:24 AM

Swords Makos & Threshers

Ryan here is some basic stuff to hopefully help from the marlin board moderator Stan the man Ecklund who has an incredibly passionate site SCMOL www.marlinnut.com I have learned a lot from Stan he is actually one of the first guys that inspired me towards conservation along with Fred Archer.

If you have any further questions fire away all ways happy to be of assistance a long with all the other contributors here at all coast.

You can call me any time 310 562 6205 at your service

Swords Makos & Threshers

Background
I began fishing for shortfin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus) in 1994 and after learning about their reproductive biology, I decided that the responsible thing to do was to give back to the resource rather than to take from it. As my interest in makos grew I learned about the Department of Fish and Game's (DFG) volunteer shark tagging program. The program's objectives are to use the data obtained from the tag and release of pelagic sharks to estimate the local distribution and abundance, and to track the shark's long-term migrations within and beyond the southern California Bight. My involvement in the tag and release program has grown considerably, as a result of which during the past four years I have tagged and released over 1,000 sharks (over 50% makos).

In addition to simply implanting the spaghetti tags on sharks, we must acquire data on sex and length if we are to increase our understanding of the local shark population structure. However, if you have ever tried to handle an explosive small mako at the side of your boat, you will know that obtaining accurate length and sex data is not an easy task. Inaccurate sexing may arise from the fact that the reproductive organs of male juvenile makos are not yet fully developed and consequently are very small. There is also some variation between the common visual guestimation of length and a more precise direct measurement (see Tagging section). Striving to come up with a better way to collect this and other biological information, I designed and created a shark sling. The original sling was made of plastic ABS pipes and an old canvas boat cover, however, the sharks teeth proved more powerful than expected and the canvas was replaced by thick rubber. The sling was suspended by an engine hoist, salvaged from the garage, and bolted through the deck of the 24' Skipjack, "The Shark Tagger". Finally, to complete my new contraption, I attached a load cell between the engine hoist and the shark sling. This allowed for a precise measurement of live weight before the shark was released.

The first day of weighing sharks off Redondo Beach with Mike Jones (a professional photographer from Canada) and David Lopez (a.k.a. "Jaw Man") was very exciting. The first fish brought to the boat that day was a 6ft. mako, a very respectable mako for these waters, and a formidable adversary. After a quick battle we pulled the mako into the sling and slowly raised the sling out of the water. We anxiously looked at the digital scale readout as it leveled at 127 pounds, what an incredible moment. Next, we implanted the tag at the base of the dorsal fin and collected the makos total length and sex. Finally we released the hook and lowered the sling into the water. The mako instantly disappeared from sight and left us with a vigorous splash.

The idea of weighing the sharks was adopted by John Ugoretz, from the DFG, and was put to use during their annual long-lining research cruise off the Southern California Bight. I was fortunate enough to able to participate in this four-day research cruise and assisted in many ways. During my many talks with the investigators aboard the research vessel, I realized the importance of the bilateral flow of information between scientists and sport fishermen. For example, to achieve a clean jaw hook set as opposed to a gill hook set or deeper stomach set, I showed them my baiting techniques. In turn the scientists taught me how fragile the sharks really are, especially the gills where only a paper-thin layer of tissue separates the water from the bloodstream. This prompted me to use smaller hooks, and to pay close attention that if when releasing the fish there was a possibility of damaging the gills it is better to cut the leader and leave the hook, rather than taking the chance of deeply wounding the shark.

During the research cruise I met Diego Bernal, a scientist on the cruise who was collecting tissue samples for shark biochemical research. Since then, we have been working together on various projects. Diego is a graduate student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is conducting his Ph.D. research on mako shark physiology. Diego's research focuses on mako shark swimming energetics, and the use muscle biochemical capacities as an index of swimming performance. Another focus on his mako project is to understand how the relative proportion of swimming muscles, gill surface area and heart mass change with size, and how these animals utilize their ability to retain metabolically produced heat to warm certain muscles and improve sustained locomotor activity. The combined efforts of my fishing expertise provide Diego's research with specific tissues, that will in turn offer a better understanding of mako biology and may ultimately assist the fishery management in insuring a brighter future for this very important resource.

I have set my personal standards for responsible mako fishing. The resource cannot stand the pressure that has been placed upon it. In the past I have only kept four sharks, all males over 6 feet in length weighing more than 100 pounds. The last one, in April of 1998, was 9 feet and weighed over 400 pounds (the largest male mako recorded). If you are going to take a fish it is best to keep a larger male, leaving the females to reproduce. A larger male provides more table faire, as opposed to several pups.

In order to understand the importance of tagging and releasing makos it is important to review what is known about their size at first sexual maturity and growth rate. Scientists have shown that male and female makos sexually mature at different total lengths, with males maturing at 6ft and females at between 8 and 9ft. Moreover, the time it takes makos to reach sexual maturity has not yet been clearly resolved. For example, some workers have estimated that males take 3 to 4 years to reach sexual maturity and may live up to 20 years, while others estimate sexual maturity at 7 to 8 years and a longevity of 45 years. This is where the data collected from tagging and recapture become an extremely important tool for age and growth determinations of the eastern Pacific makos. In addition, by increasing the number of tagged makos we augment the probability of recapturing the fish and thus provide a better perspective on the distribution and abundance of the regional shark population.

All sharks fertilize their eggs inside the female and after an estimated 1 year gestation time, newborn mako pups are born alive and ready to fend for themselves. The average mako litter has 14 pups, which measure about 2 1/2ft. total length. It is important for us as sportfishers to understand that in difference to bony fish which can produce millions of larvae every year, makos (and sharks in general) have a very limited reproductive output. Such a great difference in the number and frequency of newborns produced by makos (average of 14/litter), puts them at a substantially greater degree of danger for overfishing. Moreover, since the average mako captured in southern California Bight is usually smaller than 4ft., and large sexually mature makos are a rare find, the Bight may serve as a nursery ground in which the pups feed and grow on the abundant prey, such as mackerel and sardines. In addition, the Bight may offer a safe place for small makos to avoid becoming prey of larger sharks.

Hunting
Most shark fisherman in Southern California run up to banks and throw out a bucket of chum, while sitting and hoping for the best. However, unlike rock cod, pelagic sharks do not sit and wait for a meal, they spend their entire life in continuous movement in search of prey. These highly mobile predators are not going to waste their energy by hunting in places where water conditions are not adequate. Pelagic sharks, especially makos, are usually found in a specific temperature range and in areas where there is an ample food supply. Even though there are some hypothesis about some shark species orientating their horizontal movements with the ocean floor's magnetic anomalies, conclusive evidence that makos follow such patterns remain unresolved. In addition, the eastern Pacific makos seem to spend the greatest percentage of time at depths that are above the thermocline, with only a limited number of deeper dives. It is important to reiterate that the large amount of data collected for the northwestern Atlantic makos may not directly apply to their west coast counterparts, as the thermocline depth and general bathimetry are widely different between the east and west coasts. For example, a mako sonic tracking study off Florida may lead us to conclude that makos follow the isolume (depth at which there is no considerable change in light level) and hence that makos are found in shallow waters during the night. However, studies of eastern Pacific mako vertical movements show that they rarely make excursions below the shallow eastern Pacific thermocline, thus, this mako population may be limited to an overall shallower depth. In contrast, the east coast is a completely different situation, as the thermocline is present at a greater depth allowing for a potential greater range of vertical movement.

One of the most important reasons why makos are commonly found around banks and canyons is that there is generally some associated nutrient rich deep-water upwelling. The influx of nutrient rich water sparks an increase primary production, which is the cornerstone of the marine food chain. Bait schools seek these conditions, and inherently makos and other apex predators follow. In summary, we are talking about a specific suite of oceanographic conditions. These conditions are what you must actively look for, so don't just sit and wait at any shallow spot for a hookup. Nevertheless, under the right conditions, I have found makos in 80 feet of water with no apparently relevant floor structure. ! Remember that you will never become a good fisherman until you become a great hunter!

If you are planning to specifically target makos you must spend countless hours reading fish reports and analyzing sea-surface temperature maps, which in conjunction provide the best way to select the appropriate water conditions. These optimum conditions have proven to be: 70BAF surface water, lots of bait (preferably mackerel), and a good strong drift approximately 1-3 knots (best if parallel to the shelf). To increase the chances of catching a mako, you should preselect at least 4 different spots that meet you water condition criteria. Upon reaching the first spot it is important to use your fish-finder to locate a school of baitfish, in addition, look for signs of birds and jumpers. Next, determine the direction and strength of the drift and reposition yourself BC to BD mile updrift (a greater distance may be necessary if the drift is very fast). The objective is to lay a good chum slick that will pass directly over the preselected spot. The best chum slick is created using 2 square 4 BD gallon buckets of New Fishall Chum and dumping them into 5 gallon round buckets with 40 1" drilled holes. I have baptized this as "choke chumming". I have found New Fishall Chum to be the best bait mix available. When I start my drift and am trolling the buckets, I drop over a Top Gun Deep Diver made by Ballyhood Big Game International Trolling Lures. The Ballyhood has a 2lb mackerel inserted in it. When trolling, I usually use a Penn International 80 STW spooled with 130 LB Dacron with the drag set to 38lbs. It is important to keep the mackerel at the thermocline depth. Using this method I can attribute about half of my catch to the Ballyhood and have found that usually the bigger makos hit it first! To give your chum slick that "special quality", have a one gallon dispenser of Menhaden Fish Oil from Bordner Offshore Products, dispensing oil in the fully open position. It has proven extremely effective to continuously submerge a Mako Magnet over the side of the boat. Since your slick only distributes its smell along your drift path, the Mako Magnet expands you effective range of fish attraction by projecting a 360BA low frequency sound up to a distance of 1 mile. Scientists have long taken advantage of the shark's incredibly sensitive hearing and pressure wave perception and used low frequency sounds to attract them. If there is no activity for about an hour at the first preselected spot around move to the next one. Remember that this is the reason you have 4 preselected spots.

Tagging
Fishing alone over 90% of the time has obligated me to devise some unique techniques for safely capturing and tagging sharks. I use a Penn International 50SW reel spooled with 100 LB Dacron, and attach a wind on leader made of Burns Saltwater Outfitter's Soft Steel monofilament. Practical experience has taught me that Dacron is far superior to monofilament because it does not stretch and you can get a higher test line with the same capacity of line on the reel. One of the advantages of using the Soft Steel wind on leader is that you only need to attach a maximum of 5ft of 360lb single strand stainless steel leader. To estimate the length of the leader that will best work for you, place the rod into the rod-holder and let the leader hang over the side of the boat until it touches the surface of the water, measure this distance and then subtract 12 inches. I have found that following this procedure allows the bend of the rod to assist in an effective hook release. The 300 LB Soft Steel that I have setup enables me to max out the drag so that I can easily drop the rod in the rod-holder. This is the best and safest way to handle sharks at the side of the boat.

Releasing the sharks is as important as catching them. To release the sharks and minimize the damage to the their soft tissues, I use the Burns Saltwater Outfitters release stick. I have found that Burns has the best design available as it does not have any sharp edges, and has a smaller head which is easier to work with. Slide the release stick down the leader until you reach the arch of the hook, then patiently wait for the fish to position itself correctly, this will considerably reduce the chance of post-catch mortality. The predetermined length of the steel leader (see previous paragraph) bends the rod and creates the perfect spring action to help release the hook. Neonatal makos (under 3ft in length) are very fragile, in a sense like newborn babies, so I will not force a release stick into their mouth as the gills lie dangerously close. To decrease the damage done to small makos by the releasing process, I have found that if the hook is not clearly visible in the jaw, it best to cut the leader as close to the hook as possible. It is very important to avoid letting the sharks run with the bait as they can easily swallow the hook and become injured during the fight. To avoid such an outcome, I do not put the line more than 100 feet off of the back of the boat and I set the hook immediately to insure a proper jaw hook set. Remember that if you are going to go out and catch makos, there is no room for error and the job should be done right the first time.

Even though it is tempting to use big hooks so that the big one does not get away, I have found that 9/0 Mustad hooks are more than adequate. These small hooks are inexpensive and reduce the risk of damage to the fish. Not long ago, I tagged and released a 7ft. mako that was over 200 lbs, an 8ft 2inch mako over 300 lbs, and many pups on the same Mustad hook without any evidence of material stress. Shark skin and mandibular cartilage is very tough, so the hooks need to be razor sharp and it is wise to use a dremel tool as a sharpening instrument.

As far as tagging, I have found that the Aftco tag stick is the best. The best time to take a shot at the fish with the tag stick is when he is positioned dorsal up. Find the correct spot at the base of the dorsal fin, stare exactly at point where you intend to insert the tag and give it a shot. Tagging the fish while it is rolling on its side increases the chance of lacerating the great lateral vessels, which may result in death. The National Marine Fishery Service and the California Department of Fish and Game have successfully adapted a spear gun to insert the tags. This innovative device allows the tagger to accurately place the tag at the base of the dorsal fin while minimizing the fish handling time. It would be very wise to make this device available to all the taggers, and thus minimize post-catch mortality associated with bad tag insertion.

It is very important to obtain reliable length measurements, and here are some of the methods commonly employed by taggers:

a. marks on the side of the boat that have a known distance between them
b. marks on your tag and release stick that have known distance between them
c. different colored ribbons attached to the release stick that have a known distance between them
d. a stiff tape measure
Measuring techniques will vary depending on the size of shark that you are dealing with and the relative state of stress that the shark demonstrates. If the captured mako is under 5ft., has a clean jaw set hook, and it is not thrashing like mad at the surface, I like to gently hold the fish by the tail and roll it ventral side up. I immediately extend the tape measure next to it while checking its sex. If the mako is very small and I conclude that a visual determination of sex will not be accurate, I hold the leader with one hand and feel underneath the shark looking to find claspers if it is a male.

To minimize the shock associated with capture I like to beat the fish on heavy tackle, measure, sex, tag and release it as quickly as possible (usually less than 2 minutes). Occasionally I have recaptured a mako that I had tagged earlier that day, and I have also recaptured the same fish the next day. After all the time that I have spent fishing for makos, I have gotten better at minimizing capture related stress and I usually give the makos a few pets before sending them on their way.

Importance of tagging
Recent fishery studies conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) off the western Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico have concluded that the depletion of up to eighty five percent of the regional shark resource is attributed to overfishing. The eastern Pacific is by no means exempt from such poor management, and we must therefore learn from the East Coast example and prevent such devastating decreases in local shark populations. It is important to understand that the research conducted by scientists on East Coast makos, does not necessarily apply to the fishery in Southern California Bight. The ecology of eastern Pacific makos appears to be very different from their east coast counterparts, for example, they differ in food source, diving patterns, average depths (see Hunting sections for more details), temporal and spatial migrations, and overall length. So when it comes time to apply a management plan for the eastern Pacific mako population, decision makers should take caution in only using the information available from the east coast studies to infer a west coast management plan.

In 1983 the Department of Fish and Game started the volunteer pelagic shark tagging program. Out of the 21,000 shortfin makos that have been tagged and released to date, there have only been 84 reported recaptures. Most of the recaptures have occurred within thirty days from the original date of capture, and within fifty miles of the initial site. It is extremely difficult for policy makers to rely on such a small data set to dictate future management decisions. Sportfishermen offer an important link between scientist and policy makers, as our combined fishing effort can provide an adequate number of tagged sharks which in turn will ensure a more comprehensive picture of the eastern Pacific mako population. There are currently only 52 active taggers on the West Coast and most of these taggers only tag a few sharks (5-10) per year. There is a desperate need for more fishermen to pick up the phone and call (562) 590-4801, to get their free tagging kit, the future of our resource depends on this.

I have personally concentrated my efforts and made it my goal to increase the number of taggers in our local program. Not only have I learned a great deal about sharks, but I have found some great avenues for teaching the general public about our decreasing shark population and how they can influence its future. Chuck Myers and I have been able to increase awareness through our television show the West Coast Sport Fishing Show by filming conservation minded shows, and focusing on the tagging program. Last May I started my own web site (www.sharktagger.com) with the assistance from my engineer and designer Jamie Wilkinson. It has been people like Jamie, who have helped increase awareness on this issue without expecting anything in return, that emphasize the good nature sportfishermen have. The web site provides a lot of exciting information for fishermen. We have a very active message board with Live Fish Reports and have focused in offering the public a number of scientific studies that will provide the visitor with an in depth review of some aspects of mako ecology and biology. In addition, the site provides all the information you need to know about the tagging program, and even has the capability of downloading an application form for tags. The site also has an impressive image gallery, which is constantly being updated with current photos. Through my website and in conjunction with Don and Mel from Allcoast (www.sport-fish-info.com), who have added a shark message board to their site, I have been able to expand my area of work and now have a much stronger voice that can reach out to many more fishermen.

Conclusion
Sport fishermen and commercial fishermen on the West Coast seem to be over fishing the local shark populations. Without adequate scientific studies, it is not possible to impose new laws to protect the shark fishery. I would like to see sport fishermen get together and set a standard of responsible fishing for the mako fishery. The guidelines that I feel we should follow are:
a. Set size limits (nothing taken under six feet).
b. No females taken.
c. One fish per angler per season.
d. All fisherman must tag.

If all sport fishermen tagged sharks, we would gather sufficient data to influence changes in the laws that would result in a regulation of the commercial fishery. In contrast to the 6500+ taggers that NMFS has in the East Coast, the West Coast only has 52 active taggers. If we collect enough tagging information, we will be able to make changes like the ones accomplished in the East Coast fishery, for example we could:
a. Impose size limits on commercial and sport fishermen.
b. Improve monitoring of recreational and commercial landings.
c. Prohibit finning of all cartilaginous fish in both state and federal waters.
d. Close the state waters to direct shark fishing during the pupping season.
e. Close some or all nursery areas to other fisheries that take large numbers of juvenile and adult sharks in their bycatch.
f. Prohibit the use of gear with high bycatch and or require the use of devices that cause such unnecessary mortality.
g. Require commercial fisherman to tag bycatch and undersized fish.
h. Develop tag and release training programs.

Although I have created a strong voice in conservation to increase further awareness and help develop future studies, I need to acquire more support and sponsorship. I am looking to large corporations, both marine and non-marine related, to expand awareness to all the fishing related public and the general public. To reach some of my goals, I need to have a larger, safer, and more dependable vessel in which more accurate data can be collected using the shark sling, and in which I can educate new taggers and collaborate with scientists. To continue my mission I need a boat sponsor, this will enable me to collect DNA samples from which scientists can build a spatio-temporal database of local shark populations, and will permit me to assist with the ongoing studies by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In turn, I am able to provide my sponsors with advertising on my web site, television show, through media attention and via public speaking at seminars. If anyone is interested in learning more about tagging, information on sponsorship, or would like to go out fishing, please contact me at (310) 371-4401 or email me at sharktgr@gte.net, and please don't forget to check out the web site at www.sharktagger.com.

I'm really starting to hate my computer. Last night an e-mail glitch had my inbox frozen up for half the night. But even when she crashes this bad, I'm itching to get reconnected as quickly as possible. For among the hundreds of junks e-mails offering to cure every disease I've never had, and continual stream of all-too-grim memos from the desk of NOAA Fisheries, I'm always searching for that diamond in the rough.

Maybe the thresher sharks have the baitfish pinned down somewhere inside Long Beach Harbor. And just maybe someone is e-mailing to tell me where I can find them.
Though these inshore threshers are for the most part juvenile fish below 100 pounds, they do offer some great light-tackle action for those willing to put forth the effort to find them. However, since these fish are only pups, I believe it is our duty as sport fishermen to release them in the best possible condition so that they can grow large enough to spawn.

Very little is generally known about threshers, and the information we do have is often conflicting. That being said, here are the facts the scientific community seems to agree on. We encounter three species of thresher sharks along the West Coast: the bigeye thresher (Alopias profundis), the pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus), and the common thresher (Alopias vulpinus). The bigeye primarily inhabits the deep waters off the shelf and is rarely seen by the likes of sport fishermen, while the latter two species congregate and hunt prey in the inshore waters. In the Pacific, threshers are distributed from British Columbia down to the Baja Peninsula, and everywhere in between. I recently had a tag return of a thresher I originally released off Malibu, Cal., that was recaptured off the Tortugas, nearly 500 nautical miles away!

The most identifiable feature on a thresher is its sickle-like tail, which is usually as long as the rest of its body. Threshers use their tails to herd and then stun baitfish before eating them with their relatively small mouths. Because they dwell in deepwater, we know the bigeye thresher has the ability to feed in total darkness. There is some evidence the other thresher species feed at night, however, every time I have tried to convert our daytime fishing to nighttime, be it slow-trolling or chumming, I have had zero success.

I have caught fish up to 200 pounds inshore and in Long Beach Harbor, but most commonly these threshers range from 30 to 100 pounds. Many scientists believe males reach sexual maturity at 150 pounds and females do so at 200 pounds, yet some recent data indicates males may actually be larger than females when they are first able to reproduce. Threshers have a very low reproductive rate. They are capable of rearing only two pups every year, which makes them extremely susceptible to over-fishing. Fish that have not yet reproduced are considered 'pups,' and these pups make up the majority of the inshore sport and commercial catch. This is why inshore commercial fishing can be so devastating to thresher shark populations'99 percent of what they land has not yet had the chance to breed even once.

THE SHARK HUNT

Though available year round, thresher action peaks in the fall and spring. We have caught them in water temperatures as low as 58 degrees and as high as 72 degrees, yet we find most threshers in 64-degree water. Water color and quality have always been top topics in sharking circles, but I have witnessed wide-open bites in both trash-laden water emanating from the Los Angles River and red tides. Rather, the presence of baitfish and a place to shoal them seem to be most critical variables in thresher location.

Threshers primarily subsist on baitfish like sardines that they herd in the nearshore waters. Since their location is so dictated by bait movements, they are often here one hour and gone the next. When you find one thresher, there are usually plenty more in the vicinity, and we have spotted as many as 20 threshers one day inside Long Beach Harbor, including any we saw free-jumping. While working with another boat, we have tagged and/or released 10 threshers in Long Beach Harbor one day, and 13 off Malibu on another.

Nearshore waters hold more bait than offshore, and the known hotspots seem to be where the shelf comes in close to shore, providing the sharks with an ample supply of food and place to corner it. For threshers, the farther they can push the bait up onto the beach, the better off they are, as the bait has no place to get away. Certain times of the year, offshore locations like La Jolla, Dana Point, the Hospital, and Newport Canyon attract large threshers, however, most of our efforts are in waters of 100 feet or less.

These fish are always on the move, and without having a good idea of where they're gathering before you leave the dock, you've got a better chance of finding a needle in a haystack. This is why networking plays such a vital role in my thresher strategy. I have a small, tight-knit group of anglers I trade information with. Each is extremely experienced and dedicated, and when they tell me they have, or have not, seen action, I can trust their reports. I also have the cell phone number of almost every bait supplier up and down the coast, and I keep tabs on the commercial halibut fishermen that work inside Long Beach Harbor. I watch the Internet like a hawk, and when the halibut fishermen start talking about a 'mystery' fish that spooled them, I know the threshers are in town. I honestly believe 99 percent of finding is networking, and if you're not giving dope, don't expect to get it back when others locate the fish.

GET ON THE BALL

With a general idea of where to find 'em, I hit the water equipped with my pair of Fujinon 14 X 40 stabalizing gyroscopes, constantly scanning the coastline for any fishy signs and watching the meter for bait. Some signs are obvious, like a free-jumping thresher or the black, crane-like grebes diving for baitfish, but others can be as subtle as three inches of thresher tail slicing through the water or a fish oil slick.

To be successful, you first have to understand how threshers feed, and only then can you use this behavior to your advantage. When they encounter a school of bait, these sharks will run the baitfish down in much the same way porpoise do, trying to wear them out and pin them down before actually feeding. When the threshers are really moving in their initial effort to herd bait, it can be almost impossible to get them interested in your hooked offerings.

Eventually, though, the bait will become tired, at which point you can get your boat right on top of the bait ball, and they'll actually stay with the boat in an attempt to find shelter. When that happens, we can dip net all the bait we want and put it in the livewell. I can't stress how important it is to stay right on top of the bait ball once you've found it. Usually, the sharks have the bait pinned down in one little place, and once you mark that spot, that's usually where you'll get all your hits.

Wherever the birds are working, that's where you should be working. If you don't see birds diving, tails sticking up, and fish jumping, you might as well go back home. The bait is constantly on the move, the birds are constantly on the move, and for this reason I choose to slow-troll rather than drift, which would severely limit my ability to stay on top of the fish.

SLOW-TROLLING SARDINES

Appropriate tackle for slow-trolling includes Shimano TLD 5's, 10's, and 15's spooled with 20-pound test monofilament. A popular setup among anglers is a 10- to 15-foot, 100- to 120-pound test monofilament leader tied directly to a 2/0 to 4/0 J hook, which is rigged through a sardine's nose. We really don't have a problem with the sharks biting through the monofilament leader, but if you'd rather be safe than sorry, another option is a 10-foot, 60-pound test single-strand wire leader.

To help get the bait down, I'll attach a 1- to 3-ounce torpedo sinker to the leader, about 10 feet up from the sardine, with a rubber band looped through the eye of the sinker, and then around the leader. Hopefully, this rubber band will break once a thresher grabs the bait and takes to the air, leaving you with an unimpeded fight.

Two hookbaits are usually plenty for slow-trolling, and I'll put a sardine 60 to 100 feet back on each side of the boat with the clicker on and a very loose drag. Occasionally, we'll drop a short line up the middle about 20 feet back, and it can be an awesome sight when a fish slams this bait right off the transom! Half the time the thresher will just come up and eat your offering, but the rest of the time it will first slap the bait with its tail in an attempt to stun it before feeding. When this happens, I give them about 30 seconds to come back and finish what they started, and after they've gotten the bait in their jaws, I give them another three to five seconds to munch before putting the reel in gear. Using the above method, I achieve a 90 percent mouth hook-up ratio on these sharks.

Sometimes the shark will hook itself during this initial tail slap. If that happens, you're in for an equally tough battle (minus the jumps of a normal mouth hook-up), but the only way to get them to the boat is to reel them in backwards, basically drowning the shark from the reverse water flow over its gills. On my boat I do everything possible to avoid this scenario since I release all sharks, and it's always preferable to release them alive. Out of the 100 or so threshers I've caught in the past two years, only five have been tail-hooked in this manner. I attribute this to slow trolling speeds of 1-1/2 to 2 knots and loose drag settings, which allow the shark to slap the lure without getting hooked, then still have time to come back and eat. As a bonus, I also get the most bites and have the best hook-up ratio at these speeds. Whenever I've taken the speed above 2 knots, my hook-up ratio decreased by as much as half.

While we're on the subject of tail-hooking, I strongly oppose drag-and-snag fishing where the angler intentionally trolls big, heavy lures or baits rigged with double hooks and the reel engaged in hopes of snagging the shark by the tail on its initial attack. I consider fishing for threshers to be a sport, and I take pride in my hunting and catching abilities. But when you're doing the drag-and-snag, in my opinion, you're not giving yourself very much credit as a fisherman or relying on your skills--you are just being an opportunist.

If you hone your hunting skills, read the water, and present the bait correctly, you give the fish a fair chance. To me, that's what the whole sport is about. In addition, when guys around me are dragging lures, I typically catch seven fish to their one. Why? Because the bait I am using is literally what the threshers are feeding on at the time.

TAGGING & BRAGGING

Even if you are planning to release the fish you catch, as we do with most sharks we catch on my boat, there are a few extra steps you can take to ensure the fish you let go will actually live to fight another day.

First, there are two schools of thought regarding light tackle and its impact on a shark's ability to survive post release. Many argue that catching a fish on light tackle wears it out to the point of exhaustion, and thus increases its chances of mortality after you turn it loose. Having experimented both heavy and light tackle, I tend to take the view that heavy tackle is actually worse on the shark since it devastates the fish and allows the angler to bring it in too quickly. Envision the effects of a long, slow jog versus running as fast as you can up a steep hill. Put a shark through the hard sprint with heavy tackle and your chances of that fish going into capture shock increase dramatically.

As far as handling fish boatside, be aware that their gills are extremely sensitive. If you grab a thresher by the gills, or worse yet, hit the gills with the release or tag stick, you could have just killed the fish you were preparing to release. Also be careful not to accidentally place a tag in the shark's color line, which is the area where the brown on their back blends into the white of their bellies (or with makos, blue to white). This is where the fish's main artery is located, and if you accidentally place a tag here, it will bleed to death in a matter of minutes.

Never rush through the tag-and-release or struggle to take a shot while the fish is still going crazy. Have a crewmember grab its tail while the tag man holds onto the leader, and give the fish time to calm down boatside. Heck, I even pet them! With the shark docile and its dorsal fin pointing straight up (never tag a shark that's on its side), I stare at the dorsal and aim to put my tag just below it.
Now it's time to remove the hook, and a release stick works great and is pretty easy to use. If you're using short leaders, you can place the rod in the rod holder, which gives the perfect line angle for removing the hook when you have the release stick properly positioned in the hook bend. As a precaution, try to aim the release stick away from the inside of the fish's mouth so it can't flip and hit its gills or any organs.

Since I've been counting, I have caught close to 100 threshers and 2,000 makos. Thus far I've gotten one return on the threshers, five on blue sharks, and 28 on the makos. I boast a 5 percent tag return rate on mako sharks--compared to the average 1.5 percent return rate--and there is no doubt in my mind this is a direct result of the extra time and care I take with these delicate fish at boatside. Enjoy this great fishery, and let's make sure our children have a chance to enjoy it as much as we do!

-----
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Keith Poe, known as the 'Shark Tagger' by fishermen on the West Coast, is a 42-year-old Southern Californian with a passion for sharks. This Redondo Beach resident owns a residential remodeling business in the South Bay area, but when he is not at work, you will find him fishing for sharks. Keith has become renown for promoting responsible fishing and focuses his efforts on reversing the decline in shark populations. Since 1995, he has been one of the top taggers recognized by the in the California Department of Fish and Game, and has also won the AFTCO captain and angler award every year back-to-back for the most threshers and makos tagged in the Pacific. He has leadered the only two IGFA apex predator line class records released alive--the first a 46-pound thresher caught on 6-pound test, and the second a 22-pound mako caught on 4-pound test.

Keith is associate producer for Inside Sportfishing, a member of the West Coast advisory panel for The Billfish Foundation, and an advisor for United Anglers of Southern California. He also speaks at fishing clubs and tackle shop seminars around the state, and he frequently takes fishermen and members of the media fishing to teach the importance of tag-and-release.

Since the termination of the California Department of Fish and Game tagging program, Keith has started up his own tagging program, Tagger International, and currently has 50 taggers enrolled. For free tags or to learn more about the 'Shark Tagger,' visit his website at www.sharktagger.com or e-mail him at sharktgr@gte.net.

Life's journey is not about what you acquire but who you become.

310-562-6205

sharktagger@roadrunner.com

This post edited by Keith Poe 11/12/2009

11/12/2009 12:45 AM

Ryanfish

Joined: 12/31/1999
Posts: 9

re: Fall turns to Winter... prospects for shark fishing?

Hmm, though it looks interesting, I don't really have the time/stamina to read all of that. Though a novice, I have a basic understanding of sharks/shark fishing already. I appreciate what you have wrote throughout the years, but I thought my question was pretty specific and simple: Anyone have experience/tips catching sharks(makos and blues) in so cal during winter time?

11/12/2009 01:09 AM

re: Fall turns to Winter... prospects for shark fishing?

Ryanfish wrote:
Hmm, though it looks interesting, I don't really have the time/stamina to read all of that.....

Pretty funny....

As an actual answer to your actual question:

I've caught Mako's and T's in the winter but they are usually few and far between once the water get's down in the mid fifties. Usually I get Mako's when rockfishing as they sometimes show up when your pulling up fish, but it's hardly that common of an occurrence once the temps get low. I'd say low 60's are ideal temps for fishing for them and that's what the water is about right now.

General rule of thumb is the Mako's for the most part move out after October, and return with the Barracuda in June. This year may well be an exception as the conditions are ideal for Makos right now and with the El Nino~ These conditions might last through the winter and the sharks might be around in good numbers this year... year round.

The only way your going to know if they are around is fish for them.

If I was going tomorrow I'd fish the 267, or outside the 9 mile bank, find a current break with life on it and you might do well.

I'd say it's worth a shot.

Jim

<A target='_blank' href='http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=451418044'>http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=451418044</A>;

This post edited by Jim Day 11/12/2009

11/12/2009 01:44 AM

Broken down in to sections like hunting etc. to narrow down your interest easily & quickly.

Ryan lets tray again Amigo and thanks for asking

As Doc OZ says love the questions.

I do not know many guys local with cages.

Are you setting up for a charter sport & dive operation or just personal interest eaither way very cool.

Never been in a cage would like to some time.

Makos are here all winter especially this season as it's a moderate El Nino year.

Threshers are here and blue sharks.

A few examples are I have caught makos in April at 1000 and 400 pounds in 58 degree water.

Caught 73 I believe it was maybe only 70 blue sharks in one day in the middle of winter.

There is a lot of hunting to finding sharks as it's a process that is a continuing skill to improve on land and on the water.

Anyone can tell you a geographical location but they are pelagic fish all ways on the move.

This means they are all ways in different locations changing by the hour according to the data I have researched and sonic tracking & satellite data
and my personal experience of catching thousands locally.

You will be best served in my opinion by reading conditions that are all ways changing.

It's an educated guess hunting on line SST Chlorophyll the Gyros on the water looking for life with a sonar best is side scanning
or bioluminescent hunting running stealth at night.

Basically there is a lot of good information on how to hunt and hone your skills in the information I posted as there is a large learning curve.

There is no magic place as structure (banks) are just a very small part of the big picture.

I believe guys can best help you if you tell us what are the conditions you have found to produce mako & blue sharks?

What kind of boat do you have?

Where is it located trailer harbor?

Do you fish day night or?

What do you usually do to decide where and when?

Me I usually look for fast action mako fishing in water above 64 - 70 F

Blues I just look for the coldest water around with the most life.

Monstaa makos I usually like below 65 F

Threshers a good base line is 64 F

It's entirely possible to get a thresher right now in Redondo and makos & blues but the conditions are all ways changing.

I like to use Terrafin and below is some reasons why.

Did you know… Terrafin subscribers have access to

Over 200 detailed regions, much more detailed and zoomed in than the free images.
Charts include local reference points and bottom contours.
Access to the last 15 shots for each region, with the ability to run the shots in a loop.
Latitude / longitude / temperature readings as you move your mouse over the chart.
Distance & bearing calculations between any points on the chart.
Chlorophyll charts for nearly all regions, gives water clarity / plankton concentrations.

All for just $99 per year! With fuel costs at all time highs, doesn’t it make sense to use the best data available? Click on the links above for more info and to see sample charts, or call us at 800-993-0939 with any questions.

Life's journey is not about what you acquire but who you become.

310-562-6205

sharktagger@roadrunner.com

This post edited by Keith Poe 11/12/2009

11/12/2009 02:17 AM

re: Swords Makos & Threshers

Keith Poe wrote:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: TAGGING & BRAGGING

Keith Poe, known as the 'Shark Tagger' by fishermen on the West Coast, is a 42-year-old Southern Californian with a passion for sharks. This Redondo Beach resident owns a residential remodeling business in the South Bay area, but when he is not at work, you will find him fishing for sharks. Keith has become renown for promoting responsible fishing and focuses his efforts on reversing the decline in shark populations. Since 1995, he has been one of the top taggers recognized by the in the California Department of Fish and Game, and has also won the AFTCO captain and angler award every year back-to-back for the most threshers and makos tagged in the Pacific. He has leadered the only two IGFA apex predator line class records released alive--the first a 46-pound thresher caught on 6-pound test, and the second a 22-pound mako caught on 4-pound test.

Keith is associate producer for Inside Sportfishing, a member of the West Coast advisory panel for The Billfish Foundation, and an advisor for United Anglers of Southern California. He also speaks at fishing clubs and tackle shop seminars around the state, and he frequently takes fishermen and members of the media fishing to teach the importance of tag-and-release.

Since the termination of the California Department of Fish and Game tagging program, Keith has started up his own tagging program, Tagger International, and currently has 50 taggers enrolled. For free tags or to learn more about the 'Shark Tagger,' visit his website at www.sharktagger.com or e-mail him at sharktgr@gte.net.

LOL, the guy asks a simple question on where to catch sharks locally during the winter, then he gets a bunch of COPY & PASTE from another website, and a personal biography? Roll

http://www.xlobsterman.com

11/12/2009 02:29 AM

Hopefully it will help some of Ryans questions.

It's 2 separate complete articles from the Edge Big Game Fishing Journal with co editor Chris Bohlman.

Hopefully it will help some of Ryans questions.

Randall have you fished sharks in the winter?

Hopefully you will all so help Rayan with his questions.

As the moderator here I would appreciate your contribution.

Life's journey is not about what you acquire but who you become.

310-562-6205

sharktagger@roadrunner.com

This post edited by Keith Poe 11/12/2009

11/12/2009 03:16 AM

re: ?

Keith Poe wrote:

Randall have you fished sharks in the winter?

Nope.................never have fished sharks in the winter!

http://www.xlobsterman.com

11/12/2009 01:09 PM

re: ?

Xlobsterman wrote:
Keith Poe wrote:

Randall have you fished sharks in the winter?

Nope.................never have fished sharks in the winter!

As a non-moderator here I would appreciate your contribution of a little more info then that.

Cough it up Randall we want to know exactly how many times have you not fished sharks in the winter, and what exactly did you not catch? Toungue

Like I said sharks are generally few and far between in the winter and honestly not worth the effort. Fish them while the waters still warm, as in go now before the temps drop.

Jim

<A target='_blank' href='http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=451418044'>http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=451418044</A>;

11/12/2009 01:28 PM

re: ?

Jim Day wrote:
Xlobsterman wrote:
Keith Poe wrote:

Randall have you fished sharks in the winter?

Nope.................never have fished sharks in the winter!

As a non-moderator here I would appreciate your contribution of a little more info then that.

Cough it up Randall we want to know exactly how many times have you not fished sharks in the winter, and what exactly did you not catch?

Like I said sharks are generally few and far between in the winter and honestly not worth the effort. Fish them while the waters still warm, as in go now before the temps drop.

Jim

Hey Jim,
I have caught makos in the winter, but it was only as an incadental catch while offshore fishing rockfish! I always had a leader on a rod ready to pitch a bait to any stray mako that came by. A 200lb mako would make for a good bonus $$ when I was fishing rockfish for $$$$.

http://www.xlobsterman.com

This post edited by Xlobsterman 11/12/2009

11/12/2009 01:47 PM

Ryanfish

Joined: 12/31/1999
Posts: 9

re: Fall turns to Winter... prospects for shark fishing?

Jim Day wrote:

Pretty funny....

As an actual answer to your actual question:

I've caught Mako's and T's in the winter but they are usually few and far between once the water get's down in the mid fifties. Usually I get Mako's when rockfishing as they sometimes show up when your pulling up fish, but it's hardly that common of an occurrence once the temps get low. I'd say low 60's are ideal temps for fishing for them and that's what the water is about right now.

General rule of thumb is the Mako's for the most part move out after October, and return with the Barracuda in June. This year may well be an exception as the conditions are ideal for Makos right now and with the El Nino~ These conditions might last through the winter and the sharks might be around in good numbers this year... year round.

The only way your going to know if they are around is fish for them.

If I was going tomorrow I'd fish the 267, or outside the 9 mile bank, find a current break with life on it and you might do well.

I'd say it's worth a shot.

Jim

Jim, thanks very much for your insight. It seems the water is hanging in there in the low to mid 60s, and what you're saying is there is sill a good chance. I hear the wind is supposed to blow these next couple days so that probably won't help anything out. But the 267 is pretty close to home (OC), so if I get out, I'll try that. Winter in So Cal isn't always that bad weather wise,(some times it's nicer than summer) so why not be out fishing! I hear what you're saying though, when the water gets really cold (50's), the sharks would just rather be some place else...

Keith Poe wrote:
Ryan lets tray again Amigo and thanks for asking

As Doc OZ says love the questions.

I do not know many guys local with cages.

Are you setting up for a charter sport & dive operation or just personal interest eaither way very cool.

Never been in a cage would like to some time.

Makos are here all winter especially this season as it's a moderate El Nino year.

Threshers are here and blue sharks.

A few examples are I have caught makos in April at 1000 and 400 pounds in 58 degree water.

Caught 73 I believe it was maybe only 70 blue sharks in one day in the middle of winter.

There is a lot of hunting to finding sharks as it's a process that is a continuing skill to improve on land and on the water.

Anyone can tell you a geographical location but they are pelagic fish all ways on the move.

This means they are all ways in different locations changing by the hour according to the data I have researched and sonic tracking & satellite data
and my personal experience of catching thousands locally.

You will be best served in my opinion by reading conditions that are all ways changing.

It's an educated guess hunting on line SST Chlorophyll the Gyros on the water looking for life with a sonar best is side scanning
or bioluminescent hunting running stealth at night.

Basically there is a lot of good information on how to hunt and hone your skills in the information I posted as there is a large learning curve.

There is no magic place as structure (banks) are just a very small part of the big picture.

I believe guys can best help you if you tell us what are the conditions you have found to produce mako & blue sharks?

What kind of boat do you have?

Where is it located trailer harbor?

Do you fish day night or?

What do you usually do to decide where and when?

Me I usually look for fast action mako fishing in water above 64 - 70 F

Blues I just look for the coldest water around with the most life.

Monstaa makos I usually like below 65 F

Threshers a good base line is 64 F

It's entirely possible to get a thresher right now in Redondo and makos & blues but the conditions are all ways changing.

I like to use Terrafin and below is some reasons why.

Did you know… Terrafin subscribers have access to

Over 200 detailed regions, much more detailed and zoomed in than the free images.
Charts include local reference points and bottom contours.
Access to the last 15 shots for each region, with the ability to run the shots in a loop.
Latitude / longitude / temperature readings as you move your mouse over the chart.
Distance & bearing calculations between any points on the chart.
Chlorophyll charts for nearly all regions, gives water clarity / plankton concentrations.

All for just $99 per year! With fuel costs at all time highs, doesn’t it make sense to use the best data available? Click on the links above for more info and to see sample charts, or call us at 800-993-0939 with any questions.

Hi Keith- that is all great info ^. I didn't mean to be disrespectful of your articles the first time around; I just was a little overwhelmed.

The cage thing is just for my own personal interest. It's actually a "budget" cage- that is to say its construction is made of 2" PVC (uh oh, maybe opening up a can of worms here!). But I'm not looking to tangle with 12'+ GWS or even 8'+ Makos so hopefully it will be safe with the smaller models? Anyone have an opinion on this?

"Caught 73 I believe it was maybe only 70 blue sharks in one day in the middle of winter."

That is pretty cool; a lot of fish on any day of the year. Can you remember what month/where/the conditions of that catch? You are emphasizing to read conditions over anything else, banks, etc it seems. This make sense, but then why do so many people fish structure and also catch fish? I have Terrafin; I look at it several times a week to be aware of what the water's doing. "Fish where the fish are"- that applies to temp breaks and chlorophyll I guess, as small fish feed on algae/plankton, larger fish eat small fish, and sharks eat larger fish.

"I believe guys can best help you if you tell us what are the conditions you have found to produce mako & blue sharks?

What kind of boat do you have?

Where is it located trailer harbor?

Do you fish day night or?

What do you usually do to decide where and when? "

I usually have fished sharks relating to bank structure as first priority, then taking into account SST/water color. So if the 14 was green and cold, but the 267 was warm and blue, I would fish the latter. I fish off a boston whaler from Newport Harbor. I fish day time only. I go out when I feel like fishing and there's a chance I can catch something!

"Me I usually look for fast action mako fishing in water above 64 - 70 F

Blues I just look for the coldest water around with the most life.

Monstaa makos I usually like below 65 F

Threshers a good base line is 64 F"

Thanks, that's good info. I appreciate your response.

Also, I am looking at a few satellite tagged sharks to see how they behave/migrate in the winter. Here is a blue that appears to be coming back into the So. Cal bight: http://las.pfeg.noaa.gov/TOPP_recent/TOPP_tracks010.html?species=41&zone=10 (scroll down, and his record is the first one, 96294 - click on it)

This site shows tagged makos, although not very clearly, in a time line format: http://www.topp.org/species/mako_shark You can see some of the tagged fishing hanging out in so cal Nov/dec some of the years.

Xlobsterman wrote:
Jim Day wrote:
Xlobsterman wrote:
Keith Poe wrote:

Randall have you fished sharks in the winter?

Nope.................never have fished sharks in the winter!

As a non-moderator here I would appreciate your contribution of a little more info then that.

Cough it up Randall we want to know exactly how many times have you not fished sharks in the winter, and what exactly did you not catch?

Like I said sharks are generally few and far between in the winter and honestly not worth the effort. Fish them while the waters still warm, as in go now before the temps drop.

Jim

Hey Jim,
I have caught makos in the winter, but it was only as an incadental catch while offshore fishing rockfish! I always had a leader on a rod ready to pitch a bait to any stray mako that came by. A 200lb mako would make for a good bonus $$ when I was fishing rockfish for $$$$.

That's good to know thanks xlobsterman. Also, I don't mean to be nosy, but I like to do some research before I post/get into an idea. Would you care to give more details on these sharks C&T&R'ed, listed on your website?

"Tag # 16968
Date: ( 1-25-98 ) Species: ( Mako ) Sex: ( M )
Total Length: ( 36” ) Location: ( 33,52.40 / 118,34.16 )

Tag # 16967
Date: ( 1-25-98 ) Species: ( Blue ) Sex: ( F )
Total Length: ( 72” ) Location: ( 33,52.44 / 118,35.38 )

Tag # 16546
Date: ( 11-?-97 ) Species: ( Blue ) Sex: ( F )
Total length: ( 50” ) Location: ( 33, 45.62 / 118, 31.05 )

Tag # 16966
Date: ( 12-28-97 ) Species: ( Blue ) Sex: ( F )
Total length: ( 6ft ) Location: ( 33, 45.06 / 118, 31.05 )"

Haha, long time ago I know but it seems you have caught a few more sharks in the winter time; were these also incidental rock fishing catches? Ps. cool picture of that mako on your boat!

This post edited by Ryanfish 11/12/2009

11/12/2009 02:34 PM

re: Fall turns to Winter... prospects for shark fishing?

Ryanfish wrote:
This site shows tagged makos, although not very clearly, in a time line format: http://www.topp.org/species/mako_shark You can see some of the tagged fishing hanging out in so cal Nov/dec some of the years.

That is about the coolest thing I've seen posted here in years. The TOPP tagging program really has it together, not only with the data they have collected but additionally with the effort they have made to give that info to the public in ways they can use or understand it.

Try zoming into to just the local water and then watch the Makos come and go into our fishery. That is amazing stuff, and it certainly dispells some of the myths I've seen posted here in the past.

Thanks for the link excellent stuff!!!

Jim

<A target='_blank' href='http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=451418044'>http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendId=451418044</A>;

11/12/2009 02:39 PM

re: ?

Xlobsterman wrote:
Hey Jim, I have caught makos in the winter, but it was only as an incadental catch while offshore fishing rockfish! I always had a leader on a rod ready to pitch a bait to any stray mako that came by.

Yep that's about the same experience I have had. Few sharks here and there but no seventy shark days for me in the winter time.

Jim

11/12/2009 02:48 PM

re: Fall turns to Winter... prospects for shark fishing?

Ryanfish wrote:

That's good to know thanks xlobsterman. Also, I don't mean to be nosy, but I like to do some research before I post/get into an idea. Would you care to give more details on these sharks C&T&R'ed, listed on your website?

"Tag # 16968
Date: ( 1-25-98 ) Species: ( Mako ) Sex: ( M )
Total Length: ( 36” ) Location: ( 33,52.40 / 118,34.16 )

Tag # 16967
Date: ( 1-25-98 ) Species: ( Blue ) Sex: ( F )
Total Length: ( 72” ) Location: ( 33,52.44 / 118,35.38 )

Tag # 16546
Date: ( 11-?-97 ) Species: ( Blue ) Sex: ( F )
Total length: ( 50” ) Location: ( 33, 45.62 / 118, 31.05 )

Tag # 16966
Date: ( 12-28-97 ) Species: ( Blue ) Sex: ( F )
Total length: ( 6ft ) Location: ( 33, 45.06 / 118, 31.05 )"

Haha, long time ago I know but it seems you have caught a few more sharks in the winter time; were these also incidental rock fishing catches? Ps. cool picture of that mako on your boat!

Sorry, can't give you any more info other that what is there. That is too long ago to remember the details. But, you will notice 3 out of the 4 fish tagged were blues. And if you reference the coordinates on a chart, they should show me on the outer edge of SM Bay some where? And most likely (?) I was fishing rockfish at the time that I caught and tagged the fish.

http://www.xlobsterman.com

11/12/2009 09:09 PM