1st Shark Trip Advise

kmeyer · 10-03-2006, 09:50 PM

Hi all...I am a big bowhunter from the midwest thats always wanted to try Shark hunting

I am looking into taking a trip in 2007 for 3 or 4 days on a charter and am wondering where to look. Of course the florida and key west areas are well known. So is the New England area and even San Diego to Mexico. I am open to different shark species, but hammerhead, blue, mako, and black tip seem like great fun. Are shark populations all very similiar? Any advise is much appreciated. Thanks.

PS: Barracuda would be a big plus as well

Boboe · 10-03-2006, 10:43 PM

In the Florida panhandle, black tips are pretty plentiful, as are duskys and spinners. Spinners are hard to catch because they like to jump and do about 4 full twists while in the air. It's pretty hard to keep him on when the line wraps all the way around his body 4x in 1.5 seconds.

Hammerheads have always seemed to fight harder than other species. Maybe they get that head pointed down like a big planer board. I don't know. They're just tough, and absolutely badass at the boat.

My buddy won a recent tournament a few weeks ago with a tiger shark that wen something like 750#. Second place was about 100# less.

Makos are probably the most badass of sharks to tangle with. I've had them on many times, but only boated one.

kmeyer · 10-04-2006, 08:05 AM

Thanks for the info. Based upon the Shark population, what area would I be best to go to increase my likely hood of success?

Boboe · 10-04-2006, 08:53 PM

Blues are cold water sharks. You won't find them in the Gulf, I don't think. Hammerheads are known to be in all tropical and subtropical waters.

I've had days fishing out of Destin in the panhandle when I could hook a shark every 5 minutes. That's usually in June or July. I think we released a dozen on a 4 hour charter. They were all 70-120#....not super huge, but big enough to put the hurt on the clients. These were duskys and spinners.

DIRTYFOOT2 · 10-10-2006, 11:11 AM

You can find sharks out of almost every port. In SE Fla we have a wide variety, and at any time of year you can target them with almost guaranteed success. Our proximity to the gulfstream, 2 miles and sometimes less ensures a shot at the apex predator on any given trip. The annual mullet run, that takes place every fall, brings the sharks in close in droves. Spinners, Blacktips, Lemons, and sharpnose all make a good showing right off the beach. In the spring we see the large hammerheads, bulls, and the occasional tiger. Mako's are a possibility year round but are more difficult to specifically target. Every now and again we'll catch one while swordfishing, and this year a few large ones were taken by swordsman. Bottom line, spring and fall are the best times to target sharks in this area. There are quite a few good charter guys in this neck of the woods from extravagant to affordable, that would be able to take you out and get your arms pulled to jello. If you need help finding a boat and capt , PM me and I'll give you some recommendations.

Good Luck,
DIRTYFOOT2

kmeyer · 06-14-2007, 10:47 AM

PM sent Dirtyfoot2. I am interested in getting a few shark fishing charter recommendations for a fall trip. Would love to get a Hammerhead and Barracuda, but really any sharks would be fine. Thanks all.

mneptune · 06-14-2007, 11:46 AM

Check out the Florida Keys. More sharks than you can shake a rod at, all different species of sharks plus some big cuda's as well. There are a number of excellent charter boats in the keys that would hook you up.

RiskTaker · 06-14-2007, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmeyer

Hi all...I am a big bowhunter from the midwest thats always wanted to try Shark hunting

I am looking into taking a trip in 2007 for 3 or 4 days on a charter and am wondering where to look. Of course the florida and key west areas are well known. So is the New England area and even San Diego to Mexico. I am open to different shark species, but hammerhead, blue, mako, and black tip seem like great fun. Are shark populations all very similiar? Any advise is much appreciated. Thanks.

PS: Barracuda would be a big plus as well

KMeyer:

Dude, you have to hook up with Mark, "the Shark" in Miami SE Florida. Personally, I don't like just focusing on sharks because I am more of a foodfish kind of guy: but some tasty fried Barracuda fingers, or from lemonshark, blacktip or mako are some good eats too.

Check out his website, and see if that does not want to get you hi-tailing it out of the mid-west for some coastal fishing priorities. marktheshark.com is the web-site. Just trying to help out a neighbor: actually, he is my neighbor. Seriously, he does have excellent experience on this particular subject matter and you should enjoy a lifetime experience with him, considering your particular subject matter.

You just wait until you are perched up on his battle-wagon, fighting chair. Are you truly predator or just prey?

If you want additional contacts that can make it happen for you, let me know. (Tigers in Bahamas, for example.)

kmeyer · 06-15-2007, 09:10 AM

Since I am looking at a fall trip, and the mullet run is in fall, should I set a day aside to try sharking from the beach? What are the success rates for beach fishing versus boat? Were not looking to get and monsters. We just wanna hook a few for the fight and release them!

10-03-2006, 09:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
kmeyer Grunt Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	1st Shark Trip Advise Hi all...I am a big bowhunter from the midwest thats always wanted to try Shark hunting I am looking into taking a trip in 2007 for 3 or 4 days on a charter and am wondering where to look. Of course the florida and key west areas are well known. So is the New England area and even San Diego to Mexico. I am open to different shark species, but hammerhead, blue, mako, and black tip seem like great fun. Are shark populations all very similiar? Any advise is much appreciated. Thanks. PS: Barracuda would be a big plus as well

10-10-2006, 11:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
DIRTYFOOT2 Grander Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lake Worth fl Best Catch: 53lb Black Grouper Occupation: Gunnel Washer Posts: 2,061	Sharkin whereabouts You can find sharks out of almost every port. In SE Fla we have a wide variety, and at any time of year you can target them with almost guaranteed success. Our proximity to the gulfstream, 2 miles and sometimes less ensures a shot at the apex predator on any given trip. The annual mullet run, that takes place every fall, brings the sharks in close in droves. Spinners, Blacktips, Lemons, and sharpnose all make a good showing right off the beach. In the spring we see the large hammerheads, bulls, and the occasional tiger. Mako's are a possibility year round but are more difficult to specifically target. Every now and again we'll catch one while swordfishing, and this year a few large ones were taken by swordsman. Bottom line, spring and fall are the best times to target sharks in this area. There are quite a few good charter guys in this neck of the woods from extravagant to affordable, that would be able to take you out and get your arms pulled to jello. If you need help finding a boat and capt , PM me and I'll give you some recommendations. Good Luck, DIRTYFOOT2

06-14-2007, 11:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
mneptune Hooked Up Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Palm Beach Boat: Grady White 25' CC Best Catch: She won't let me talk about her on here Occupation: Technology Consultant Posts: 781	Check out the Florida Keys. More sharks than you can shake a rod at, all different species of sharks plus some big cuda's as well. There are a number of excellent charter boats in the keys that would hook you up. __________________ Duty and honor before all else....

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10-03-2006, 10:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Boboe Hooked Up Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin, TX Occupation: Alaskan Fishing Guide, Gulf of Mexico Offshore Crew Boat Captain Posts: 805	In the Florida panhandle, black tips are pretty plentiful, as are duskys and spinners. Spinners are hard to catch because they like to jump and do about 4 full twists while in the air. It's pretty hard to keep him on when the line wraps all the way around his body 4x in 1.5 seconds. Hammerheads have always seemed to fight harder than other species. Maybe they get that head pointed down like a big planer board. I don't know. They're just tough, and absolutely badass at the boat. My buddy won a recent tournament a few weeks ago with a tiger shark that wen something like 750#. Second place was about 100# less. Makos are probably the most badass of sharks to tangle with. I've had them on many times, but only boated one.

10-04-2006, 08:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
kmeyer Grunt Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Thanks for the info. Based upon the Shark population, what area would I be best to go to increase my likely hood of success?

10-04-2006, 08:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Boboe Hooked Up Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin, TX Occupation: Alaskan Fishing Guide, Gulf of Mexico Offshore Crew Boat Captain Posts: 805	Blues are cold water sharks. You won't find them in the Gulf, I don't think. Hammerheads are known to be in all tropical and subtropical waters. I've had days fishing out of Destin in the panhandle when I could hook a shark every 5 minutes. That's usually in June or July. I think we released a dozen on a 4 hour charter. They were all 70-120#....not super huge, but big enough to put the hurt on the clients. These were duskys and spinners.

06-14-2007, 10:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
kmeyer Grunt Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	PM sent Dirtyfoot2. I am interested in getting a few shark fishing charter recommendations for a fall trip. Would love to get a Hammerhead and Barracuda, but really any sharks would be fine. Thanks all.

06-15-2007, 09:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
kmeyer Grunt Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 4	Since I am looking at a fall trip, and the mullet run is in fall, should I set a day aside to try sharking from the beach? What are the success rates for beach fishing versus boat? Were not looking to get and monsters. We just wanna hook a few for the fight and release them!

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