Newbie here who needs a little help

HaimeB · 08-24-2006, 10:42 AM

Hi everyone. We were out last night celebrating a good friends birthday by swording on his boat. No hits until almost midnight when the tip rod started singing. By the way the fish was taking drag and constantly struggling to get to the depth it came from, we were pretty certain we had a swordie on. 3 hours into the fight (on a Penn 50 SVW packed with 50-lb test) we see our lights. Is the fish going to succumb to us now? No! A few more runs and the fish was done! To our dismay, the fish we had been fighting was not a swordie, but a shark, my guess, around 8 feet long and a couple hundred pounds.

Here's the question: What kind of shark did we land? Best description (and bummer, no picture). Mid length tail (like 1/2 a thresher tail), was a golden color with a white belly, a rather pointy nose, not blunt (like a bull shark for example) and had cerrated teeth. We ruled out Mako due to body color, teeth, and dorsal.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, and tight lines, my friends.

GENERALturtle. · 08-24-2006, 10:59 AM

Sharks suck!

Tuna Devil · 08-24-2006, 11:12 AM

Sounds like a Dusky. You can compare notes with Uncle Buck who is on this site. He caught one that sounds similar to yours about a week ago.

Oh yea......Welcome.

Shark Tagger · 08-24-2006, 11:23 AM

maybe a cuban night shark...

Not sure what the "real" species of cuban night shark is?

We are heading out tonight if these storm pass.

Uncle Buck · 08-24-2006, 11:24 AM

Yep. Dusky. Got one about 7ft last Friday.

I went through the list too:
1. Atlantic Sharpnose (Cuban Night Shark, Brownie)... nope. Brownies only grow to about 4ft.
2. Sandbar... nope. They have a more blunt nose.
3. Oceanic Whitetip... nope. They have long pec fins and obvious white tips.
4. Dusky... yep. Right color and shape. :thumright:

HaimeB · 08-24-2006, 12:32 PM

Thanks to all for the feedback, and thanks for the welcome. From what you all have shared, seems like a Dusky. For those making it tonight, I hope are as fortunate (weatherwise) as we were last night. Saw the storms out there, but we didn't get rained on and couldn't have asked for calmer seas. I also hope you are more fortunate and get what your going after, not a shark! lol

Sword Donkey · 08-24-2006, 12:40 PM

Buck,

Good description. But I usually go with sh*t eater.

Uncle Buck · 08-24-2006, 02:50 PM

I've been schooled. Atlantic Sharpnose (those little brown nuissance sharks) are actually NOT Cuban Night sharks. The sharpnose rarely grow over 3ft. Cubans can grow up to 10ft, and resemble an oceanic blue shark, but are brown colored.

SO, it was highly likely I caught a Cuban Night shark, not a Dusky.

Thanks TD! :thumright:

Boboe · 08-27-2006, 09:55 PM

Atlantic Sharpnose have got those little white splotches on their sides too. "Little brown nuissance sharks" is an appropriate name as well.

08-24-2006, 10:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
HaimeB Grunt Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Newbie here who needs a little help Hi everyone. We were out last night celebrating a good friends birthday by swording on his boat. No hits until almost midnight when the tip rod started singing. By the way the fish was taking drag and constantly struggling to get to the depth it came from, we were pretty certain we had a swordie on. 3 hours into the fight (on a Penn 50 SVW packed with 50-lb test) we see our lights. Is the fish going to succumb to us now? No! A few more runs and the fish was done! To our dismay, the fish we had been fighting was not a swordie, but a shark, my guess, around 8 feet long and a couple hundred pounds. Here's the question: What kind of shark did we land? Best description (and bummer, no picture). Mid length tail (like 1/2 a thresher tail), was a golden color with a white belly, a rather pointy nose, not blunt (like a bull shark for example) and had cerrated teeth. We ruled out Mako due to body color, teeth, and dorsal. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, and tight lines, my friends.

08-24-2006, 11:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Uncle Buck Grander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boat in Boynton / Home In Boca Boat: Sailfish 218CC Best Catch: 350+ Mako Occupation: Graphic Designer Posts: 1,785	Yep. Dusky. Got one about 7ft last Friday. I went through the list too: 1. Atlantic Sharpnose (Cuban Night Shark, Brownie)... nope. Brownies only grow to about 4ft. 2. Sandbar... nope. They have a more blunt nose. 3. Oceanic Whitetip... nope. They have long pec fins and obvious white tips. 4. Dusky... yep. Right color and shape. :thumright: __________________ 2007 TBF Top Swordfish Tagging Angler, Atlantic Uncle Buck Graphic Arts, LLC Graphic Design Services for the Boating/Fishing Industry

08-24-2006, 02:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Uncle Buck Grander Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boat in Boynton / Home In Boca Boat: Sailfish 218CC Best Catch: 350+ Mako Occupation: Graphic Designer Posts: 1,785	I've been schooled. Atlantic Sharpnose (those little brown nuissance sharks) are actually NOT Cuban Night sharks. The sharpnose rarely grow over 3ft. Cubans can grow up to 10ft, and resemble an oceanic blue shark, but are brown colored. SO, it was highly likely I caught a Cuban Night shark, not a Dusky. Thanks TD! :thumright: __________________ 2007 TBF Top Swordfish Tagging Angler, Atlantic Uncle Buck Graphic Arts, LLC Graphic Design Services for the Boating/Fishing Industry

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08-24-2006, 10:59 AM	#2 (permalink)
GENERALturtle. Hooked Up Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: on da 50 Best Catch: your mom Occupation: boat lettering and sign Posts: 537	Sharks suck!

08-24-2006, 11:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tuna Devil Grander Join Date: Nov 2005 Occupation: Pirate Posts: 1,834	Sounds like a Dusky. You can compare notes with Uncle Buck who is on this site. He caught one that sounds similar to yours about a week ago. Oh yea......Welcome.

08-24-2006, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Shark Tagger Hooked Up Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Sunny Isles Best Catch: 475lb Mako Occupation: Engineering Posts: 919	maybe a cuban night shark... Not sure what the "real" species of cuban night shark is? We are heading out tonight if these storm pass.

08-24-2006, 12:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
HaimeB Grunt Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Thanks to all for the feedback, and thanks for the welcome. From what you all have shared, seems like a Dusky. For those making it tonight, I hope are as fortunate (weatherwise) as we were last night. Saw the storms out there, but we didn't get rained on and couldn't have asked for calmer seas. I also hope you are more fortunate and get what your going after, not a shark! lol

08-24-2006, 12:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sword Donkey Lines In Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Around 1,200 feet of water off Miami Boat: Killing and Releasing Sword Donkies Occupation: Salesman Posts: 91	Buck, Good description. But I usually go with sh*t eater.

08-27-2006, 09:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Boboe Hooked Up Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Austin, TX Occupation: Alaskan Fishing Guide, Gulf of Mexico Offshore Crew Boat Captain Posts: 743	Atlantic Sharpnose have got those little white splotches on their sides too. "Little brown nuissance sharks" is an appropriate name as well.

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