monster shark tourney on now ESPN

greenbuttskunk · 10-17-2006, 08:46 PM

check it out. Much of the shark meat donated to local food banks. Nice to see.

crabbait · 10-18-2006, 06:13 AM

Love the gear they are using and the fishing but I hate to see them killing apex predators for no apparent reason other than their own egos. Any fish that takes a long time to reach significant size and that do not breed prolifically should be carefully managed to prevent crashing numbers.

I can see the day in the not-distant future when people will be talking about the good old days when you stood a chance of catching a big Mako. Sad.

diamond back · 10-18-2006, 06:42 AM

I like the shark tournament they had in the Florida Keys that was televised last summer. They had to measure the shark at the boat then release. Great idea instead of killing the fish.

greenbuttskunk · 10-18-2006, 06:59 AM

I totally agree crabby. That part was sad to see. You'd think they would be at a point where killing would not be neccessary. I was excited to watch the fishing/gear/challenge part. It really got me pumped up for cabo.

Bait O' Eggs · 10-18-2006, 07:09 AM

I enjoyed the fishing part, some of those teams look like they wanted to lay around and nap rather than fish

you can sure tell the serious fishermen from the wanna be's

Anytime crew is laying down with their eyes closed, they are potentially missing seeing a fin swim by. Kinda like our tuna fishing, if your napping your missing opportunity to see jumpers etc...

That big Mako straightening that monster hook was impressive

I am not to sure a blue shark tournament off our coast would do much to the population, they are like rats in New York CityCounty.

greenbuttskunk · 10-18-2006, 09:59 AM

I especally enjoyed the story of the team out to just fish together. The father and the son who lost his leg in an accident they year before. He was an inspiration, great to see him with his dad, and his love of fishing.

Rosco · 10-18-2006, 07:44 PM

Did anyone watch it last year??? A boat landed a 1200 lb. tiger!!!! But, they made it back to the harbor a mere 7 minutes past the deadline and the fish didn't count

THey would have won it by a long shot.

As for them killing the fish they keep.... really, there very few fish caught (and subsequently killed) that are even close to the minimum weight limit. This would not seemingly have a large effect on numbers. Additionally, much of the meat is donated to soup kitchens and food counters so it does not go to waste. They also have a biologist there who dissects, measures, and records TONS of data on the sharks that would be otherwise unattainable. This info will undoubtedly help us better understand each species and improve our ability to protect them in the long run.

crabbait · 10-19-2006, 07:09 PM

How long does it take for a Mako to get this size and how many sharks would a prime female like this create?

Seems an inglorious ending to me.

Sturgeon Tom · 10-20-2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamond back

I like the shark tournament they had in the Florida Keys that was televised last summer. They had to measure the shark at the boat then release. Great idea instead of killing the fish.

This show showed just how well some crews could work together to accomplish there goal. I really enjoyed it and would like to do it sometime.

As for they don't kill many. I would think if a TV show, showed catching large Sharks and having a lot of fun others would want to do it too. IE; our oversize Sturgeon.
How long has it been since you have seen a lot of 1500lb Marlin and really giant Tuna or 20' Sturgeon. There gone or very close to it.

These (sharks) breed at a slow rate and grow slowly.

I would hope that we will learn from our past when it comes to our pour record of conservation.

My opinion is no better than anyone else. This is just the way I feel.

tracker · 10-20-2006, 05:19 AM

Great show! I would suggest that if you do not want to kill them then I would not fish in a tournament like that! It is legal, it would be great fun and a challenge, and I would be right there doing it if I had the opportunity! Yea they grow slow and if the studies that come out of the info gathered at tournaments like this and from other sources helps then great! But I cannot get too concerned about the shark population and the doom and gloom that follows these shows when I see the the desire to limit the sportsman in his take and the utter lack of concern and when commercial boats far outweigh the sportsmen in take and death. The best example I can think about is our own albacore. They want to put a lower limit on the sportsmen even when in their own words, we take such an insignificant amount of tuna that if we quit fishing for them altogether the lack of help to the speices would be non-existent!
GBS just try releasing a big cow in your tournament in the next couple of weeks! It may grow faster but really it is the same thing! Your not hurting the population if you keep a money fish!
Blue shark tourney here? Man lets do it! Who knows how many centuries of life we could snuff out? Its what we do! We are the apex predator!
Ok now I will turn off the computer so as not to have it melt down from the heat generated by the viseral disgust at my words here!

big sharks and enjoy!