Why you don't want a SHARK on board

[Flysnrides]

The bite was hot hot hot near the 61 spot.

There was a repeated call on the radio from a Tuna boat Captain " bad Tuna, go to your room " followed by an open radio mike of a tuna doin the dance on someones deck. I was giggling at the radio chatter, but not for long.

All I was saying was, " Bad SHARK go away "

All was well with the fleet pluggin boats left and right, the Sea Gypsy had enough and was off to locate the sighting of some Killer Whales mingling with the Dogs not far away.

Grady thom was calling anyone who wanted more fish, to a hot spot he found.

I was in the midst of filling my second brand new Kill bag with dead Tuna.

All was well.

The ocean was at a measly 3' swell at what seemed like 10 - 15 seconds and just enough breeze to cool the sweat from fighting so many Tuna. They seemed to take whatever what was offered to them on this day.

The SHARKS were in on it too, swarming around the catch, probably scoring on a tasty wounded Tuna here and there that didn't quite make it to someones dance floor, or worse yet, taking a clone, one that didn't belong to them, nor intended for them to take.

" Bad SHARK go away "

Now, I am no expert on SHARKS, I think they are very cool to look at, and the video you see of them on Discovery TV is awesome.

I respect SHARKS, they have lots of teeth and BITE. My first up front and close experience with MR SHARK was one morning a few years ago out at the Ranch. We had fought several Hali's 500' up to the surface only to discover half of it was eaten already. And it was no mistery as to whom was doing the feasting. You only had to look at the 6" to 8" half moon type bites taken out of your Hali, quickly followed by Mr SHARK himself trailing your hard work to the boats edge, to identify the suspect.
On that day, on what was one of many trying experiences with Mr SHARK , one of them happened to get hooked up on the trailing, second hook on our Hali rig. We had brought up a nice, but half eaten Hali, along with a 5' SHARK ! I really didn't know what to do with it, but I was not happy that One; the SHARK had eaten half of my Hali, Two; he was occupying the second hook on my Hali rig.
Not wanting to loose my Hali rig I quickly grabbed a 4' gaff and snatched the SHARK out of the water, barely holding it a bay, four feet away over the Ocean. I quickly realized that this was a mistake. It looked at me, as I tried to figure out how I was going to get that hook out of it's mouth, it was fighting vigorously, unlike any fish I have ever seen before. I came to the conclusion I was willing to forfeit my Hali rig. Now my problem was how do I unload the SHARK off the gaff. It was twisting so hard that I was now just struggling to salvage the gaff. I finnaly was able flip the predator off the gaff hook. He got the hook set up and some line, I kept the gaff.

" Bad SHARK go away "

Meanwhile, back at the 61 spot, Tuna catching was good, unfortunitly, so was SHARK catching. After hooking two decent sized SHARKS, and cutting them loose, CLONE AND ALL, I was loosing my patience.
I had just dealt with a double Tuna hook up, and the two hand lines were laying on the deck. After securing the Tuna I had just began to let out the center hand line and BAAM, fish on ! Again.
I brought in what I thought would be a Tuna only to discover yet another SHARK. As it got to the boat I noticed it to be only...... 3'-4' long. I apparently had a lapse in memory from my previouly stated experience and decided I was going to get my clone back.

Yep, I gaffed it, took a look at it and for some odd reason figured I could deal with it IN THE BOAT. " afterall, it was only 4' long " I figured I had donated enough clones to the SHARKS, I was getting this one back....a green and red mexi colored beauty that had slayed several Tuna already. I did not have another replacement and, well, the bite was hot hot hot at the 61 spot.

As soon as I got this little fish on board IT was in charge. It immediately started thrashing violently. loosing my grip on the gaff, it and the predator fell to the deck, flipping all over the place, looking for something to BITE ! I hopped out of its way towards the helm as it twisted into the hand lines, which of course had hooks and clones attached. It was out-of control, Stuff was flying all over tha place.
It had my gaff and clone and was now holding me at bay.

" Bad SHARK go away "

There are not many places to hide from a frantic SHARK on a 19' vessle, it had me trapped, and there was no where for me to go. At this point I was feeling pretty selfish about not giving up my $6.00 clone and leader.

I positioned myself towards the bow, between the beast and a small garbage can I had on board that I was using as a bleeding tank, to re-assess my situation.
Options: call in a MAY DAY, abandoned ship, or fight it out. The SHARK definately had its mind made up - fight.
The SHARK was between me and all of my weapons that were at the stern, , knifes, fish club, net. By now this thing was all kinds of twisted up in the two hand lines and hooks, but that did not slow it down one bit. I had a knife clipped in my pocket, but that would mean close combat, not good with the lightnig fast speed of this thing.
I grabbed my anchor light pole out of the Port side pocket, 3' long, just long enough to pin the SHARKS head, long enough to grab the club and take care of business.

" Bad SHARK go away "

After gaining an edge and clubbing the intruder, that I invited aboard, I thought all was said and done. Before tossing it back to sea, for the crabs, I thought I better get a quick photo, with my cell phone since it was handy. I got the photo cam set up, and remembered I needed to get the hook out of its mouth. Not wanting to get my hands near its mouth I used the gaff and got the hooks out, at the same time Mr SHARK had a second wind, and went nuts again ! chasing me up onto one of the bench seats, my phone went flying - some where, I was finnaly able to gaff it again and toss it back into the Ocean, right where it belongs.

" Bad SHARK go away "

[PIR8 Hook]

Did ya find the phone or is Davey Jones using your extra rollover minutes????

[The Lucky Duck]

Originally Posted by Flysnrides

The bite was hot hot hot near the 61 spot.

There was a repeated call on the radio from a Tuna boat Captain " bad Tuna, go to your room " followed by an open radio mike of a tuna doin the dance on someones deck. I was giggling at the radio chatter, but not for long.

All I was saying was, " Bad SHARK go away "

All was well with the fleet pluggin boats left and right, the Sea Gypsy had enough and was off to locate the sighting of some Killer Whales mingling with the Dogs not far away.

Grady thom was calling anyone who wanted more fish, to a hot spot he found.

I was in the midst of filling my second brand new Kill bag with dead Tuna.

All was well.

The ocean was at a measly 3' swell at what seemed like 10 - 15 seconds and just enough breeze to cool the sweat from fighting so many Tuna. They seemed to take whatever what was offered to them on this day.

The SHARKS were in on it too, swarming around the catch, probably scoring on a tasty wounded Tuna here and there that didn't quite make it to someones dance floor, or worse yet, taking a clone, one that didn't belong to them, nor intended for them to take.

" Bad SHARK go away "

Now, I am no expert on SHARKS, I think they are very cool to look at, and the video you see of them on Discovery TV is awesome.

I respect SHARKS, they have lots of teeth and BITE. My first up front and close experience with MR SHARK was one morning a few years ago out at the Ranch. We had fought several Hali's 500' up to the surface only to discover half of it was eaten already. And it was no mistery as to whom was doing the feasting. You only had to look at the 6" to 8" half moon type bites taken out of your Hali, quickly followed by Mr SHARK himself trailing your hard work to the boats edge, to identify the suspect.
On that day, on what was one of many trying experiences with Mr SHARK , one of them happened to get hooked up on the trailing, second hook on our Hali rig. We had brought up a nice, but half eaten Hali, along with a 5' SHARK ! I really didn't know what to do with it, but I was not happy that One; the SHARK had eaten half of my Hali, Two; he was occupying the second hook on my Hali rig.
Not wanting to loose my Hali rig I quickly grabbed a 4' gaff and snatched the SHARK out of the water, barely holding it a bay, four feet away over the Ocean. I quickly realized that this was a mistake. It looked at me, as I tried to figure out how I was going to get that hook out of it's mouth, it was fighting vigorously, unlike any fish I have ever seen before. I came to the conclusion I was willing to forfeit my Hali rig. Now my problem was how do I unload the SHARK off the gaff. It was twisting so hard that I was now just struggling to salvage the gaff. I finnaly was able flip the predator off the gaff hook. He got the hook set up and some line, I kept the gaff.

" Bad SHARK go away "

Meanwhile, back at the 61 spot, Tuna catching was good, unfortunitly, so was SHARK catching. After hooking two decent sized SHARKS, and cutting them loose, CLONE AND ALL, I was loosing my patience.
I had just dealt with a double Tuna hook up, and the two hand lines were laying on the deck. After securing the Tuna I had just began to let out the center hand line and BAAM, fish on ! Again.
I brought in what I thought would be a Tuna only to discover yet another SHARK. As it got to the boat I noticed it to be only...... 3'-4' long. I apparently had a lapse in memory from my previouly stated experience and decided I was going to get my clone back.

Yep, I gaffed it, took a look at it and for some odd reason figured I could deal with it IN THE BOAT. " afterall, it was only 4' long " I figured I had donated enough clones to the SHARKS, I was getting this one back....a green and red mexi colored beauty that had slayed several Tuna already. I did not have another replacement and, well, the bite was hot hot hot at the 61 spot.

As soon as I got this little fish on board IT was in charge. It immediately started thrashing violently. loosing my grip on the gaff, it and the predator fell to the deck, flipping all over the place, looking for something to BITE ! I hopped out of its way towards the helm as it twisted into the hand lines, which of course had hooks and clones attached. It was out-of control, Stuff was flying all over tha place.
It had my gaff and clone and was now holding me at bay.

" Bad SHARK go away "

There are not many places to hide from a frantic SHARK on a 19' vessle, it had me trapped, and there was no where for me to go. At this point I was feeling pretty selfish about not giving up my $6.00 clone and leader.

I positioned myself towards the bow, between the beast and a small garbage can I had on board that I was using as a bleeding tank, to re-assess my situation.
Options: call in a MAY DAY, abandoned ship, or fight it out. The SHARK definately had its mind made up - fight.
All of my weapons were at the stern, between me and the SHARK, knifes, fish club, net. By now this thing was all kinds of twisted up in the two hand lines and hooks, but that did not slow it down one bit. I had a knife clipped in my pocket, but that would mean close combat, not good with the lightnig fast speed of this thing.
I grabbed my anchor light pole out of the Port side pocket, 3' long, just long enough to pin the SHARKS head, long enough to grab the club and take care of business.

" Bad SHARK go away "

After gaining an edge and clubbing the intruder, that I invited aboard, I thought all was said and done. Before tossing it back to sea, for the crabs, I thought I better get a quick photo, with my cell phone since it was handy. I got the photo cam set up, and remembered I needed to get the hook out of its mouth. Not wanting to get my hands near its mouth I used the gaff and got the hooks out, at the same time Mr SHARK had a second wind, and went nuts again ! chasing me up onto one of the bench seats, my phone went flying - some where, I was finnaly able to gaff it again and toss it back into the Ocean, right where it belongs.

" Bad SHARK go away "

Great story, even though it was ugly it is a memory you will never forget.

[Bucolic buffalo]

Thanks.It is a great story and the fact that everything came out ok, except the phone, makes for a big smile reading it on a Monday morning. You need to change your moniker to Bad Shark.:grin:

[Pilar]

"Bad Tuna go to your room"

That was Krystalflash who is studying hard to be an eye doctor and hardly ever gets out to sea anymore. The first guy I ever tuna fished with on my little boat 'Pilar'.

Great story, thanks for sharing it. Sharks are much better in the boat after you remove the head. Ask Ragnar how to do that I watched but not closely enough to get the method down. My Dad used 44 cal bangstick. Hit a shark with that while still in the water and you will absolutely change his mind about biting anything.

Are you stopping the boat when you hook up>?

This is always a bad idea for many reasons but mainly because the sharks can chase your fish and bite your clones. Keep moving just slower and turn towards the fish on to get some line back. Stop only at the end game when you are gaffing. In and out of gear so the lines still out don't tangle.



Blues are pretty gruesome table fare but thresher and salmon shark is good eats.

[Flysnrides]

PIR8,
I did find my little phone, it too survived the incident - intact ! hidden behind one of the fish bags !

Buffalo,
Not a bad idea to change my moniker, when I signed up on ifish I couldn't come up with a fishy moniker, so I just used a part of one of my E-Mails

Pilar,
I am continuing to drive slowly after an initial hook up, usually do not hook Sharks though ! Your friend Krystalflash was cracking me up out there.

[fyshndad]

Pat I could have told you not to do that
Next time ask