shark-tiquette

Looking for advice on what to do when you are surf fishing and you catch a shark (or a sting ray for that matter I guess). I will NOT be targeting sharks as I have no real interest in catching them. They seem like things best left to those with experience. Kind of like guns and chainsaws.

We generally fish during the times of the day that we are actually able to (versus when the fishing is the best). Both my brother in law and I have kids and watching over them usually eats up most of the day. So there are times that we will have lines in the water at the same time we are 'parenting'. I realize there is always the possibility of catching a shark, but I would prefer to keep my odds lower. I would also like to avoid the glare from my wife and other beach goers if I were to reel in a shark while people were in the water. That doesn't seem like a great idea and I'd probably not be pleased if some yahoo next to me was reeling in a shark while my kids were in the water. So how do people handle this situation? Do you just cut the line as soon as you realize it's something much toothier than a redfish? I won't be tossing out large pieces of cut bait or anything to purposely target sharks, but I know they will eat most anything (including a fish that has taken your bait).

The part of Ft. Morgan we stay at historically (pretty much where the old governor's mansion is) has the first bar way out, so in order to target reds and things like that, we usually have to wade out a long way (we wade out like 50-75 yards) and then cast into that deep water with our 10' rods. I feel like I'm casting into a shark highway when I do that, but we've never caught much of anything closer in to the beach (other than lady fish and catfish)

Have you considered going with your brother-in-law early in the morning before the swimmers show up and before the kids wake up? If you're fishing for redfish with a mullet chunk, for instance, and hook a shark, most of the time he's going to cut your line/fluorocarbon leader.

You are over thinking things.
There is probably at least 1 or 2 sharks in the water within 100 yards of you anytime you are on the beach/in the water.
Yes you might hook one, but as noted, if you don't have on a wire leader, odds are it will cut your line immediately.
In the slim chance it does not, reel it in, cut the line a couple of feet from the mouth and it will be gone as fast as it can turn and rocket back out.
Or as soon as you see the fin, lock down the drag, hold the spool and point the rod straight at the fish and hope if breaks off at the leader.

But unless someone gets right in with the shark while you are fighting it, you aren't going to increase the odds of someone getting bit by reeling in a shark. Just keep the kids back and don't let anyone screw with it.

Once again, sharks are everywhere. And about 1 person every 20 years gets bit while swimming in the Gulf in Alabama.
Jellyfish, stingrays, hardhead spines and broken beer bottles (and driving from home to the beach) are an exponentially larger threat.

Thanks guys. I hadn't thought about the fact that I only use Fluoro leaders, so the chances of getting cut off are pretty high.
I always knew there was a high probability the sharks were close by when I was in the water. I just didn't like to think of it much! I've seen the videos shot from above where they show the swimmers completely oblivious to the sharks swimming nearby. I'm sure I've been in that situation before myself.

and you are totally right about the other hazards truly being more of a potential issue than sharks. If you read the internet enough you will be convinced that you will be barbed by a sting ray that you stepped on while simultaneously being barbed by a hardhead you are trying to get off the hook. At least that's how it seems to those of us with little experience.

Between Jeremy Wade and Shark Week, I'm close to the point where I'm more scared of the fish on the end of my line than that fish is of me!

Shark week used to be about science and ecology. Now it's nothin more than another "reality" show. Discovery, National Geographic, History and other networks should be ashamed of themselves with the garbage they have on now.



Oops, sidetracked another thread. :)