shark?

[rsw21282]

im fairly new to saltwater, for the whole "cool/interesting" factor i would like to catch a shark. Do most ppl eat shark or is the meat so-so or what do most do with the catch. I mostly want to have a pic and a good fight. I have caught one but it was a bonnethead, and at the time i thought it was a baby hammerhead so you can immagine my dissapointment when i found out what it was and they dont get very big.

I live on the gulf side of florida near sarasota.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: shark?

You need to go out on the jetties that are fishable and if you have one close a fishing pier at night. There you will find the died in the wool shark fishing fanatics. They can if willing teach you more in a night than you could learn in a year of reading posting questions etc. I wonder about your "cool/interesting" reason for pursuit of this species.

Remember some species are protected so know which one's to release for sure before you go.

PS If you really want interesting, walk the public beaches that allow fishing at dawn and sight cast to tarpon as they move up and and down the beach in shallow water. Hooking a 75 lb tarpon is "Real Cool" and the show can be spectacular. While looking for tarpon, snook or mackeral keep your eyes open for prehistoric shark teeth as the beaches from Sarasota to Venice are loaded especially after a good storm.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: shark?

I don't know that most people do, but some eat it. Sometimes the shark eat you.

 

[rsw21282]

Re: shark?

I most likely would release the shark anyway. I have read some regulations and unless i am sure about what it is i would probably let it go as the fines would probably be outrageous and im not sure if the meat is worth eating. Really the cool factor comes in because i cant catch shark in illinois(where im from) so after the biggest thing to catch when i lived there beinga catfish a shark would be a memorable experience. I have heard of a lot of ppl that go for tarpon and for the size ranges iv heard, seems crazy ppl using a fly rod. I would think shark would be easier to catch since it seems like bloody dead fish should equal shark i would think but ill do some research.

 

[captin bill]

Re: shark?

Shark taste great! And there are several ways of cooking it. I perfer to grill it I'm from Indiana and since I move to Houston Tx. I have gotn hook on catching shark. There's nothing like pulling one in. If you hook a black tip don't be suprized to see it go airborn. They are an asome animal. I surf fish for them. Go to www.tx-sharkfishing.com and there you will find anything you need to know about shark fishing. Good luck

 

[rsw21282]

Re: shark?

one other question is how do you clean a shark? it may sound dumb but looks like it would be like cleaning a big catfish.

 

[captin bill]

Re: shark?

Yea thats how I do it. Some people leave the skin on and cook it that way. But I think it's alittle greasy with it left on. I prefer to take it off. And like you said. It's just like skining a cat fish. I like to grill it.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: shark?

My biggest fish to date was an 8'6" hammerhead caught off the Bob Johnson reef just south of you off Sarasota. Fought her for almost two hours. Drug my little 19' skiff half way to Mexico after she spooled me. After seeing eye to eye she was cut loose to fight again...

If you want to eat one, they are good on the grill. Keep a small one, no longer than 3'. Gut it as soon as you can and ice it down. Filet it, and skin it. Soak the meat in milk for an hour or two before cooking. Rub the grill with some oil and cook. Meat is firm, won't break up. Won't take long..

Pic of my last shark.. 4' blacktip caught on 25# line and a greenback..caught on 9-06. Released to fight again. Caught off Crystal River, near where we are going to have our next get together in April..

 

[captin bill]

Re: shark?

After marinateing it in milk, I like to marinate it in Italian dressing. Then grill it. If it starts to flake. You cooked it to long. Here's a pic of a bonna head I caught while surf fishing in Galvestin about a month ago.

They were biting like crazy that day.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: shark?

Just a few more thoughts, shark are good to eat if prepared correctly, and fighting a tarpon or a shark in deep water is a lot like work. Fishing with fly rods for tarpon is mostly a shallow water thing with the fish tiring rapidly from the repeated jumps. The records with fly are astounding but more than likely were in shallow flat areas of the keys here in the states or the islands.
For me I would rather pursue the linesider (snook) and if I hook a tarpon on the side, well that's extra fun. Anyway no matter what you fish for a bad day fishing is much better than ( that's dumb there ain't no such thing as a bad day of fishing )

Luck ya'll