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Riptide Charters · 06-20-2007, 09:33 AM

Even with all the tuna and bass action around we decided to stay flexible and change the pace a bit. "Hit and Move, Hit and Move, you should never sit still". So with that mindset Mke C, Jr and I took Daughter Melissa A.K.A "Sharkgirl" out for another round of shark fishing south of MV.

The conditions were perfect for the ride out of Falmouth and we got a leasurely start around 0830. We ran down to Gay Head for our bait and we loaded up the livewell and the cooler with fresh bluefish very quickly. Then we headed south about 10 miles looking to set up camp. We were in touch with some friends that were doing scientific research in the area. They were looking to tag large female bluesharks with Satellite Pop-up tags. We aggreed to call them if we hooked up anything that would help them out. They were set up around the 41/70 area and when we got close they advised they were getting dogfishing pretty bad and we should move farther out. We continued out towards the Fingers and set up about 8 miles beyond them in 180' of water.

We set the slick and the baits and began to wait. This is the part I struggle with, I'm not a patient person. It's a running joke that "Riptide doesn't have the patients to wait the obligatory hour for the sharks to show". But dispite that rumor I settled in with a minmum of complaining.

After and hour we were visited by a nice 10' blueshark.

Sharkgirl was first up and she belted in and worked over the 10' blue in short order. We called the tag boat to tell them we had several sharks around the boat and we had a prime tag fish hooked up. They were slow and began to pull up and head to our numbers. With 20 minutes travel time we were not able to keep the 10'er hanging around so they told usto cutit loose and they'd set up next to us and we could both work our slick forthe rest of the sharks in the area. So with a quick pic we released the 10'er and continued to drift.

In short order the tag boat showed up and we directed them about 300' off our port bow on the lead edge of our slick. They began to add to our already established chum slick and soo the two boats had a really nice combined slick. The sharks continued to come and the tag boat was a getting to tag the nedded animals.

We hooked up on another blue around 7' and this time Jr. was up to the task. He landed the fish in short order. Before we could pass the fish off the fish came unbuttoned at boatside.

We continued to fish and next up Sharkgirl got the chance to hook an fight another 7'er. This fish came in hot and mean but after a few rounds withthe 30VSW it was tired and a perfect candidate for a tag. We hailed the tag boat and they eased over to us. I got on the bow and stuck the rod tip out as far as I could. One of the taggers was able to hook my leader with a straight gaff and I fed them line. They clipped in one of their rods and then unclipped my mainline so they could bring the shark alongside their boat. We backed off a bit and I took a ton of photos of the tagging.

They tailed roped the shark and took measurements and other needed data.

While they were gathering the needed intel others on the boat readied the tags and the tag stick.

Thena s a final operation they attached the Satellite Pop-up tag for attachment to the shark and took a photo of the animal for thier records. The sharks data was all recorded and then it was released.

We both continued to fish for another hour or so before callign it a day and heading home on the FAC water. Final tally was three decent sharks a fewtiny ones and a MONSTER bluefish taken on a deep shark bait. Fresh bluefish was the bait of choice along with chum and oil. We were in 180' of water that was in the 63 degree range. The sharks were taken on 30's and 50's with Basil Wind-On shark leaders for ease of handling.

Overall it was a departure from my normal helter skelter high speed mentality, but it was a nice flat day and there are worse ways to spend the afternoon than watching sharks circle your boat while catching a tan. It was also allot of fun helping out the Taggers and watching them work. I've seen this stuff on TV butI've never been able to be a part of it. Having recieved some flack after killing the IGFA Jr World Record Shark for Sharkgirl last season this was our way of helping the species. Some people assumed we killed allot of fish and as most of my regular readers know we release 99% of what we catch. This was just one way we could go even further than catch and release to help sustain and manage the local fishery.