Possum

While I agree with the whole deal with killing blue sharks, the point about them urinating (as we know it) through their skin is, well, false. In fact they do not urinate at all, as we think of it. ALL sharks excrete ammonia and other water soluble wastes via their gills and skin (things that mammals and the like would pee out). Blue sharks do have a higher urea content in their body, but is not due to internal saturation, just their chemical make-up (one of the reasons hooks do rot out of their mouths quicker than others).

As for edibility, this is a debate that will go on for ever.

I actually have eaten blue shark this year, and in all honesty, it didn't taste bad, at all. The fish was 8' when taken. The meat is softer than most would prefer, but it tasted good (not just edible, but a nice flavor). The fish was skinned at the time of cleaning.

Not meaning to hijack this thread, so if we want to debate this one, let's start a new one.

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Peckster

OK - so not to get into the discussion of how good or bad blue shark meat is......Congrats on the success seaworm!!

Nice to have the kind of success your first time trying something new! I imagine you'll be trying this again, so please let us all know how you make out now that you have a TON of advice that's been posted here. I kind of like the idea of sticking your kill with a knife tied off on a pole.....will have to try that one on the wife next time

Thanks for the great story.

On The Edge

Congrats on the mako and on your first time out. To bad about loosing it, but a lesson learned. Personaly after securing the fish with flyers or poons and getting the tail rope on and once it calms down i get the 11" knife in the gills and cut him up good to get the blood flowing. Then with the tail out of the water and tied off to the stearn cleat let him hang. Remember with the tail out of the water he can only roll and has little or no means of propultion. If he needs to be drug it will be aparent at that point..

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Catch um up

1999 proline 2202 wa
1999 200 merc

Lucky Lou

first off congrats on the hook up on your first try, i know you'll be trying that again soon. i personaly have never boated a mako but last year we released two. we THINK we could have landed them if we tried. both were very tired. like formula said "well played out",i think is very important.if the fish comes in fast as they often do we drive the boat away from the fish to prolong the fight and tire the fish.we tie a bumper or tuna ball to the chum buket and let it go, so we dont break up the slick. this year we landed two threshers the largest 242#.we use a harpoon placed in the gills or as close as we get, our harpoon is tied to 100 ft of rope with a tuna ball on the end ,stick the poon in and let it go if it wants .when it tires or dies pull it in.we didnt have to let go because both were so tired we were able to get a tail tie on fast enough.but a very reputable tacke shop told us of the technique and we plan on using it if we have to. no the harpoon wont pull out.once we have our fish pooned ,tailed,tired.we shoot the F#@&ER with a 12 guage (we used #6 bird shot) in the head. game over!!! oh man im getting a woody.cant wait to get a big mako! lots of good advice on this thread good luck!!!

goin deeper

Not sure what you guys are thinking? If you ever encounter a bigger Mako 200+ it would be smart NOT to gaff or poon in front of the dorsal. I dont know about you but pointing a missile staright at the boat and your face doesnt seem like a great idea and thats exactly what your doing with a head shot.

I have caught some decent sized Makos and I am telling you please dont head shot. Hit them behind the dorsal and gain control. The tail them off. At this point you can hit them in the gill plate to quiken the bleeding/death. Even then they will be pretty active for a good chunk of time.

Before all that, my advice is to NOT bring that fish in hot. Many times they will come right to the boat under 5-10 min and your saying to yourself "whats the big deal with these fish, they are easy". Well, the reason they are easy to the boat is that they dont really fear you or the line hang'n out of their mouth. However, when you poke them with a large stainless barbed hook it turns into a completely different story very quickly.

You are much safer to make a larger Mako fight and get at least a few good runs out of him before trying to boat. I am assuming that everyone is actually fishing and a sportsman. Anyone can bring the fish alongside & send a round through his head.

Remember that these guys swim 40+ kts and can jump 20+ feet. I have seen 400+ Makos get at least 15 foot air next to the boat so dont for a minute think it wont happen sticking him in the head boatside.

Just trying to keep it safe

On The Edge

Goin Deeper,
The "were to hit a mako with a gaff and or Poon" is an age old debate with Many good points on both sides. Some like yourself are from the "behind the dorsel" school and make good points as to the WHY'S.
I on the other hand am from the "hit them in the gills" school. And at the risk of continuing the debate have very good reasons as well.

However we do agree on a few other major points for harvesting or releasing a mako shark safely.

#1 Never bring a green mako to the boat.
#2 Guns are for hunting not fishing, and are dangerous on a rocking boat, and not very sporting.
#3 Never and i mean NEVER bring a live mako on board..

These are strong and unpredictable creatures and deserve alot of respect.
They can and will break limbs, or bite them off, and will completely trash a cockpit if given the opertunity.

But they are great sport, and are fun on the rod. And are very tasty!!

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Catch um up

1999 proline 2202 wa
1999 200 merc

Get Reel

I prefer the gill shot with the poon. I have tried behind the dorsal, while effective, it just seems to piss them off. I find it is easier to get a tail rope on a Mako after a poon shot to the gills. It takes the fight right out of them. Once you have the tail rope on them, you are in control (for the most part!). Only do this to a played out fish. A green fish will be trouble no matter where you stick him. Never bring a "just landed" Mako on-board. The 180# Mako below was hooked, played out, pooned in the gills, tail roped, gills slit and left to bleed out on the swim platform. Had him strung up tight with the tail rope and the dart line from cleat to cleat across the stern. A few violent thrashes occurred in the first 15 minutes as expected and then all was quiet. About an hour later the fish went nuts to the point were we had to get another tail rope on it because it was breaking the strands of the 1/2 inch line. This was his last hoorah, but would not have been pretty if he was in the boat, even with a bucket over his head. He made the ride in on the swim platform and did not cause anymore trouble.

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goin deeper

i agree with both of you guys on this with the exception of the gill shot over dorsal. My big point here is for any novice Mako fisherman, they should think conservatively and have allthe facts right i.e. harpooning that 7 ft under 10 min (1st Mako ever).

I can understand the gill shot for smaller fish but not the big guys. Like I said before, if you really hit him hard in the head with the gaff you stand the chance of pointing his head right at you. Either way, be safe and I enjoyed the debate. We can start a new thread on best baits and chum for Mako beause I know my way is best LOL!

Hope we all get the chance to fish soon with this mess after mess coming!

Seaworm1

I cant say how glad I am that I started this thread. Ive got to say that I dont think I could have gotten this much valuable information hanging out on the docks for a week as I have from nbs'ers . From what I gather its probably a good thing the mako never made it in the boat- I would not have been prepared! I will be purchasing a flying gaff, and making sure I have a surplus of ropes before I go sharking again (So i've got 4 days). Thanks Lucky Lou for the tip about leaving the chumpot afloat with a bouy, I was wondering hor to drag the shark without leaving the slick.

On A good note, Capt. Rich of the Black Rose swears that he lost the massachusetts state record mako at boatside(not good for Rich) but that means that theres a 1,000 lb plus mako swimming aroung out there waiting to eat someone elses bait. Even if its not record size, just imagine...

Once again, thanks to everyone for your input and insight, maybe next year I'll be looking for canyon advice (if my boat grows 6 feet)

CaptDom

Been dealing with other fishes so to speak, and not much in the mood of late to talk much.....

But, I will say that if you follow any advice in this thread, listen to goin deeper about where to gaff a big mako.

Placing any kind of iron whether it be dart or gaff towards the grill of a pissed off biggun will risk putting that jaw right in yer face. Take away the propeller first, period.

Guns have no place in any kind of sport fishing either. You want to hunt a shark with a gun, get in the water with it and use a spear gun.

We are sportfisherman, and as such should fight the shark on appropriate gear, and tire it out properly before bringing it boatside. Two or three gaffs and a tailrope will take any shark that swims when placed properly by an experienced crew. Drag its azz backwards until all the mustard is out of it, before bringing it aboard.
Capt. Billy Verbanas and his tragic end should be in the forefront of anyone's mind who wants to tangle with big makos.

Threshers on the other hand, always hit em in the gills.

Remember, these fish can kill ya very easily, and should never be taken lightly or underestimated, regardless of size or species.

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CAPT. DOM PETRARCA
COASTAL CHARTERS SPORTFISHING
NEWPORT, RI (401)-862-0358
www.coastalcharterssportfishing.com