Let's handle some sharks...

[MuskieBait]

Let this be a warning. I'm doing my due diligence to warn Michael...but if he fails to heed all these warnings, and decide to take matter in his own hand, all for the epic and glory of a big catch...there is nothing else that I can do...aside from cutting off a big and dangerous shark that we cannot confidently handle in any manner. Don't fault me for cutting the line if it happens. I don't want anyone losing a finger, a chunk of flesh or a limb on our trip...a fish is just not worth it.

Exhibit 1: Guy already had the shark pinned between the boat rail and his legs, with upper body bent over the body. This little 4' shark still managed to grab his hands. Should NEVER use your hands to unhook a shark.





Exhibit 2: As if getting knicked once wasn't a warning enough at the beginning of the video, this guy went at it again. The guy holding the shark down failed to get his body weight over the shark to control it. Having the shark sideways like that allows the shark to bend upward and grab the hand. You should NEVER position a shark like that for unhooking. The shark should be belly down, the person controlling the shark should straddle the shark over the back, and the knees should be placed on the pectoral fins to restrict side-to-side movement from the shark. Worse yet, the guy jumped off the shark as soon as the shark grabbed his friend's hand. Now the shark is free to thrash around and damage tissue even more. Real smart. Can't give any credit to the friend who is unhooking the shark with bare hands.





Exhibit 3: Watch the video. It covers some do's and don't's. Hey, let's handle a little one, they should be safe. Let's grab them by the tail and get a good picture. A shark, especially a small one like here, can bend around and grab someone by the calf, by the arm and in this case the chest when you tail them and don't have them under control. Yeah, tail rope is great...but eventually you have to remove the tail rope...but not when they can swing freely like that.





Exhibit 4: Start watching from 4:45. This person didn't really got bitten, but it was pretty close. Trying to hold down a shark by stepping on the tail. Notice how quick and how agile the bonnethead shark is. It can curl around completely and almost bit the person's foot. This is just a little 3' bonnethead with small teeth that is not that lethal...but any other shark can do the same...and it could be a blacktip or a bull shark with more formidable dental work.





Common sense, right? Tell it to these people. In the heat of the moment, especially when adrenaline from a big catch takes over, people lose their heads. When "the biggest fish EVER of my life" is on the line and it is a big and dangerous shark, people will suggest to do stupid things like roping a shark and walking it back to land it on a shoreline that is steep, rocky and slippery in knee deep water. Let's get a chunk taken out of our calves, arm or let's lose a finger...and we'll spend the rest of the trip in the hospital...

Best way to handle shark is simply not handling them. Cut the line if you can't control the shark safely and WITH CONFIDENCE!

[OldTimer]

^^ Really good advice.

I've cut free sharks rather than attempt to handle them once they get of size.

But even a small one under 3 foot long can do some major damage to fingers and calves.

Be even more cautious in the dark....... and keep an eye on the hook points too.

Trial and error is not advised. If you really want to learn to handle them get a good reputable guide - then do a few trips and get them to show you the hows and how nots.

Heads up on blues too. My dad ended up with half a dozen stitches along his thumb and palm from one of these.

[MichaelAngelo]

Woah... nice and sobering collection of videos here.

[Eli]

You're not a man until you've naked wrestled and unhooked an 8-foot lemon with your bare hands.


(Going after makos, threshers, and porbeagles in the Bay of Fundy this spring)

[MuskieBait]

(11-23-2013 07:00 PM)Eli Wrote:  You're not a man until you've naked wrestled and unhooked an 8-foot lemon with your bare hands.

(Going after makos, threshers, and porbeagles in the Bay of Fundy this spring)

LMAO!

And I like your spring plan. Who are you going with? Charter I assume? You forgot blues...they are probably the more common sharks out there...if the water temp is high enough

[OldTimer]

In any case MA & MB......... hope your trip south is both adventurous and safe - with plenty of great weather and lottsa fish (both big and small)

   

Looking forward to your future report and pics...........

Take care,

OldTimer

[MuskieBait]

We are getting gear ready...

10/0 Mustad Demon Offset Circle with Malin 180lb single strand and Offshore Angler 310lb barrel swivel.

[OldTimer]

All set for Scopa too I see.

OT

[MichaelAngelo]

(12-02-2013 07:46 AM)OldTimer Wrote:  All set for Scopa too I see.

OT

I freaking loved that game when I was a kid, my grandparents would play it with me regularly.

I never learned Briscola until recently. Wicked card game!

[MuskieBait]

(12-02-2013 10:51 AM)MichaelAngelo Wrote:  

(12-02-2013 07:46 AM)OldTimer Wrote:  All set for Scopa too I see.

OT

I freaking loved that game when I was a kid, my grandparents would play it with me regularly.

I never learned Briscola until recently. Wicked card game!

I played Briscola throughout highschool. We basically played at least a few games every day. We played Scopa a little bit as well. I used to be very good at remembering cards...so good that we had a few epic cappotto...not so good anymore.

Good...we have something to do now while waiting for Jaws...

I hung out with so many Italians growing up that I'm kinda adopted by them All three of my best friends in elementary school were Italian...and I'm still in touch with two of them. My neighbours next door was Italian, and then there were the nonna and nonno across the street. They used to bring us Christmas treats, Easter treats, homemade wine, homemade pasta sauce...and we would bring them homemade dumplings. I used to help them shovel the driveway if their boys didn't get to it first. They even cooked for us once when we were moving away. Oh I miss them.

Anyways...