What to do with a shark that has died is a topic that all shark fisherman will have to deal with sooner or later.This topic will cause a stir in some people that think sharks should not be fished for but if you stay in the sport long enough you will eventually have to deal with a dead shark on your hands.We promote catch and release of all sharks but face the fact that sometimes sharks die while being captured.We do not condone killing a shark for a set of jaws or to show your friend Harold down the block.
When you have exhausted all attempts to revive a shark you must face the fact and make the best of a bad situation .If the shark is a small specimen most are good table fare and some of the bigger species are also considered to be good table fare.One example of the larger shark species is the Mako shark which is considered by many seafood conosieurs as tasty as the swordfish.
Some sharks are on the protected species list and extreme care should be exercised when handling to insure it survies after release .If a protected species dies on you and you are in possesion you can be charged and arrested with a felony ,, so being aware of the fishery laws that pertain to sharks is the first order of things.
Most sharks with the exception of the hammerhead will vigorously swim away after release if handled with care.If you gaff a shark,or drag it over rocks or have it on a line dangling for a long time the chances your shark will survive after release is improbable so try to shorten the fight time,handle with care and do not expose the shark to undue stress.
If you do not want the trouble of lugging around a dead shark all over town you are stuck with only two viable options to discard of the shark.One way would be to bury the shark and the other is to take the shark out to deep
water away from populated areas.
IF THE SHARK DIES
A)You can fillet the shark and properly discard of the carcass
B)Donate the shark to a local Food Kitchen(call them first to see if they are interested)
C)You can contact a local University with a marine science program and donate the shark for studies
D)You can give the shark to a crab fisherman to use for there traps
E)You can bury the shark (always have a shovel in your vehicle)
F)You can dispose of the shark in deep water away from populated areas
I'm sure there are other ways to dispose of a dead shark but these are the most common .
THE SHARK JAWS
Once a shark dies you might as well take the jaws to have a momento of your capture.I personally no longer practice this so that when the rare occasion that a shark dies on me the critics cannot say "he killed it for a set of jaws", that's my personal criteria.Those that love to bash our sport will say "he killed the shark for a set of jaws so this is the reason I have left this subject for last.People will talk smack and you just have to harden your shell and deal with the criticism;hell they talked bad about Jesus so be ready for the jabs by those that want to abolish the sport as well as by others that don't understand these things do happen .
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
is it really legal to just bury a shark? i would assume someone would fine you big time unless your gonna bury it in your own backyard...
Just an average fisherman.
There is a biologist in the Bahamas that just studies lemons. He told me 2 months ago that he would pay 10 bucks for each DNA sample that came off a lemon. He sent me a box of small tubes with some sort of preservative in them and said he only needs a small clipping from a fin to extract the DNA.
Its not a lot of money, but if the shark is going to die, you might as well make it useful.
Heres his number if anyone is interested.
Steven
305-484-0433
I've had a few close calls with 5-6 ft blacktips..I think I actually brought one back from the dead one time 
I work hard and as fast as I can to dehook and release sharks and all big game..fortunately I haven't had a shark I've intended to release die on me yet. If I was to lose one I know very well it would make me feel much worse than any of the critics, I know I care more about sharks and their well being more than any of these conservationalist/environmentalist types who barely ever even go outdoors.