Sharking from beaches lately has been getting problems from many counties in Florida, some of which are great fishing areas. This cannot continue. Here are a few tips that should be MANDATORY when you are fishing a beach to keep LAND BASED SHARK FISHING from getting a bad reputation.
1) CLEAN UP THE BEACH when you leave.
-Dont leave trash or fish/bait on the shoreline when you are done fishing. Be responsible and take two extra minutes to unhook your bait, put it back in the cooler, and dump it in a proper area, such as the trash or a dock near the intercostal where they fillet and dump fish all day. Leaving the beach clean is the most important thing because that is where the majority of complaints have come from people against land based shark fishing.
2) Don't fish extra crowded beaches with people swimming everywhere, as in July 4th for an example. That's asking for complaints.
3) Keep your crew under control, depending on beaches.
- If you are fishing in the keys or on a remote beach somewhere, you can play loud music, possibly have fires, and make all the noise you want because there is nobody around to complain. If you are fishing near towns with lots of houses around, or next to big hotels and tourism places, don't throw a 30 person kegger out there with a DJ. Someone will call the cops and its for unecessary reasons. The more positive attention that we draw to ourselves, the better for the short and long run. I'm 21 so I like to party like everybody else, but keep it under control on beaches that may draw attention.
I think that if we continue shark fishing responsibly, there won't be any more issues. But if we take advantage of what we have and act in stupid and immature ways, we can be met in the future with the same problems that have been arising during the past year or so.
TEAM WAR PAINT
I like what you are saying. I think this info is a great resource. Remember - "Leave No Trace". I'm sure people must have a few other tips or experiences that would be very valuable. What are they?
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
One thing I've noticed is the big reels scare the beach goers enough, I try to get my baits rigged and in the water as fast as possible once they see the cable and big hooks they start asking too many questions. and most times have a fit. I also try not to make the sand look like a murder scene when preparing my bait, keeping that as concealed as possible tends to help too.
Live Without Fear!
those are some good points
Looking for the big one
If you clean a shark, dont just toss scraps back in the water, there are a chance that they might wash back up on shore the next morning, if your going to kill a fish, take the whole thing, last tiem i saw teh improper disposale of a shark the fwc came racing up the bridge...
Just an average fisherman.
Some additional tips:
1. Keep your gear organized and out of the way of the general public.
2. Keep bait covered until the last moment.
3. Dig a hole and place your bloody cooler in it.
4. Take down rods and sand spikes that are not in use and place them in the kayak.
5. Make sure all your hooks are safely out of sight.
6. Make sure your sinkers (rocks/bricks) are not scattered. Keep them in a bucket or next to an item that will prevent you or someone from stepping on it. You don't want a beach gower breaking a toe/ankle.
7. Take all discarded fishing line with you when you leave the beach.
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
Proud of you guys ,,,,alll wonderful suggestions.Sticky!!
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
I'm sure there are a few anglers that may keep a catch from time to time. If so, you need to have a strategy before you set foot on the sand. You can't put a few hundred pound fish in your bucket and run. You don't want to be the angler on the news with a dead shark being dragged over the sand dune, past the public beach showers, down the hill and strapping a shark to the front hood of your Civic and driving into town. Or, start dragging it to the car and realize that you can't make it to your vehicle, for one reason or another, and now leave the shark in a "no shark zone".
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
I always make sure i bring an extra bucket tp fill up with water to rinse off the cooler with so its not so bloody.
Looking for the big one
Snook Hunter: What would you suggest as far as transporting your keep? I think this has been discussed before but, suggestions on good ways to harvest, or dispose of a large dead shark.
Live Without Fear!
One thing I've noticed is the big reels scare the beach goers enough, I try to get my baits rigged and in the water as fast as possible once they see the cable and big hooks they start asking too many questions. and most times have a fit. I also try not to make the sand look like a murder scene when preparing my bait, keeping that as concealed as possible tends to help too.
So true, i'd say put the smaller reels out in the daylight hours like a 6/0 and bring out the big guns when the beach is cleared from the crowds!When people normally ask what are we fishing for, we'd say Tarpon.
Snook Hunter: What would you suggest as far as transporting your keep? I think this has been discussed before but, suggestions on good ways to harvest, or dispose of a large dead shark.
I'm sure others could chime in and let you know what works better then myself. I practice catch, photo and release. However, I do have a friend with a pickup truck and another with a flatbed trailer, bobcat and winch on standby. Do a search on this site and I'm sure you will get the info you want.
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
So true, i'd say put the smaller reels out in the daylight hours like a 6/0 and bring out the big guns when the beach is cleared from the crowds!When people normally ask what are we fishing for, we'd say Tarpon.
Lol thats what I tell them to
Looking for the big one
I noticed that unless you are dealing with dedicated true Fishermen, who happen to be at the Beach, you end up frustrated , & most times ,there is no recognition of the fact that "Hey ,there is a guy Fishing , MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS, quiet, & trying to stay out of anyone's way"
NO they will look right at your rods in the spikes & walk right into your lines, granted mono is hard to see , but a 10foot rod w/ 14/0 or several , allpointed out to Sea , tells me ,"FISHERMEN HERE, , give 'em some room , the Beach is huge ."
NOPE.
Not meaning to sound 'down on people' but it's easier to fish where they AREN'T.
Then when the questions start ,no matter how polite& patient YOU are, when the MAGIC WORD gets mentioned ,all bets are off,
Remember this quote: " Look,Martin, You yell : "BARRACUDA!" , Everybody says : "HUH , WHAT??!?You Yell : "SHARK!", and we've got a PANIC on our hands on the 4th of July."
And it's so true.
Now ,I've had favorable reactions,but they were from Folks with knowledge of , or interest in, FISHING.
Was down in LOVER'S KEY BEACH, purposely set up lowprofile, way down on South end away from the places usually attracting people, had two rods out, & was casting plugs with third,
Here comes a CROWD out onto the beach .....A WEDDING!
everything was copacetic untill I got a hit,immediately when the rod bent & you could see it was big ; ZOOM, this guy leaves the wedding! I couldn't help laughin
Here he is part of the wedding & all subjects except what was on the end of that line , left his thinking!
It was decent size , a SHARK, not sure what because it got off & I only got a very brief look at a fin ,unsure if it was dorsal or caudal , 50yds out, & it was off, it hit a 1-1/2OZ Rat-L-Trap [red/white] , on a 7'tornado ROD [ugly stik blank custom ] 20# rod ,PENN 8500SS Reel, 40# mono
But alot of times it's best not to say THE WORD,
The right thing to do is ,just be polite, clean up behind yourself ,&if you see a mess someone else left ,can't hurt to put it in the trashcans ,
And if possible pick your spots to avoid crowds.
"What We are dealing with here, is a' PERFECT ENGINE' ; an Eating Machine ;
IT'S really a Miracle of Evolution, all this Machine does, is SWIM, & EAT & Make Little SHARKS!"