Deep hooking sharks.

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#1 Post by **petekd** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:42 pm

Following on from a wonderful little jaunt on Friday off the Old Head of Kinsale with Scotsman and my Boss (!) aboard their warrior 165 (Sean Ps old boat Gigabyte) chasing blue sharks.... We had a super trip with plenty of activity, the usual number of dropped runs and 3 fish to over 100lbs, 7ft plus long. Sight fishing successfully to a blue shark of this size that made its presence felt by appearing from nowhere and attacking the dubby bag in clear water is something that will remain with me for a long time. However, on a day of success where every man got his fish, and a good un at that, there was a downside.

We have been sharking on our own this past couple of years and in most cases, unfortunately, we end up leaving the hook behind. Its not something that is sitting well with me at the moment. To the point where I would consider not doing it again if we cant find a solution. We are using very large, very strong, well sharpened hooks, not sure of approx size but bloody big uns. Hitting on the initial run is resulting in dropped fish, giving them time is resulting in deep hooked fish and with the best will in the world, I aint putting my arm a foot into a sharks mouth to retrieve a hook.

Does anyone have any practical experience on the best way to deal with this issue? Is there a way of avoiding deep hooking? Im looking for advice from people who do this type of fishing more often than me and have tried and trusted methods of their own. Yes I know about the circle hook option etc but I would like to hear from people who have actually used this with success or otherwise.

Catching a big blue is realistically, for most as close to the pinnacle as you can get in boat angling on this country and on light gear they give a good account of themselves. I fish relatively light I suppose with a TDXU 2-8oz uptider, Shimano Tekota Multiplier and 50lb braid and have yet to be beaten by a fish. Most of them I have hooked have been boated within 15 minutes and I've had fish well over the 100lb mark. Should we be stepping up the gear and striking hard on the first run and taking our dropped fish as being part of it? Whilst pound for pound, they are quite a lazy fish fight wise, they are creatures of tremendous power and beauty and I dont like the thoughts of damaging them, possibly seriously.

#2 Post by **yngkmd** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:48 pm

personally i dont know much about shark fishing myself but i have seen a few programs when they took a strong plastic cone, think of a traffic cone with the top and bottom cut off, and stuck this in the sharks mouth so it couldnt bit down, and then reached in through the cone to retrieve the hook, obviously an experienced and brave soul to attempt this but they seemed to have no problems getting the hook out

#3 Post by **Tom H** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:11 pm

circle hooks in big sizes (15/0-18/o) and also take the barb off them. let the blue run point your rod at the running shark and just tighten up. There is no need to strike with those hooks. You will get them in the corner of there mouth every time

Bring them along side and jump the hook out with a long T bar or hook pusher. Job done..

#4 Post by **yngkmd** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:40 pm

Tom H wrote:circle hooks in big sizes (15/0-18/o) and also take the barb off them. let the blue run point your rod at the running shark and just tighten up. There is no need to strike with those hooks. You will get them in the corner of there mouth every time Bring them along side and jump the hook out with a long T bar or hook pusher. Job done..

thats a much better idea

#5 Post by **Bigboned** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:37 pm

The traffic cone sounds more like some college initiation ceremony!! Circle hook is the way!!

#6 Post by **petekd** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:44 pm

Thanks for that Tom, will give that a try. What brand Circles are you using yourself and where are you getting them from if you dont mind me asking? Yngkmd, that sounds the job for terrifying the life out of a newbie...lol, bit too gynaecological for me!

Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:09 pm

Fish the bait on a hair rig and you should not have any problem.
You should not miss any fish either.

#8 Post by **Tom H** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 6:22 pm

petekd wrote:Thanks for that Tom, will give that a try. What brand Circles are you using yourself and where are you getting them from if you dont mind me asking? Yngkmd, that sounds the job for terrifying the life out of a newbie...lol, bit too gynaecological for me!

Try here... http://www.leadertec.com/store/product. ... urrency=10

Sea Angling Ireland

Deep hooking sharks.

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