Angie Sea Fri Sharking from SRI - BIG Thresher

[Overtime Fishing]

Broke the Inlet anout 5:30 with my Dad, my cousin Joey, and my buddy Brando. We were greeted by a nice tight 6-8 foot swell and immediately grateful we weren’t running out to the Chicken. Got about 15 miles out and had a couple short bites and one decent runoff that didn't come tight.

Seas finally laid down a bit around noon and we opted to move another 7 miles off or so. Got set up and immediately had a thresher take a mackeral. On maybe 5 minutes with a nice jump then spit the hook. Shortly after had another hard hit, snapped the outrigger clip jumped and gone. I didnt see it, one said he saw the tail, other guy said mako.

Few hours went by with no action and we were down to a quarter bucket of chum. Just when we started to think we blew our chance I was feeding out a fresh mackeral and felt a hit. Waited a while to set this one myself and had him good. Passed the rod around about a hundred times and an hour later finally saw the tail. Another 45 or so and we had him boatside and Joey put a slug in em, game over.

Through the door and off we were. Shark came in at 328 on the Fisherman's Den scale missing one side of its face. Based on some other pics I saw today, guessing you dont need a 12 guage slug. What shot is recommended to take out a shark? Just a little concerned I might catch the leader next time.

All in all, great trip. Beat em up good with a Bogan custom rod and Avet EXW50. First time out and we were very happy with the results. Thresher really does taste like swordfish afterall. Appreciate again all of the knowledge shared on this site beforehand.

[Gerry Zagorski]

First time out and you and your crew fight and land a 328# Thresher

Well done and going to be hard to top that one.

Glad you all had a productive and safe trip.

[Reel Class]

I am no shark expert by far but after catching a 315# yesterday I can comment on your question about shot size.

...We didn't pop our fish - we just wore it down, hit it with the flying gaff, and carefully tail roped it, then dragged it for a quarter mile to make sure it had given up the ghost.

Our fish was beat after a 3.5 hour fight (on a 50).

A lot of my buddies use only harpoons - they don't carry guns. One thing I've been told by guys is if you're targeting MAKOS, then you need the gun (20 gauge) - mako's can do a lot more damage and wreak a lot more havoc and I've seen this first hand years ago on night bluefish boats on a couple of occasions.

Hope this helps.

[Overtime Fishing]

Thanks Gerry, definitely a memorable day for sure!

Funny enough we did initially take a few shots with the flyer. On the way out I heard the set screw fall out of the hook, picked it up and screwed back in when we got there. At some point between then and when we went to use the gaff, it must have fell out again so we are screaming at my poor father to stick this thing and the hook just keeps falling out on contact.

Myself, I would never shoot a gun on open water as I dont have much experience with firearms. My cousin on the other hand has been an avid hunter his entire life and handled the shot with ease. I dont think the thing moved once afterwards.

Of course due to the malfunction everyone with me has already said they will never use the flyer again. I guess I will have to swap the hook for the dart next time....

[Suckafish]

I always shoot them no need to get them in the boat alive plus much easier to tail rope and finish the job. We use a 12 gauge with low brass 6 shot never goes through and always does the job by the way good job on the first agar now you will be addicted

[NoLimit]

Agreed - low brass bird shot is more than enough.

[mrfritz44]

Don't you worry about nicking the line with shot versus a slug?

[Suckafish]

Nope just shoot the behind the eye at the start if the gills will bleed them pretty well also I use a full choke to have a right pattern.

[formakos]

I prefer a 30-30 with a 150 grain bullet.