Captain's Report - April 10, 2003

by Capt. Dave Mistretta

Water temps are getting warmer, attracting some large sharks to our area. Every day this week, a shark has either devoured one of our kingfish as it was reeled in, or grabbed a bait from the downrigger. Most are spinner sharks (a close cousin to the black tip), averaging about 130 pounds. These huge cartilage fish put up quite a battle once hooked, spinning out of the water once hooked. Clients have brought several to the boat after a lengthy tug of war. Spinners are normally found around the commercial shrimp boats during April and May. It's a great place to be, since endless amounts of fish are discarded throughout the evening. Sometimes there will be over 100 sharks lingering below a commercial boat during daylight hours, waiting for a free dinner. This is a magnificent view from above due to such clear water visibility.

These fish are not the brightest but sure do put up a great fight. Simply add a piece of 100 pound wire to a 50lb. class rod and hold on. A large blue runner with its tail cut off is the perfect bait. The wounded action of the tailless fish drives the spinners into feeding frenzy.

Large bull sharks have also made a strong presence. Numerous amberjacks have been devoured by these aggressive eaters during battle. Most of the bulls are about 8 feet long, weighing a couple hundred pounds. Spear fisherman should use caution around the artificial reefs, because this type of shark would like nothing better than to strip you of your catch. In my opinion, these are the most dangerous shark that prowls our gulf waters.