Handling sharks?

[overtheedge86]

This past weekend while out fishing the edge of a flat i caught my first kayak shark(~3' black tip). Although it was a fun fight i was pretty nervous about handling the thing, I ended up cutting the line at the hook eye and he swam off fine. Now i have also noticed alot of sharks popping up in reports lately and was hoping some of the more experienced can chime in and gives some pointers on how to properly handle a shark. I couldn't imagine hooking into a 5-6 footers or more!

[gsellers1245]

Best advice i can give you is not to hold them by their tail. They will bend around and bite you. As far as removing the hook, if it is not swallowed i recommend using a dehooker. They work wonders. Handling the samll ones for a short period i suggest grabbing around the neck area just behind the head firmly and the tail with the other hand. Of course they are like sandpaper so grip is plentiful. Hope this helps. The little ones are powerful so be ready for them to flail.

Also if you dont plan on keeping the shark, handle as little as possible and release as soon as possible. Sharks can die from exhaustion too.

[DaveR]

Dehookers are a great tool of this. He's right!

[Vlap]

Cooknfish recommends bear hugging the shark in order to immobilize it for easy hook removal.

[Shep]

Be a man and lip it and use some pliers. Just dony yell the ER I told you you yo do it that way.

[TerryW]

Just cut the line, everytime.
But please don't tell PETA that I said that.

[Phnd]

I second that. Reel him up somewhere close then cut the line. Its not worth the risk while bobbing around in a kayak.

PETA can go pound sand. There a bunch of nobody's who want to be somebody.

[FrankC]

I am also with Terry on this. The risk outweighs the reward of keeping a hook. Same goes for stingrays in my book.

[Kayakpirate]

What could possibly go wrong? EVERYTHING!!! Cut the line always.

[Devodud]

Just make sure you keep the yak bteween you and the shark

P.S. Don't Try this at home kids

[Uncle Tommy]

If you are not willing to be responsible enough to remove the hook, please don't target sharks. This summer I removed seven hooks which were already in the shark's jaw when I took it to boat to remove mine. Three of these wounds were infected. A good SS de-hooker will save your hands from the business end and ensure that the shark will not suffer or die because you weren't willing to do the right thing. Or, use your hands if you don't have a de-hooker. You went out of your way to get the hook there, be responsible enough to get it back. As JayB would say "It's your dog -you walk it". Yes, I am taking the tree-hugger position on this issue. Don't get used to it. That is all.

UT

[Vlap]

[Rik]

As JayB would say "It's your dog -you walk it".

Glad someone said it.

[CooKnFish]

If you are not willing to be responsible enough to remove the hook, please don't target sharks.

Thank you Tommy. You beat me to the punch.
If you're that inexperienced or just scared, you shouldn't be doing it.

And yes, I did say that I was going to have to bear hug that shark to get the hook out... would have done it too if it wasn't for Jeff and his needlenose pliers. He spoils all the fun!

[ChrisR]

If you're that inexperienced or just scared, you shouldn't be doing it.

With that attitude, no one would have ever caught a shark, much less caught one from a kayak. You can't be experienced without having previously been inexperienced. I don't think you should let fear, or a lack of experience stop you from doing things like targeting sharks. Just make sure you educate yourself (as the poster is trying to do, although 1 trip late) so that you know what to do when in the position to release a shark.

[CooKnFish]

That comment was not in response of the original poster. Perhaps "inexperienced" was a poor choice of words. I should have said something like ignorant, uneducated or just plain dumb.