Recreational Shark Fishing is a recreational fishing practice whereby anglers target sharks in either the open ocean or waterways near shore. These methods can be used to target various species such as makos, bull sharks, blue sharks and tiger sharks.
Recreational shark fishing is growing in popularity around the world due to its high economic value and growing awareness and interest in this type of fishing.
Sharks are threatened by overfishing and illegal fishing for their meat or bycatch. This can result in overharvesting both of the species and their habitats, which has detrimental effects on them.
To effectively manage this issue, scientists and policy makers need to gain an understanding of how sharks are caught, maintained, and their effects on the environment. Unfortunately, there remain numerous research gaps in this area as many aspects related to sharks and recreational fishing remain poorly documented.
Longline Shark Fishing
In the United States, longline shark fishing is a common practice and primarily targets makos, threshers and blue sharks; however, other species are occasionally caught this way as well.
Shark fishing involves baited ganglions that are attached to a mainline that runs into the water. Once attached, a float is inserted into this line and tied off to a weight for added buoyancy.
A 15ft long strike net boat carrying a gillnet is then driven in close to the school of sharks to encircle them. Once set, the net can be left submerged in seawater for several hours.
After being released back into the sea, sharks may either be immediately released or held for a few days depending on the regulations in each jurisdiction.
Beach-Based Shark Fishing
Shark spearfishing is the most common method for catching sharks in open ocean. A large hook is thrown into the water and set, usually leading to smaller fish than those caught by longline fishing but requiring more skill and precision in order to snag.
Due to this risk, sharks must be handled carefully when being hunted – especially sandbar sharks who are more vulnerable than other types of sharks. Therefore, proper procedures must always be observed when hunting sharks.
In the United States, much is being done to prevent sharks from being overfished. This includes encouraging fishermen to use circle hooks and banning chum from their lures.
Research and the changing fishing methods can reduce the risk of catching a shark, with circle hooks being more effective at removing fish than J-hooks. To further reduce this risk, fishermen are encouraged to implement various safety measures into their processes.
Another potential conservation strategy for recreational shark fishing involves decreasing time spent in the water by using shorter lines and baited hooks. This can be accomplished by altering rod and reel speed, as well as switching up gear types.
