dealing with large sharks from your yak

alot of the guys i've checked out that take large shark usually tire the shark and if they are going to keep it will bring the shark along side the yak and slice the gills, its over quick. if they are going to realease it they snip the leader, hooks rust out fast in saltwater. anybody got some stories or experience with brutes 8' or bigger? would be curious your kill method.

Well, since the largest sharks around here are GWS, I'd employ this method:  pinch yourself and hope to wake up.  If you're smiling upon waking you are a mega-stud.  If you're whimpering and need to change the sheets you're normal.   

Seriously though, what kind of sharks are you talking about?

I think there are few species around here that are +8 feet. Thresher and GWS for sure. Do 7 gills get that big? I have done a good bit leopard fishing and have yet to see much over 5 ft. Plus they don't really have teeth you need to worry to much about.

Do 7 gills get that big?

Not common to see them but 7-gills can get up to 10 feet. Apparently they can get pretty "nippy" too. I've only caught small ones. Interesting article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/04/MNNH121JGN.DTL

Sorry rwfox - that doesn't answer your question but maybe the info will be useful...

 i was thinking like threshers and 7 gills. i seen a few vids on u tube but it never showed the kill. The california record for a 7 gill is held out of humboldt bay,276 lbs.

 Biggest 7 gill we ever boated was about 6 ft but only 37 # hadn't bulked up an was mostly tail that was in tomales bay, and yes they are "nippy" and have a mouth full of razor sharp teeth, you should see the slices in my shoe from that one.

Big fish ought to be C, P, R IMO

Now here's a pic from the cover of WON from SF bay summer 08 I think,

For the salmon sharks we used harpoons tied to buoys, and bangsticks for good measure.

-Allen

Yeah, that 7 Gill that Matty caught was probably bigger than the current record. I remember the report, and think the thing was nearly 10' long!

As far as kayak sharks are concerned, there are a couple t-shark aficionados on the So Cen Coast. They've caught a few nice specimens including a 8.5 footer. Maybe they'll chime in w/some info on how to wrangle the fish once it's close to the boat. Because I really have no clue other than to lasso the tail and cut the gills. 

A beautiful eating machine but...u deal with it man...not me... I caught a 52 inch leopard shark Bodega Bay (non yak) and it was freaking me out!!!

Do they call that shark skiing ?