Massive Shark Caught Off Massachusetts

For 200K, the shark comes to shore.  Period.  That is just me.

Malibu, it may be a slow growing species, but that particular specimen was quite mature.

Sharks are being decimated by longline fishing, not sport fishing.  Same with swordfish (BTW, I no longer eat swordfish due to how messed up the stocks are).

It really becomes a question of how the resource is managed, and like I said, personal views.

I don't care if people want to release all their fish.  Good for them.  I just won't feel guilty over taking a couple home from time to time.

MolBasser

Tiger sharks have litters of 30-100 pups, thresher sharks have litters of 3-4, makos around 10, leopards 4-25.

Those numbers imply that tiger sharks are among the more prolific sharks.  They're quite common in the tropics, but rare that far north.  The limit in CA is 10...  

Now how many endangered sea turtles has that shark chomped into?

If a fish needs protection, it'll get protected.  Fish and game management decisions must be based on the health of the fishery, not kneejerk public reaction to a photo of a single, large fish.

Man, I'm with you 100% Malibu_Two.

Good Points.

I think there are some valid points made all around here. This is a good discussion and it's got me thinking about my own points. Wish I had time to write more of a contribution but I'm at work.
While I'm not a fan of competition fishing in general, and I don't think seeing photos of large dead sharks is cool, I can't take too strong a stance on the other side either because I know how a kayak fishing derby brings a bunch of people together and can be a lot of fun. Is the main difference that we're normally fishing for faster growing species and our contests have only the merest fraction of dollars in question? Is this any difference at all? This thread has been very intriguing so far.
-Sean

When I fished the derby here in santa cruz I did think it would be nice to win a new kayak, but mostly I just wanted to have some beers and fish tacos and hang out with a crew that wouldn't get tired of talking about fishing after 30 minutes (in the past my brothers in law are the only ones who could stand this-we wear each other out on the subject).  As a 10 year old kid I once entered into a local socal tournament that included a prize for heaviest stringer, and the memory of seeing all of those wasted fish,  valued only as flesh weight and then tossed into a garbage can, really bummed me out.
Is the flesh from an 1100lb tiger shark tasty? Probably not, and that makes me sad to see the fish killed, just like a huge grouper, tarpon, or back in the day, a black sea bass. Regardless of whether or not it had time to pass on it's apparently successful genes, the fact that it was killed in the hopes it would bring a bunch of money is what I don't like.
But, I don't have to like it, and for my part I won't go targeting any 1100 lb tigers from my kayak.

The limit is 10 because there is no specific regulations on that species, so it falls under 'general finfish', for which the limit is 10.

They're rare here, too cold usually, but there have been a few caught.

Their rare in the antarctic too.....

Its a location thing, not a specie thing.

Malibu, I agree that many fish stocks are over exploited (hence me not eating swordfish anymore) but they were all decimated by COMMERCIAL fishing, not by a couple of yahoos on a 28' hatterus.

MolBasser

Come on guys.  Just because they are rare here, doesn't mean they are rare in general.  If you caught a yellowfin tuna in NorCal, that would be rare indeed, but why should it be released?

Keeping a sport caught swordfish in CA wouldn't even put a dent in the population.  Do you know that the largest west coast commercial landings of swordfish happen in NorCal ports.  They catch them at the 3000 fathom curve, father than most sportfish boats can go.  I haven't heard of a swordy being landed by a NorCal sportboat in probably the last 5 years.  So who even cares what the limit is up here?

Doing a Google search, I find no data that suggests worldwide tiger shark population.  So I don't know how rare they are worldwide.  I do see that they have a 12 year expected lifespan, maturing after 4-6 years, and having litters of 10-82 pups each year.  Not exactly slow growing, but that is a low number of young.

Also, I don't thing atlantic bluefin are on the verge of extinction.  Please show the scientific publication that says so.  If it were true, wouldn't the commericial catch be halted?  How can they be on the verge of extinction when the yearly commercial harvest is in the 30,000 metric ton range.  That's a lot of fish.

Malibu_Two, I understand what you are saying and your motivation and beliefs are admireable.  But there is so much information and misinformation out there that I don't know up from down these days when it comes to fisheries conservation.  I would like to learn more though.

-Allen

Malibu_Two, I understand what you are saying and your motivation and beliefs are admireable. But there is so much information and misinformation out there that I don't know up from down these days when it comes to fisheries conservation. I would like to learn more though.

I understand what you are saying.

However, swordfish is being brutalized.  Sure they catch fish.  Do you know how big?  They are teeny.  The average size of longline swordfish has collapsed.  I will look for some data as I am all about data like you (being in the science business myself).

Patagonian toothfish (chilean seabass) are absolutely being raped right now.

(note, as far as I have ever seen, it has been commercial, not sportfishing, that has killed fisheries.)



MolBasser

Last I checked the average size on the swordfish in the atlantic was <100#.  I'm recalling a number like 70#.  They haven't even had a chance to spawn yet.  I "feel" more for those fish than I do the large tiger shark.  I don't eat swordfish BTW, as my own little statement against the harvest methods as I don't approve of longlining or other methods that have large bycatch effects.

That being said, fisheries management has done a great job in Florida.  The come back in the sword fishery down there is amazing, and faster than most expected.  It does wonders what placing a ban on longlines coupled with nursury area protection can do for a fish stock.

I have tried swordfishing couple nights out of Santa Cruz.  If I caught one, I'd keep it and eat it.  And share the meat with all of you here.  I don't believe my take of that fish would amount to anything.  If I caught 2 in one night, well, I probably would let that one go.  If I knew a swordfish was taken by harpoon methods, I'd probably eat that too.  It's a very selective fishery with no bycatch.

-Allen

Swordfish are up here.  Just pretty far out.

MolBasser