6/29/09 So who got the thresher at Capitola on the yak?

(even if it is technically a juvenille fish--did you see the 100+lbers caught recently)

Not technically a juvenile fish, but it might have been looking for its first meal.  Seriously, keeping a 31 lb. thresher might be a fun catch but please release these babies next time.

I only know enough about these fish to know that 31lbs is pretty small. It almost looks like it would weigh more from the photo.

Anyway, my question now is what would be the smallest thresher it would be appropriate to keep? I've never even hooked one, but in the off chance I do someday what would be the general overall length of a shark that has reproduced at least once?

Not technically a juvenile fish, but it might have been looking for its first meal.  Seriously, keeping a 31 lb. thresher might be a fun catch but please release these babies next time.

+1. Don't want to be a killjoy, but that is literally just a baby....and I don't think thresher shark is that good, anyway. Wasn't much better than leopard shark to me.

Good catch, bluefin. I actually typed "baby" at first, but thought people might think that was a bit harsh...so I changed to "juvenille." I'm no expert, but I think t-sharks are like 2' when born and a 4' specimen is about 6 months old. (Sounds big but the tail accounts for half the length.)

Keeping a fish the size of the one pictured seems acceptable. And it's impossible to say what you'd do in that situation until you experience it yourself. I like to think I'd release it, but the truth is I'd probably keep it, if caught from my kayak---mainly because it'd be my first. But I have seen people keep much smaller ones....like 2' and 10lbs....and that is clearly unethical.

And yes t-shark tastes great, especially on the grille. Far better than leppies in my opinion.

I was the one who caught the shark.  I appreciate most of your comments and, of course, knew I would get blasted about at least one or two things (my paddle and 'vest').  I was told the shark was about 5yrs old.  It was just over 31lbs after I gutted it(probably 5lbs worth of guts in it).  I woke up at 0445hrs to go fish and was out in the water by 0600hrs.  Paddled straight out to the point from New Brighton.  Nothing touched my line except for a seal, which took my sardine and a hook.  When the shark hit, I thought it was another seal.  My reel starting singing and I immediately starting looking for a seal to pop up. After about 20min I saw the shark do a quick tail dance and I then knew I had a thresher on.  My reel was smoking and I thought it may malfunction and I could lose the fish.  After about 25 more minutes I was able to get it next to my kayak to try to gaff it.  It took another run and nearly pulled me out of the kayak.  The tail whipped around and almost took out my fishfinder.  At that point I thought that maybe I had something abit more than I could handle.  I was considering  cutting it off or try to tire it out more and eventually boat him.  A few minutes later I saw a rental boat a few hundred yards from me.  I yelled them over to help me boat it.  After gaffing it, I gave it a very good beating and tied him on the kayak.  I gutted it a nearly tipped over two times trying to get it on top of boat.  It was a great experience getting that fish.  Never been towed like that, or seen my reel smoke.  I doubt I would try for anything bigger in the way of a thresher. You're just too low to the water and the tail could do some serious damage.  Just had some of it tonite at the firehouse.  Everyone loved it. It is very very tasty meat.  So, thats the story.  Go easy on me guys.

Sounds like a hell of a good time on the water. Congrats

So, thats the story.  Go easy on me guys.

Good story! Congrats...

Thanks for the report,
Al

I agree, that's a kick a$$ report! That must have been a hell of a battle! Especially when you started to second guess what you're getting yourself into! Oh man, I'm eating it up and licking the plate clean! I can't wait to hook into one of those bad boys! So turns out you're not a lurker after all WTG on the thresher! I'm with SinCoast on this one 100%! Hope to see you out there sometime, but my friend you should really have a PFD. Saftey first

Thanks for the awesome play by play report! I would have kept the fish too given the oportunity. I've always heard that Thresher is excellent eating and would love to try one!

I think one a year would be a totally reasonable number to keep should you be so lucky as to catch one. Personally I think if your going to keep one it's way better to keep a little baby shark than to kill one of the bigger breeder models. The smaller ones are naturally more plentiful and the larger versions are more valuable to the species as a whole.

What kind of reel were you using that ended up smoking? That sounds like an awesome experience!

-Eliot

I'm 6-1 and on it's tail, it was taller than me.

Congrats on the thresher and welcome aboard!!! I would love to see my reel smoke!!!! .. Dont take to comments personal!!! We have some touchy guys on this forum. .....Andy, by the way I think I use that same chepo paddle you have. I bought it from EWB....

WTG!
Nice report, welcome to the madness!
Tad

Here is a link with some thresher info:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-thresher-shark.html

That shark was a virgin.

IMO, landing and SAFELY releasing (without gaffs or any rough-handling) a shark is a far more challenging and admirable feat than catching one and killing it. My brother and I caught a 6 foot soupfin years ago from our kayak - untangling it and unhooking it without losing any fingers was a real rush!

Very Nice Hook Up! Your kids look happy too. Thanks for sharing the experience. How long was the trophy(tail section)?

Glad to see the report. I was wondering what happened. Just some friendly ribbing on the vest and paddle....I had the same paddle for a short period of time so I know how much it sucks. I won't get into the keep or release debate but I am glad you made it out and back safely.

Here is a link with some thresher info:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-thresher-shark.html

That shark was a virgin.

IMO, landing and SAFELY releasing (without gaffs or any rough-handling) a shark is a far more challenging and admirable feat than catching one and killing it. My brother and I caught a 6 foot soupfin years ago from our kayak - untangling it and unhooking it without losing any fingers was a real rush!

X1000

Touchy people on this site?  How about informed fisherman.  Hey look, great catch, but keeping a shark that won't be sexually mature for 10-15 years (that shark was not 5 years old) is not a great idea for many reasons.  Great report, just hate seeing these immature sharks killed.