The Ultimate Shark Experience

by Daniel Paull - Presented from Issue 92

What is the ultimate shark fishing experience? Is it the action packed moment when you witness a large mako leaping clear of the water, accompanied with a series of sharp twists and turns, or is it just the peaceful relaxation you get while bobbing around on the sea, waiting for that first dorsal fin to break the surface of a well spread burley trail? For me, the very thought of encountering something large, and toothy, is enough to keep me heading out onto the ocean with an esky full of burley.

Game Fishing – Off to a Great Start

Having enjoyed early starts to the past few game seasons this season was looking ominously like it wasn’t going to shape up all that well.
Over the past two or three seasons we have had fish as early as the last weekend in November and certainly here in numbers by the end of December, however over the past two weeks fish have been reported in reasonable numbers down the entire East Coast and appear to be getting thicker by the day and also, starting to move in closer to shore where the smaller boats can get at them – time to pull the lures out at last.

Mako sharks – Daniel Paull

The Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is the most streamlined, spindle shaped member of the Mackerel Shark family. Along with its distinctive long and conical snout and triangular dorsal fin, this species has short pectoral fins and a crescent shaped caudal fin. Their slender teeth, which curve inward and have no cusps at their bases or serrations along their edges, are easily separate from Great White, Blue, Thresher and Porbeagle Sharks. There is evident countershading on this particular species of shark; dorsally, they are a metallic blue colour whilst ventrally, they are a snowy white. These sharks are pelagic, solitary and fast swimming and have been known to travel vast distances of water in search of breeding grounds and prey. One individual shark is known to have travelled 1322 miles in 37 days with an average of 36 miles per day. 
Shortfin Mako Sharks thrive offshore in both tropical and temperate waters, from the surface down to depths of over 150 metre. These sharks are potentially dangerous and have attacked people on some occasions, most of which have occurred when a shark has jumped and landed in a boat after it has been hooked by recreational game fishing anglers. Whilst breeding, litters of 4 to 16 pups are common. Older embryos eat some of the eggs while still in the uterus. Female Mako Sharks usually reach sexual maturity once they attain a length of over 3 metre s. It is believed that large female specimens may rest for up to 18 months before the next batch of eggs are fertilized by a sexually mature male. 
Overfishing of the Shortfin Mako Shark, mostly in the northern hemisphere, has seen it listed on the world’s endangered list, making this species more vulnerable than ever before. 

Two young Tasmanian brothers each catch 112 and 119kg  tuna

Read it at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-14/two-tasmanian-brothers-land-potential-record-breaking-tunas/6699376

This week!

Still some nice nice bluefin on the East Coast at St Helens.

Mike Stevens

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tuna-club-tasTuna Club of Tasmania Light Line Fishing Event

The Spot On Shimano Light Line Game Fishing Contest 2015
This month sees the Tuna Club of Tasmania hosting their Premier light line game fishing contest in the picturesque waters surrounding the Tasman Peninsula in South East Tasmania. This Tasmanian Game Fishing Association (TGFA) sanctioned event will see Game Fishing Association (GFAA) affiliated club members from all around Tasmania testing there angling skills in the waters off Pirates Bay and Eagle Hawk Neck on Saturday the 21st of February 2015.

GFCNT-infonight-headGame Fishing Info Night

Mersey Yacht Club
Wednesday 26th November from 6.30pm
Great lucky door prizes

The Game Fishing Club of Northern Tasmania would like invite you to our very first information night of the year.
We are hosting this event for our members and members of the public who are interested in learning a few tips on Mako shark fishing, sounder and GPS basics, tag and release techniques, general game fishing information and more.

22kg Albacore

Rocky Carosi and Sarina with a 22kg albacore caught today, Tuesday 22 July, on Pulfers Reef of Scamander. Several others were caught and southern bluefin tuna as well.
Awesome gamefishing still off the east coast - at the end of July. Rocky reckons it is the best fishing of the year - and look at the weather.

Broadbill Swordfish

Tasmania has taken centre stage this month within game fishing circles nationally. You won’t see that often in a lifetime of fishing. Sure we are world renowned for our bluefin fishery and close proximity to the grounds, but what has excited the nation’s anglers is Tasmania’s recent broadbill swordfish action.
 
Overnight my aunt Fanny......
Leo Millar and his devoted crew have been putting considerable man hours both on and off the water in working out this species in Tasmania. It has long been the feeling of a number of Tasmania’s top anglers that good numbers of broadbill swordfish (xiphias gladius) are off our magical shores. The incidental by-catch from recreational long liners and a few captures on electric reels has suggested as such. 

Striped Marlin

Striped marlin caught, tagged and released 11 March on Professional Charters boat Saltshaker with Rocky Carosi.

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