In the seventies and eighties, Captain Bill made headlines as his ability to seek out and capture many large sharks close to shore was deemed a benefit to bathers and tourists alike. Utilizing the entire shark, selling the meat to crabers, selling the jaws, fins (for decoration only) and hide to gift shops and restaurants, Captain Bill was able to make a living doing what he loved, something that most of us strive for. Late in the eighties, things began to change; Chambers of Commerce didn’t want tourists to know sharks lurked off our shores, and Captain Bill lost his living to the whims of politicians and environmental groups. Meanwhile, the sharks still swim offshore…
SHARKMAN PREDATOR ROUNDUP
MAY and OCTOBER 2011
This tournament wasn’t about trophies or prize money… it was about YOU, the American Outdoorsman and your right as a tax-paying voter of this great nation to pursue your freedom to fish.
Each angler followed Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) catch-limit rules and regulations of 2011, and we reminded all participants that four species of sharks (sandtiger, lemon, sandbar and dusky) are prohibited and must be safely released after measuring. We asked that the fisherman document all of their sharks landed for data research to be compiled after awards are presented. We also encouraged participants to donate edible species to feed the homeless.
Update March 18, 2011
As of this post 27 fishermen have hooked and brought to boatside or landed 176 sharks so far with 11 days remaining in the March Tournament:
147 Sandbar sharks (carcharhinus milberti) 4-7 feet
11 Dusky sharks (carcharhinus obscurus) 9-11 feet
2 Sandtiger sharks (carcharias taurus) 6-8 feet
4 Scalloped hammerhead (sphyr na lewini) 6-8 feet
6 Spinner blacktip (carcharhinus maculipinnis) 4-6 feet
4 Tiger sharks (galeocerdo cuvieri) 6-10 feet
1 Bull shark (carcharhinus leucas) 6 feet
1 Short fin mako (isurus oxyrhinchus) 5 feet
OUR MARCH FIRST PLACE WINNERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Captain Jesse Mayer 112 pound Bull Shark
2. Captain Dane Karcher 104 pound Blacktip shark
3. Captain Joe Maisano 83 pound spinner shark