[Hipshot]

How about hearing when most of you guys start your shark season, when do you make your first shark trip? It is it date, water temp. or like the unofficial start of flounder season(March 17th-St. Pat's Day) on a specific date?
I'll start first-whenever the seas are calm enough to get out on my 23' Steiger around Memorial Day (never on the actual holiday or holiday weekend) Too much boat traffic!
Hipshot

 

[MakoMatt]

Hipshot, my 1st. trip last year was May 30th., ran to the Glory Hole in pea soup fog that never lifted. All I had for my efforts were Bluefish, all you wanted. I think if I would have pushed off a little more, maybe the Tower or the Chicken, I could have scored with Blue Sharks, and maybe, a big lucky maybe, the Man in the Blue Suit.

Water tempature is key, but they always seem to show up about the same time. I think the earliest date with a real good chance of catching is probably the 1st. week in June, but.....ya never know.

MakoMatt

 

[BAllen]

MakoMatt-What do you consider to be the magic temp?

 

[Makoman16]

Science says 65 degress!

According to all the MAKO reports known to man, 65 degrees seems to be the optimum temperature for makos. The first big mako of the year usually shows up before that water temp does however.

I can honestly say that I have caught makos from 59 degress to 78 degrees. As long as there is bait ~ then there is the possibility!

Keep your eyes on the water temp,water clarity, water color, and the life around (bait, birds, trawlers, etc.)

Hope this helps!

MAKOMAN16

 

[B.Attitude]

Some of the Pro's say 62 degrees is the magic number.But I have read they have been caught in 55 - almost 80 degrees.
paulie

 

[MakoMatt]

Ben, early in the year I think you want to find 62-63 degree water. You can get them when it's a little cooler then that, and certainly when it's warmer, but I have found those to be the magic numbers. When the water tempature reaches that mark, you got a real good shot.

MakoMatt

 

[624790]

I also find 62-65 peak temps for mako,although the huge makos will often venture into 50-55 degrees water.A gentleman bye the name of Jack corbeit starts fishing for large mako off of nova scotia once the temps hit 49 and above.You can rest assured they will be giants in those temps because only they will be able to handle the colder temps compared to there smaller counterparts.Now for quantity the higher temps will definately have more fish. As far as shark fishing, you can fish for porbeagle as we speak,you mite of heard of the guy about a month ago fishing for cod outside of boston and accidently hooking a porbeagle while fishing for cod, they managed to have the fish boat side and lost him. Witnesses say the shark was huge, 700 lbs + .I know the captain, he fishes the same waters as me,(same boat also )he told me the story and it was incredible.So if porbeagle is on your list shark fishing is a 12 month sport.I for one am going to try porbeagle as soon as the weather cooperates,hopefully next week. good luck

 

[MakoMike]

Guys,
FWIW the first Mako always comes into Montauk either the week before or the week of father's day. As many of you know the Star Island shark Tourney is Father's day weekend. The first mako usually comes in the week before the tourney.

 

[Makoman16]

Not last year!

I think that mako theory might be inaccurate. The first mako of the year was brought into Bay Park FS last year. It was caught by some of the gentlemen that perished in the FHA Shark Tourney. Their photo was on the cover of the Noreast. The fish weighed in @ 192 I believe.

Anyone agree or disagree?

Makoman16

 

[MakoMatt]

MakoMan16, I think Mike was refering to Montauk. The fish I believe you are talking about was brought into Bay Park Fishing station on June 2nd. of last year, and yes, it was the ill fated Elini. They made the cover of Noreast with that fish as the 1st. Mako of the season, it weighed in at 192lb.

MakoMatt

 

[leakyrivot]

How about Northern MA, Jeff's Lege?

I was under the impression that in my area it wasn't worth giving it a shot until June and that the good sharking season was more like late July - Sept.. Does anyone know when there is a shot at them on Jeff's Ledge?

Jon

 

[MakoMike]

Makoman,
I was referring to the first mako brought into Montauk, not ny State.
Leaky,
The season has to start a couple of weeks later up there. Look for surfae water temps of at least 57 degrees.

 

[Hipshot]

First trip of the year I'm not concerned as to what kind of shark I catch! I'm just looking to stretch the muscles a little, take the kinks outa the line and dust off the reels!
Hipshot
P.S. It is also a reminder of what I forgot to bring-the pad and pencil usually gets pretty hot from all the scribbling.

 

[captainlarry84]

The debut of "THE MAN IN THE BLUE SUIT"

I think that cabin fever is great as shown by this chat! I went into my log books a see what was the earliest day and coolest temperature that producted a mako. The trip was June 1 1995 temp 58 degrees at the Texas towers. The catch was 8 blue sharks and a 155 mako.
In the fall my records show a 302 mako with a water temperature of 57 degrees.
To answer your question usually the last week of May most of the die hards start to make their shark runs. The season advances rapidly and by the second week of June it is prime time for the best of the best.
I really don't think that the islanders to the west get the sharks first, because I don't believe they come up the coast, I believe they come in.
I feel that in the spring one of the most important things need to produce good size makos is water quality. I have not caught many big makos in green water. When we stop the boat and get ready to fish I like to toss some bait and see how far down it still looks good. Quality water means high levels of oxygen and salinity which is something the big makos need for there comfort range.

 

[leakyrivot]

Mike - water temp

Thanks for the tip.. Is that even more important than the exact month or presence of bait? If you had to, how would you rank time, food, and water temp/conditions as far as importance goes? On the same note, porbeagle, from what I've gathered, like deeper water and cooler temps - is that something that could be targeted earlier in the season, later (why?), or is catching one just a random event anytime?

Jon

 

[MakoMike]

Leaky,
You're never gonna catch fish when there isn't any bait around, no matter how perfect the water temp. If you can find 57-60 degree water with bait you'll have a good chance of hooking a mako. As for porbeagles, yes they are cold water sharks. In fact you could probably go fishing for them right now! I've heard that they leave the area in May as the water gets warmer. I don't know if that's true but it makes sense.

 

[leakyrivot]

Sharks - What do you think?

Thanks again, if you don't mind the questions, I've got a few more.
Porbeagles being around until May, that's encouraging info. So I will put them in this order of importance - Bait, Water Temp, Time of year.. They like deeper water, so mabye set the baits at 100 ft w/ live polluck?.. How about chumming.. if these "fish" are not up on the surface, does it do any good? I could probably anchor up and sink a bucket of chum. What do you think?

Jon

 

[captainlarry84]

Targeting the Porbeagle

Jon,
The problem with targeting these deep water swimmers early in the season is the abudance of the Spiny dogfish. Any attempt to put down baits and chum early in the year will produce the doggie in great abundance.
In the fall when the dogs attack the baits I live line them on top. I have had large makos and bluesharks swim right through the dogs and take the one with the hook!
My ranking order is:
Food
Water quality
Water temp.
Time
Good luck there is always something special about a 300plus mako!

 

[MakoMatt]

Leakyrivot, to be honest with you, I don't know of anyone that goes Porbeagle fishing, and have only known a few people to try it, and never knew of any of them to catch one, but, that doesn't mean you can't try it.

I wish you much success with this but to be honest with you, I think it will be very tough. On the reward side of it though you could go down in fishing history as one of the pioneers of Porbeagle fishing, that and the blender with a hole in it you will be famous for. If you do this, make sure you bring the axe too. To tell you the truth, if my boat was in the water I might try it too, what the heck.

Good luck,

MakoMatt

 

[MakoMike]

Leaky,
Porbeagles, like their kiss'n cousins Makos and whites are mackerel sharks, so though the swim in deep water that doesn't mean they hug the bottom.
IMHO any live bait beats any dead bait. But generally you can only fish one live bait, the furthest from the boat, and avoid tangles. So if you can get a cod, pollack, hake, put it out there.
I'd chum, just like I would for a mako. But like the man said you're probably going to get doggies. Without chum though how are you going to attract them? As for sinking a chum pot, if you're going try it use one on top and one down below. Also don't anchor but run the deep pot off the bow, otherwise you'll tangle it with the closest bait. Don't forget that even your surface chum line sinks, so even if a fish is mid-water he might find your slick, same as the doggies might off the bottom.