[Capthookem]

I'm looking for a little feedback. Do you guys use the store rigged tailropes with the cable, crimps, swivels and hooks or do you just use a "dock line" type of rope. I prefer the latter although I have used the former and they have never failed on me. They just look like they will fail someday. Also, all that hardware is tough on the gelcoat!!!!
Thanks,
Capt. H

 

[MakoMatt]

Captainhookem, save your money and go with the "dock line types", just make sure the cleat you fasten it to is VERY secure, esp. for a large fish.

 

[MakoMike]

Capt.,
Depends on what your using the tail rope for. If its just to haul the fish into the boat after its been gaffed and subdued the old dock line will do just fine. OTOH if you trying to secure a nice mako that's already been gaffed the weighted ropes make it a lot easier to get the loop around the tail. You can make up your own wire looped ropes if you don't trust the store bought variety.

 

[leakyrivot]

while you guys are on the subject...

I took a few cracks at shark fishing this season, was unsuccesfull. I'm a complete rookie.. I think more or less we just need to commit to staying on the same drift for a few hours. Usually we end up getting bored, when the bottom fishing doesn't produce, and end up hauling the chum back up and re-locating. Hope to get it figured out next season.

Never having even caught (or seen) a real shark at all, I haven't put much though into a tail rope, but some day I will have a mako on the line.. although a blue would make the season for me at this point. I keep a couple 4 foot gaffs in the boat, lots of rope, aircraft cable shark leaders and brought an axe along the times we've tried it... figured one way or another, with those items, we could subdue anything up to a couple hundred lbs. I can build about anything.. what's my best bet building a tail rope for use in a 21 foot boat? Should I put it on a long handle or just use it like a lasso?
I've also got a couple harpoons hanging around.. haven't the slightest clue about them, they have tips w/ steel rods on the ends; missing something that a rope must clip onto - would they be any use? I'm pretty clueless about most of this. A little help? Thanks,

Jon

 

[MakoMatt]

leakyrivot, a couple of questions 1st,. if you don't mind. This axe you carry on board, is it a throwing axe or just a regular axe? Also, when the time comes, how does the axe fit into the picture? Are you planning on spliting the sharks head wide open or chopping him to bits?

 

[leakyrivot]

axe

Matt,

I think you are getting a kick out of this as you gave me no info, but are asking about the axe.. that's OK, an axe is a little off, I know. It was an ordinary axe.. not sure exactly how I was planning on using it, just that it was about the deadliest looking thing laying around the basement... that's other than the chainsaw - hard to use on the boat. More or less my plan is, if I catch a blue shark, I'll get it up close enough to cut the leader (I'm using non-stainless hooks and cable). If I happen to come across a mako that I think we can handle - get some gaffs into it, tie it up by the tail and drown it. Yah, before trying to bring it into the boat, I'd probably bash it a few times for good measure, and then cut the throat. This is, of course, all theoretical at this point though. Hows that sound?

Jon

 

[MakoMike]

Leaky,
The harpoons are a godsend compared to gaffs, at least for most people. what you missing is something to attach the line to the handle. Can be done with a single (no More than that) band of Plastic electrical tape, a better way is to fasten a sail batten to the handle and just wedge the rope between the batten and the handle.
A Tail rope is a must have for subding a mako, since you really don't want to bring it into the boat. After you gaff or stick it put the rope around the gaff and fishing line and work it over the head and dorsal until you can cinch it tight around where the tail joins the body. Then you can hold its tail out of the water until its subdued enough to bring into the boat. You can try to lasso the tail from the back end, but you'll need a lot of luck or be much better at it than anyone I know. If its a relatively small fish you can gaff the tail and try to hold it still long enough to get the rope on from the back end.

 

[Capthookem]

Leaky,
I stick all my makos with a gaff. If you stick the fish even eith the dorsal fin or behind just leave the boat in gear and the fish will roll over and be towed backwards. This makes applying the tailrope easy. If you use a harpoon, the other tailrope setup might work better. In either case, the axe should remain in your garage, although it might look good in the pictures.
Capt. H

 

[leakyrivot]

Thanks Mike.. and about the harpoon?

Thanks a bunch.. so, you really don't need anything special, just tie a slip-knot and use the gaff. Makes sense. About the harpoons - they actually bothe have clips on the ends and another place to fasten a rope, that you a describing.. But, what I don't get is the tips - I want to think they are missing something there. Bothe just have 1.5 ft steel rods, not pointed, and not barbed. I guess they'd be a good killing device, but not anything that would hold in the animal. I figured there was something missing that slips over the tips?

Jon

 

[Capthookem]

Leaky,
Sounds like you only have the poles. You need to pick up the darts. Any good offshore tackle shop should be able to help you. Make sure they rig it with cable and a swivel and not just rope.
Capt. H

 

[B.Attitude]

Leakyrivot

Go back in this forum as far as you can and you'll find all kinds of info on sharking.Depth's of baits,hooks,rigs,chumming,drag settings,gaffing,harpoons,skip over the part about guns(you'll get a little crazy)even something about doing up a set of jaws.Theres tons of good info buried in this forum.
paulie

 

[MakoMatt]

Leaky, sorry, but I was just dying to hear what the axe was for. The other guys gave you some good information. If you want a shark though, concentrate on sharking, don't be bottom fishing at the same time, and moving around.

Like Captainhookem said, leave the axe in the garage. However, it does bring back fond memories of shootin'em with a bow and arrow, but, that's a topic for another day.

Tight lines

 

[Capthookem]

BOW AND ARROW

MakoMatt,
I believe you have the next topic. Bow and arrow shark hunting....I like it!!!
Capt. H

 

[MakoMike]

Leaky,
Like someone else said, your missing the darts or lilly irons. For sharking I prefer the stainless steel ones on a couple of feet of coated cable then you can tie you line to the end loop in the cable. Shark skin tends to take its toll on the 1/4 inch line commonly used on the darts when tuna fishing.

 

[leakyrivot]

Thanks guys

You guys are the balls.. thanks for the good info. Will be able to get those harpoons hooked up now without looking like some *sshole or getting stuck (no pun intended) with bad equipment. I'll look back a little further on the shark fishing, started frequenting this site at about the same time that converstation about guns started. I got a kick out of it too.. reminds me of something on another site I once saw ( www.nesportsman.com ) about bow fishing for carp.. and some other post where someone claimed it was easier to gaff stripers than net em.. I fear my shark season is over though, I'm in Southern NH, and haven't seen the weather for a month+ that will allow me to get out to Jeff's. Even if we do get a couple days of 1-2 footers.. it's probably too late. Next season though, I'm gettin one and that's all there is to it.

Jon

 

[MakoMatt]

Leaky, I'm sure you will get one next year, don't give up trying, and if your not sure about something, just "axe", I will try and answer.

Tight lines,
Matt

 

[Capthookem]

LOL
Capt.H

 

[B.Attitude]

makohunter,
heres another