A Primer:

Fly-fishing for SoCal Offshore Sharks

Courtesy Bowman Bluewater

Mako and blue sharks represent a BTB angler's best shot at tackling a fish over 50 pounds on fly gear. In this Shark fishing primer, we talk about how to get started, plus a little more...

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Introduction

Basic Concepts - Part I

Basic Concepts - Part II

Gearing Up

The 3 Cs

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Challenges

Earlier in the article, we mentioned that there are several other species of offshore sharks in Southern California, but that makos and blues were the primary fly-fishing targets. In this section, we’ll take a look at these other species, and discuss some of the challenges to capturing them on fly.

Thresher sharks

Thresher sharks, readily identified by the extremely long, whip-like upper lobe of their tail fin, are considered by many to be the toughest fish in the ocean. They are popular targets for conventional tackle fishermen, who troll plugs and skirted baits. But they do not respond as readily to chum or teasing as makos and blues, so to date, no one has a recorded capture on regulation fly gear.

We know of at least two very experienced thresher shark fishermen who are working on trying to catch a thresher on fly. Both are targeting small (30 - 40lb) fish that feed actively on baitfish schools in shallow water. No success so far, but when someone develops a reliable technique to take threshers, you can be sure that we’ll get the scoop and let you know how it’s done.

Hammerhead sharks

Readily identified by their flattened “T” shaped heads with eyes at the ends of the lobes, hammerheads appear in Southern California only in late summer, when water temperatures are at their peak. They respond to the same techniques used for makos and blues.

However, the fish we see are usually over 10’ in length, and according to Capt. Trimble, are quite agile for their size. They can turn on a dime, and usually clip the leader or fly line with their fins, tail, or the lobes of their head during the fight. Captain Trimble has hooked 11 over the last 3 years, but has only managed to get one close, and has not managed to land any.

Jeff Patterson's Great White on fly
Courtesy Abel Reels

Great White sharks (AKA “Jaws”)

Great Whites are not seen that often in Southern California, although there are indications that they are more common than once thought. At a distance, they are similar in appearance to makos, although their bodies are a bit blockier, they have a more pronounced dorsal fin, and the top lobe of their tails have a small "flag". When seen at boatside, their pectoral fins usually have black tips on the underside, and a great white’s teeth are triangular in shape, as opposed to the finger- or claw-like shape of a mako’s dentures.

They are a protected species, so it’s illegal to harass them, but they are occasionally hooked and landed by accident. Last summer, Jeff Patterson of Abel Reels hooked and landed one while fishing for makos with Capt. Bowman. Because of the lighting, they could not identify the fish when they cast to it, and did not realize what they had hooked until they got the fish to boatside. The fish was released shortly after they identified the species.

Controversy

Mako ready for the release
Photo by Craig Smith

While the sharks that fly-fishermen catch are large compared to most of the fish we catch in Southern California, they are typically immature fish. When you land one, what should you do?

No one in the fly-fishing community advocates indiscriminately taking sharks. The only controversy concerns whether it is reasonable for anglers to keep a world record shark, or an occasional fish intended for the table (makos are similar to swordfish in texture and taste).

Sharks are an essential part of the food chain, and as apex predators, there are relatively few of them around. They also have a long gestation cycle, and only give birth to a few young each year. As a result, Capt. Bowman and Capt. Trimble insist on Catch & Release only, regardless of size, even if the fish is a potential record. They feel that releasing all sharks is essential to protecting the resource.

However, because the California Department of Fish and Game does not prohibit harvesting mako or blue sharks, whether or not you keep a shark is ultimately a matter of personal ethics. Just keep in mind that it is a fragile fishery, and should be treated with respect.

An interesting note is that one our readers, Steve Mras, has developed techniques that he uses to keep sharks alive when taking them in to be weighed for records. This involves running a raw water hose through the shark’s gills while restraining it on the deck. He has used this method to successfully catch, weigh, and release several record makos.

Of course, this technique is potentially very dangerous. We recommend that you contact Steve to get his advice before attempting something similar.

If you insist on keeping a shark, remember that they can be very dangerous fish, even after being gaffed and hit with billy clubs. They have a cartilage skeleton, and can double up their body to bite something directly behind them. They are extremely strong, and as noted, their skin is very abrasive. Some people shoot sharks before attempting to land them, but that introduces yet another level of danger.

Last, if you are just fishing for fun, you should consider using a relatively heavy tippet (25-30lb) to avoid tiring the fish out too much. If you’re trying for a record, of course, you need to use lighter tackle, compliant with IGFA regs, but if not, it makes sense to rig to protect the resource. Just a thought!

Conclusions

So there you have it…a shark primer. We did not go into some of the more advanced techniques, such as sight-casting to cruising makos, but we think you’ve got enough information to get started and be successful. Shark fly-fishing can be a blast. Give it a try!