END GAME: TEAM WORK
C
atching a big shark is a team effort. While the angler is hooked up, his
buddies are passing equipment, detach- ing his anchor, deploying a drift sock, cutting the leader, calling for help or even holding onto his kayak to produce more drag against the running shark. That’s a lesson I learned when a buddy
of mine hooked a sea monster that took off running and never stopped. That fish dragged three kayakers, a drift sock and an anchor around before breaking the line. If the shark is too big or drags me into a bad situation, I simply cut the line and regroup. Once the shark is worn out, be ex-
tremely careful bringing it boat-side. Do not underestimate small sharks; they have all the tools to do serious damage to an angler. If you’re fishing with a buddy, have him cut the line to release the shark. If you’re going to tackle the fish solo, first loosen the drag to keep the shark from pulling you overboard. Don a pair of fish- ing gloves and grab the leader. Do not wrap the leader around your hand. If the hook looks easy to remove, pop it out with a dehooker. Otherwise, use wire cutters to snip the leader as close as possible to the hook. From start to finish, rigging, finding,
38 …KAYAK ANGLER SUMMER/FALL 2012 BIG SHARK BOAT-SIDE: STAY CLEAR OF THE BUSINESS END.
PHOTO: JOSE CHAVEZ
hooking, fighting and releasing big sharks requires caution, stamina, patience and wise judgment. When fishing for sharks, the relationship between predator and prey is a thin grey line.
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SHARK HUNT! TURN THE TABLES ON AN APEX PREDATOR
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