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Trigger
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2008 6:51:19 PM
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I have a feeling this is going to be a long one cause I have a lot of questions so bare with me. I want to start by saying I've fished for sharks since I was a kid. A lot of people don't eat shark and many don't think you can.. If you've never eaten one, they're far better than AJ but not quite as good a snapper. They're white meat and taste great on the grill or fried... This coming from a guy who hates fishy tasting fish is really saying something.. I won't touch a King, Spanish, and AJ are too fishy for me unless cooked just right.. So, sharks are very good to eat.
I've been a diver for a few years but rarely got to go and recently started spearfishing and going a lot. Almost every weekend and some weekdays. The normal concern for most new and inexperienced divers is Sharks.. I've talked to many guys about this and all have told me that you rarely see them and if so they are small reef sharks.. They've also told me that on the rare occasion that you run across a large one it's only for a second and they leave you alone. I'm hear to tell you for a fact that that's all bullsh#$..
Like I said, I've been going a lot lately. In the last month I've logged probably 20 dives and at least 15 of those dives there were sharks near me. Not cute little reef sharks or one nice sized one that swam through but big ones that stayed there and circled the entire dive. 2 of the three dives Friday and all three dives Saturday we were circled by big sharks the entire time. Friday one got pretty serious about me and my fish and (I believe) may have took a chunk of my ass if I'd given him the chance.
After the first BIG Bull encounter I started asking questions about protection.. Things like do you shoot them with your speargun, or how do you deal with them when they get too close? Crap like that. I kept getting the same speech about sharks are beautiful creatures, they only want your fish, they won't bother you, and all that jazz followed by "BUT GET A POWERHEAD JUST INCASE.. "
This leads me to the meat and potatoes.. Like I said I've been diving a lot and with a lot of different guys and seen a lot of sharks.. Well, I get different vibes from everyone I dive with. Some guys are like "you should have busted that shark with your powerhead" and some raise an eyebrow at the idea of killing a shark and start the normal beautiful animal speech.. If I catch a nice shark with a hook and pull him on the boat, it's all good... But if I feel like he might eat me and want to protect myself some guys act like I would be an animal for killing it because I'm in his domain and all that.. What's the deal? What's the difference in a hook and line and shooting one.
This one Friday one was so intent on getting close and personal he came within a foot of chewing on my fin. I kicked at him and swam away to look back at him thrashing around in the suit I kicked up like he was looking to take a bite. By the time I got my Powerhead on my spear I was out of air and going up knowing any minute this thing was going to be chewing on my leg.. When I got on the boat everyone was wondering why I didn't bust him..
Saturday, Same thing but 2 big sharks circling. I thought it was only one and was wondering how he was getting behind me so fast but my dive buddy told me that there were actually two circling and I was only seeing one at a time. This time I didn't wait for him to start chomping. I loaded the powerhead, watched him for a minute and on about the 5th pass as he started getting too close I went after him.. I fired but the round was a dud.. Damn.. Once on the boat (completely different group of guys from Friday) some of the guys were acting all judgmental like I was a bad person for shooting at it..????!!!!!!..
What's your take on this topic? What would you do or what do you do? Have you ever shot a shark? Been threatened by one? I hear of sharks taking your fish and I've heard of a video Chunky love has where this guy is trying to wrestle his catch from a shark.. I'm going to check that out but I'll tell you now, I'll never let one take it that far. If he gets within 10 feet of me he's going to shark heaven and that's that.. I try to be PC, I try not to piss anyone off.. and I know that most of the time sharks are going to leave you alone.. I know it's not as much of a threat as most people think and I can dive with them just fine as long as they keep their distance.. BUT, if I feel even the slightest bit threatened, my green peace dive buddies can just go home mad and I'll go home and grill some shark ass for dinner..
 Semper FI
Cape Horn 21'
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Grouper
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 10:02:59 PM
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| Can't be scared baby, next time I'll show ya how to ride one of dem sharks, lol. Preciate the ride out friday, had a blast
--Big John Sharks are naturally peaceful, they only bite when you touch their private parts.
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Trigger
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2008 6:51:19 PM
Posts: 191,
Visits: 924
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HAHA, I won't lie.. I was a little concerned when it came under the leg I was sitting on by my FEET shaking around like that.
Ass..
Semper FI
Cape Horn 21'
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Trigger
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 7:36:10 PM
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| First let me say that there is an abundance of sharks, and lots of aggessive ones in the northern Gulf of Mexico these days. We dove for years without ever seeing sharks, and killed lots of fish in the process. Did lots of night dives and just had a blast, however it seems to me that every since the net ban in the mid ninety's the sharks have proliferated. Don't believe any of the bullsh**t you see on the Discovery Channel about shark populations in decline when it comes to the Gulf of Mexico. This may be true all over the world, but definetly not here. I have a powerhead I keep on the ready mounted on a pole spear; never have used it yet, and often don't even bother to carry it, but after one harry a$$ encounter with a lemon shark a couple years ago, it seemed like the right thing to do. If I ever need it and happen to have it with me, make no mistake, I will NOT hesitate to use it. I'd prefer to go about my business and let them do the same, but some times it just doesn't work out that way. I've had encounters where a good jab will send them running, and other times that they just won't be deterred, but did allow us to get out of the water, which is o.k. by me. After a few encounters I've changed my diving style somewhat. We used to anchor up and dive the same spot two or even three times, but now I move around a lot and try not to dive where lots of fishing is going on; particularly if I think the fishermen may be using chum. That said, we almost always fish when we're out diving too, but usually dive first then fish during a surface interval and usually move before the second dive. No need to press the odds.
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Grouper
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:06:44 PM
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| I think if you just put your hand on their nose they go into a trans and you can just swim away. Saw that on Discovery Channel. Let me know if that works for ya! Seriously tho. If it were me and I felt like my life was in danger......BANG!
Fish On!!!
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Trigger
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/21/2008 6:51:19 PM
Posts: 191,
Visits: 924
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yeah, I feel the same way but sometimes these guys look at me like I'm talking about long lining or cutting the fins off and dumping the rest.. Maybe they don't realize I eat what I kill... Just wanted to get the opinion of other divers. It's kinda like the Marlin thing.. If you kill a Marlin, some guys will flip the hell out while others like to eat em.. I just didn't expect guys to be like that about sharks. Big ass sharks that came up to me, not like I'm out looking for them like I used to when I was shark fishing..
Semper FI
Cape Horn 21'
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