I prefer a dart to a flying gaff. Here's a good article on bringing one in without a gun.

http://www.newenglandsharks.com/fighting_that_trophy_mako.htm

 

In the absence of a firearm I would use a dart gaff. Stick him in the gills. It should go right through with little resistance and it will hold. Then get a tail rope on him ASAP. Leave him hang in the water until your ready to run home. Tie his head to one stern cleat and tail to the other very tightly. You'll be amazed how long they live out of water. They'll be dangerous for hours. Good luck in the tourny.

 

IGFA Rules no harpoons allowed either.

 

I AGREE WITH BOB---BUT MAKE SURE A DART IS LEGAL??

 

definitely worth the read - thanks bobect

 

Thanks Bob - great article

 

If they're going with IGFA rules then the dart will be out. I guess you have to use the flyer. The Flyer should hit the same area as the dart, just behind the Pec. I'm not big fan of a flyer.

 

Lip 'em like a bass

 

CAPTBJK---HAVE YOU HANDLED BIG SHARKS AROUND THE BOAT?THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET HURT
BE VERY CAREFULL.WHEN YOU GO OVER THE ROUTINE YOU ARE GOING MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.A THING I THINK IS ALWAYS OVERLOOKED IS THE MAN ON THE ROD,HE SHOULD ALWAYS ASSUME THE FISH IS GOING TO PULL OUT OF THE MAN WHO WIRES IT HANDS,OR SLIPS THE GAFF.HE SHOULD LOOSEN THE DRAG AND BE READY TO DIP THE ROD IF THE FISH GOES UNDER THE BOAT.AT THE BOAT THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES WHER THINGS DON'T GO PERFECT. GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU MAKE OUT.

 

I like to stick them in the mouth with a flyer if possable. That way you can then put a tail rope on the fish and stretch it out between cleats. I also like to hit them in the mouth because it is harder for them to wrap them self up in the gaff rope and pull it out. Once you have them gaffed in the mouth the only way for the hook to come out is if you rip there jaw out

 

Of course, when you gaff a mako in the mouth it is like an invitaion to him to jump in the boat. Not for me! Hit him behind the dorsal fin and get the tail out of water. No propellor, he's no problem.

 

Personaly i have found that if you stick him with gaff in the body they roll up in the rope and pull the gaff hook out. If you read the articales from the late Billy Verbanas who has probably caught more makos than anyone alive you will see that he also gaffed them in the mouth.

 

Stick a knife in his head. Mako's love that!!

 

Stick a knife in his head. Mako's love that!!

 

sharks do not need to be shot all the time,, 500lbs and over i may want the gun if i need it, but most of the time you can hit them with a flyer or a dart,,, from pec fin forward,, get a tail rpoe on them,,and maybe a dorsal line on them and strech them around the transon out of the boat and they will die in short order, it depeds if the fish is acting like a jackass at the boat or not(maYbe green)you may want to let him run for a bit,but thats not always possable,,,bottom line is if you get him with the gaff you got him,,, get him under controle ,and secure him to the transom with lines.

 

boys I do it about well that isn't important . Lets just say lots .
I'm scared of guns . Let the boat do the work for ya .

 

have fun and be safe,,,, catch um up,,,

 

A good tailer with a cable & not a piece of rope. As said, no tail no problem.

 

Originally posted by AIR E IS:
have fun and be safe,,,, catch um up,,,

welcome to th barn ,look forward to your posts.darts are probably not allowed in this tourney and nobody was sure of the poster's experience.
jimbo--in this case i agree with you.

 

 

SCOTT--IS THAT THE ONE YOU WANTED TO LIP.

 

Is that the biggest Mako I have ever seen or is that a white?

 

That is one great picture! Thanks for posting it Scott.

 

Mako check the teeth they are not triangles, whites look like triangles with serrated edges, If you can't be sure always check the dentures there is a big difference in how the teeth look. You don't want to be like them boys that hung that white in the SJ tourney cost them alot of hassle. Whites must be released as soon as a positvie ID is made. Mako's are deeper blue and whites are grayish. There heads are shaped different to. Thanks Tim.

 

Originally posted by aquasport190:

looks to be 900 pouns. HASTA be Billys shark