How to handle a Mako ?

[Byron]

We caught our first Mako last Sunday, 64" and 86# after gutting.

Question, whats the best way to kill them ?

We beat it with a fish bat tied a rope around his tail and drug him behing the boat for an hour and he was still very much alive. We beat him some more and pulled behind the boat for another half hour but was still alive. We finally stuck a knife in his gills and pulled him a bit more which did the trick.

I definatley do want to put a Mako in our 24' Albe unless he is stone dead. They have some nasty teeth and a bad attitude.

Also caught 12 gaffers and 3 YFT. All around the 650 in 20-100 fathoms.

Thanks,

Byron

[CJacobs2]

Maybe a bang stick that is used by many people who spearfish. I dont know if you could use a gun?

-I would have loved to see you guys beating the sh*t out of it. Sounds fun! nice work.

[Capt Nemo]

Bang stick is the ticket, collar and pack on ice for best food prep. Or, after dragging backwards for some time, tie rope off to tail and another to head and secure on boat between two cleats, put a towel over it and keep wet. Stay clear until you get home. Careful, he may still be alive hours later…

[rich daiker]

I use a 12 ga. with bird shot....dead center between the eyes and back about 6''-8''. This takes the fight out of them pretty quick, although it will disqualify you for any records, as will a bang stik or poon, but if your just meat fishing its the way to go. I still leave them tailroped and hanging over the rail till I gut them out......then pack in the ice and head for the barn---its beer time!

[27 sailfish]

Keep in mind that a Mako and most other sharks can KILL you. A big tuna might break a bone - a big Mahi slap you but sharks can KILL you.

A good bite 30 miles out will cause you most likely to bleed to death before CG can get to you.

Treat these fish with total respect at all times. Some guys have been cut by the shark teeth while cleaning the jaws a week after the trip :eek:.

As you found out - sharks are very tough and die slowly. Dragging them backwards for 10-20 minutes most times will simmer them down. Then hung from a mid ship cleat - they tend to get quiet. Not dead - just quiet. Quiet enough to fool you into thinking they are dead. Put a hand on the snout and look out - SNAP.

One good tip - Capt. Mark Sampson :thumbup: - is to place a 5 gallon bucket over the head of a Mako. I plan to secure it with a bungee cord.

Once the Mako has been quiet and it is time to go home - control the head/middle and tail of the shark with three seperate ropes. Only allow slack in one at a time. Stretch it out for the ride home and be prepared for it to thump 1-2 times.

When I shark fish alone - I used a .38 and put 5 rounds into the Mako's head. Did not really kill it dead - more stunned it.

No real easy way to kill one - they are tough.

[cstallin]

Rope around tail and drag backward for about 10 minutes. When you get him aboard, turn upside down and cut his/her head off. Then gut and ice. Keep the head. Craige (Mary E)

[Mercutio]

God I want to go do this.

[27 sailfish]

Tick , tick, tick , - ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ :yes:.

[capehaze]

Hard to beat a shotgun or bang stick! In the dim past, I caught a lot of shark and tried different firepower. Higher velocity rounds don't work well unless you get the head above water, then big bore hollow points are not too bad. The best however, was a shotgun (I had buckshot). The worst was a 22 magnum pistol. After 10+ rounds at point blank range, a 9 footer *started* to show signs of distress.

BEWARE! Tying off a shark to the side of you boat can cause damage! Had a 6' bull (will not keep another - bull sharks are terrible eating - and chocked full of mercury) tied it off for about 15 minutes in light chop. Now it looks like I sand papered my decal with 50 grit paper. Even started to sand the gelcoat. At least I now have battle scars that are a conversation piece...

Woody

[Russ D]

Bang sticks are dangerous. Shotgun blast to the head right on the top a little behind the eyes. I've killed them by driving a big knife down the pipe also. Dragging them backwards just puts them in a daze. Also clubbing them is just a chance for you to slip into bite range. These days I tage them through the gills with the flyer and drive the gaff hook up through the brain and spinal area. Cleat them off and they are mostly dead. Then I pull them onboard after bucketing the head a few hours later. Be prepared before you start fishing for exactly what you are going to do when you get the bite.

[lmontagnaj]

Having battled a few big makos over the years, I believe in two distinct methods.

1. 50 callibur machine gun to the head.
2. Cut the line and let him go... (My Favorite)

Only problem they are TASTY CRITTERS...

Like above SAFETY 1st... A knife in the soft spot in the middle of the head will usually slow him down pretty quick, but you have to get to it 1st and that can be tricky with a shark that moves as fast as a mako.

If I were to do it today, I'd have a BANG STICK..

[Kayak fisherman]

I like the idea of using a gun so, later, I could call my dad and brother and tell them I just shot a fish.

My question: Is it ok (legal) to carry a shotgun or pistol out there in a boat? Is the CG ok with it? I'm not asking if it's a good/safe idea to carry a gun in a boat; that's a whole different topic. I just wanna know if it's ok with the CG guys.

[capehaze]

Couple more comments... I never did try a bang stick myself - Was a little afraid of an accidental discharge, but they will get the job done. Kept the shot gun loaded with an empty chamber. I do clearly remember my father hollering the mantra - "Don't shoot the boat!" :) I didn't. Be sure to have some WD40 and rags. If the head is a few inches below water, the shotgun works fine - and salt water goes everywhere. Also, if you use a knife, make it a dive knife. We broke the blade of a fillet knife while only leaving small dents in the head. hummm.. maybe a big heavy spear ;) It would be interesting to see how a tazer would work to slow 'em down. OTOH, with all that conductive water around it could backfire????

Can't answer the CG question with authority. I know people do carry. State laws (in their waters) likely apply. One of my usual crew brings his .357, but he does have a concealed carry permit...

Woody

Woody

[spearfisher88]

to the best of my knolegde its ok to have one on board just keep it unloaded, or at least un chambered until ready to use. and as always when the "man" comes up decalare it right away so its no big surprise that you have it. as long as you have a ligit reason for having it on the boat and its properly registered you should be fine, when running i would leave it in a case away from the ammo as you would in car transportaition

[goldman]

If you aren't fishing a tournament or looking for some IGFA record, then a couple of rounds in the head will get them subdued. Then take a good knift and cut the gils and belly wide open to spill the guts. That should definitely do the trick. If you want to eat the fish, get the guts out quickly and ice that fish down as best you can. Shark meat spoils quickly and turns to mush reall fast when you don't take proper care of it.

It is a shame to kill an apex predator and waste the meat. These fish don't spawn till very late in life and only produce a 1 to 2 offspring per spawning.

Also make sure the fish is legal for lenght. OC, MD is not the port to come into with a fish that isn't legal.

[27 sailfish]

I've been checked about 6 times by Coast Guard with a gun on the boat. I tell them where it is and only twice have they pulled the gun out to look at it. It is registered with the State police.

I have an older S+W .38 revolver. It is kept in a case with a trigger lock - unloaded in a small compartment in the cabin. When needed - I load five shell into it - it holds six. This keeps the hammer on an empty chamber.

Guns on a boat are always dangerous - use common sense with them.

[jimmy7050]

all you have to do is take a knife and cut his spine right behind the head and they cant move did it to hundreds of them Look next week at our shark in the mako maina it will be the one in first place:bigfish:

[Killer Instinct]

defiantly use the good old 12 gauge shot gun

[Noworrys05]

Gun laws on a boat are the same as in a car. While you are running the gun cannot be loaded at all!! These means in the chamber, clip ect. Ammo should be kept in a separate compartment however I don't think they care about that as much. Once the boat has stopped it can be loaded just not chambered until ready to use for safety reasons. My question is, does buck shot or slug work better?

[coveredup]

look fellas, if not in tournaments use a HARPOON through the gills. If you are comfortable getting close, use a dixie cup full of grain alcohol and put that in his gills. kills him instantly, like all other fish. if you are in a tourney, a flyer behind the dorsal -rope the tail- and drag him. they are mean though and tough. see you at the scales Jimmy7050, we'll give you a good run for it.

[Thunnus Amongus]

look fellas, if not in tournaments use a HARPOON through the gills. If you are comfortable getting close, use a dixie cup full of grain alcohol and put that in his gills. kills him instantly, like all other fish. if you are in a tourney, a flyer behind the dorsal -rope the tail- and drag him. they are mean though and tough. see you at the scales Jimmy7050, we'll give you a good run for it.

I'll have to try that grain alchol trick if I can pry the bottle out my crews hands...LOL:D


Gun laws on a boat are the same as in a car. While you are running the gun cannot be loaded at all!! These means in the chamber, clip ect. Ammo should be kept in a separate compartment however I don't think they care about that as much. Once the boat has stopped it can be loaded just not chambered until ready to use for safety reasons. My question is, does buck shot or slug work better?

I use #9 bird shot. At point blank range it works great- dispersing quickly in to the head cavity instead of going straight through. Definitely causes him more damage and probably a little safer on the boat.

[coveredup]

let me know how that works for you. kills any fish, fast. just put it inside the gills. you'll see. dolphin go from full flare to colorless, instantly !! does not ruin any meat either.
anybody else do this???

[27 sailfish]

:D - somehow I see Mr. Mako not liking the idea of being your new drinking buddy.

[coveredup]

he will be when hes got one gaff in his gills, and the flyer behind his dorsal. i forgot to say cover his eyes when aboard, always. look into them, they are MEAN ! and put a dowel horizontally in his jaws. ive never had a problem. life is good being on top of the food chain!

[Noworrys05]

I'll have to try that grain alchol trick if I can pry the bottle out my crews hands...LOL:D



I use #9 bird shot. At point blank range it works great- dispersing quickly in to the head cavity instead of going straight through. Definitely causes him more damage and probably a little safer on the boat.

Cool. If you use that I should be able to use #5 Turkey Shot with no problem. Haven't killed a turkey yet so maybe I can kill a shark with it! :D Thanks.

[Russ D]

Using heavy shot will splatter blood and mako brains like crazy. Be prepared for a good mess. I prefer two 9mm's to the brain. Plus pistols are easier to handle on the water. I don't shoot them anymore. A flyer through the gills and up through the brain area always does the trick.

[jimmy7050]

what boat are you fishing on? stop by and say hello i will be on the jezabel

[chromeoverbrass]

One deep cut across the top of his head just behind his last gill opening and he'll never move again! Cover his eyes with a towel and tailrope him tight to a cleat first.

[coveredup]

jimmy--lucky duck 2 at sunset. friday is looking unfishable though huh?? we should be one dock from you i believe. i'll try . good luck out there and be safe. you handle jaws, and i will his mother!! good luck.