Has Shorebound shark fishing gone to big?

[Spear'em!]

I know shorebound shark fishing has been going on for years by a hardcore group of anglers. Many great catches have been made. It is catching on and more and more people are trying it. Tourney's are now popping up and even more anglers are trying it. But beach goers and swimmers are also seeing this increase. Which may not lead to good things for all beach fishers.
Will these tourneys put an end to shark fishing and even a beach fishing in florida?
I've fished and surfed the east coast of florida my whole life. In the past few years I've seen more and more shark fisherman. Its almost gotten out of control if you ask me.
I think that if shark fisherman don't go back underground Delray will just be the start of all beachside cities banning shark fishing which could quickly lead to a beach fishing being banned.
Florida's coastal economy relies on the beach to draw in tourists. Beachgoers from all over the country that have never even seen the ocean but all have seen jaws and shark week for 15 years do not like seeing huge bloody bait being paddled out to sea on 14/0's and large sharks being reeled in.
These tourists know what a hammerhead, bull, and tiger shark looks like and this fishery could lead to many problems between fisherman, tourist and law enforcement.
Has shorebound shark fishing gone to big? I'd like to here your replies!


Just my $.02!

[WhoDey]

I know shorebound shark fishing has been going on for years by a hardcore group of anglers. Many great catches have been made. It is catching on and more and more people are trying it. Tourney's are now popping up and even more anglers are trying it. But beach goers and swimmers are also seeing this increase. Which may not lead to good things for all beach fishers.
Will these tourneys put an end to shark fishing and even a beach fishing in florida?
I've fished and surfed the east coast of florida my whole life. In the past few years I've seen more and more shark fisherman. Its almost gotten out of control if you ask me.
I think that if shark fisherman don't go back underground Delray will just be the start of all beachside cities banning shark fishing which could quickly lead to a beach fishing being banned.
Florida's coastal economy relies on the beach to draw in tourists. Beachgoers from all over the country that have never even seen the ocean but all have seen jaws and shark week for 15 years do not like seeing huge bloody bait being paddled out to sea on 14/0's and large sharks being reeled in.
These tourists know what a hammerhead, bull, and tiger shark looks like and this fishery could lead to many problems between fisherman, tourist and law enforcement.
Has shorebound shark fishing gone to big? I'd like to here your replies!


Just my $.02!

I would rather educate the public than hide the sport away. While Florida may depend on tourist coming to the beach, it also depends heavily on fishing, and not just from a boat. If they ban fishing from beaches than they are cutting off their nose to spite their face really.

[crashmister]

WhoDey; I could not agree more. I have been working on this for 3 days now and what I have found is simple math. The beaches with the largest attendance have the highest # of attacks. So far I haven't found Any correlation Between beach fishing and Shark attack. This is why education is so vitally important. Hollywood has been demonizing these magnificent anamals for almost 40 years. That perception has no basis in actual fact. Research over the last ten years has proven that what we thought we knew about shark behavior was in most cases was wrong. The more we learn about sharks the more we realize that they may well be the single most necessary fish in the oceans of the world. They are in effect the health care system for the worlds oceans.

[fishnfool73]

The TS has made a great point. Will shorebound shark fishings new found popularity be the begining of the end for the sport ? I could see it doing just that. Watch the next shark bite ( that is all most are but attack sounds so much more dramatic in the media) people will be up in arms and blame shark fishing. This will lead to a public outcry that fishermen are the reason and the cry for a ban will follow.

[fixed80]

I think that if shark fisherman don't go back underground Delray will just be the start of all beachside cities banning shark fishing which could quickly lead to a beach fishing being banned.

your right spear'em. i even said the same thing like this only in another thread which i truly believe
it could happened to other cities beyond delray. just think of it like this when people fish for these creachers.
once a shark of magnitude is beached, it will educate our swimmers in some
way that no matter where he or she swims, the ocean will always be wild.
people might think that the only way a big hammer, bull or ex coming close to
shore is due to fishermen, but in fact these fish regularly cruise near shore lookin for food anyway.
and all this splashing around that swimmers do in the water creates a dangerous situation for themselves especially near dusk.
now talkin about this sport growing full of anglers, i think every time a shark is
landed and people witness it, some will be inspired to give it a try. and the internet also causes a lot of people
to go fishing when they see big shark pics or vids on many sites.


this video shows no fishermin but a shark feeding right near the beach.

[bolo]

That is a kick asre video. Somebody must have pissed someone off to cause such a big stir to have the City of Delray to ban shark fishing. If they are successful other cities will follow.

[maddawgandcrew]

i think what would help the most is viedo of the sharks on the beachs from the air like the ones they show every winter but closer to the beaches of all times during the year i remember seeing the vids off of africa showing great whites swimming just outside the breakers with the beachs crowded as any beach around here i will donat some money to the cause if somone knows of a plain or helicopter to prove the sharks are always there ..due to the fact if the fish aint there we cant catch it .. I CAUGHT A 9FT HAMMER IN THE WADE GUT APRIL 1ST I WADED IT OUT AND DROPPED THE BAIT IN 5FT FOOT OF WATER ... the public needs educated on the wereabout of sharks.. BUT it would help if shark fishers were not seen catching sharks close to swimmers

[budman]

From what I hear, Volusia County banned beach sharking a long time ago, yet they remain the "sharkbite capital of the world." Kinda makes ya wonder.
I love the story about the woman swimming into floating fish heads, mine always sink.

[bolo]

the public needs educated on the wereabout of sharks.. BUT it would help if shark fishers were not seen catching sharks close to swimmers

Totally agree. Most of us come out at night to fish for them and do not alarm the beach people. People who fish in remote areas can get away fishing in the day. It is ashamed that we are losing our fishing grounds on a public beaches or land. I thought this state was known for the great fishing oppurtunities. I guess it is only for boat people.

[defrag]

i figured most shark fishermen fish at night, i know thats when most of the shark pics i see are taken. fisherman or no fisherman there will always be sharks, its the damn ocean! not a pool!

[crashmister]

From what I hear, Volusia County banned beach sharking a long time ago, yet they remain the "sharkbite capital of the world." Kinda makes ya wonder.
I love the story about the woman swimming into floating fish heads, mine always sink.

Budman; Can you confirm the ban in Datona/Volusa? I have been trying to confirm the ban and the date it took place but I cant find any specifics on it.

[TarponKing]

this video shows no fishermin but a shark feeding right near the beach.

Exactly theyre are no fishermen around but the shark is still there...people just need to know that the coastal surf zone is where these sharks live feed and make more sharks....if anything the sharks are going to eat our baits first (the fact that sharks feed on an easy meal and not swimmers) then they will get hooked and most likely leave that area and not feed again cause they were dragged onto the beach or stuck in the mouth with a hook.........theres nothing to hide for ........land based shark fishing should be more respected and understood as an extreme big game fishery such as marlin fishing........we just dont have 5million dollar sportboats!

[budman]

From what I hear, Volusia County banned beach sharking a long time ago, yet they remain the "sharkbite capital of the world." Kinda makes ya wonder.
I love the story about the woman swimming into floating fish heads, mine always sink.

Budman; Can you confirm the ban in Datona/Volusa? I have been trying to confirm the ban and the date it took place but I cant find any specifics on it.

Heres a story from 2001

>> SHARK ATTACKS

Saturday, August 25, 2001


Smyrna´s inlet area closed for weekend

By MARK I. JOHNSON
STAFF WRITER

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — There will be no surfing or swimming near the south side of Ponce de Leon Inlet this weekend because of concerns about sharks patrolling the shoreline.

The moratorium was extended and the span of beach it covers expanded Friday after county officials spotted large schools of the potentially dangerous predators between the Beachway Avenue beach approach and the south jetty.

Beach Patrol Capt. Rob Horster said early-morning helicopter surveys pinpointed two large concentrations of sharks, one of which had between 30 and 50 individuals. That sighting prompted the officers to expand the prohibited area from a half- mile to a full mile down the beach. It had previously stretched from the jetty to the Inlet Condominium.

The continuing moratorium on swimming and surfing comes in the wake of seven surfers being bit by sharks in that region since last Saturday. An eighth bite, reported in Wilbur-by-the-Sea on Sunday, is the only incident reported recently outside the zone south of the inlet.

The closed area is a popular surfing location, which could create conflicts as wave riders try to catch the swells. Horster said surfers traditionally ignore warnings of sharks in the water, but no action has been taken against them. That may not be the case this weekend, he said, because extra officers will be patrolling the moratorium zone. Officials have said violators could be subject to arrest if they ignore orders to leave the water.

Horster said county ordinances give the Beach Patrol authority to close any portion of the beach or water if it feels there is a safety hazard. A violation of the regulation is considered a misdemeanor.

Volusia County officials contacted Friday stressed that the decision to keep the water there off- limits was made by the Beach Patrol and not county government.

County Risk Management Manger Frank Catapano and County Attorney Dan Eckert said they were not consulted nor should they have been.

"It was a decision from the field," said Eckert. "We don´t have any superior knowledge of sharks in the area. The people surfing there are probably more knowledgeable about sharks than we are."

Catapano added that even if there is a problem, the county cannot be held accountable for a shark attack.

"It is a natural thing," he said. "The county can´t control that."

The courts have agreed in the past.

In 1981, an Illinois man sued the county after he lost a leg to a shark bite, saying lifeguards failed to provide adequate protection from the creatures. However, the jury found the county was not negligent.

Horster´s counterpart, Capt. Dave Williams, said he does not anticipate any problems this weekend.

He said with all the media coverage, the public realizes the reasoning behind the closure and will respect it because it "increases the chance of everyone being safe and not getting bit."

"We have been trying to educate the people," Williams said. "And we are expecting them to cooperate with us."

Not everyone is as optimistic.

Beach concessionaire Jim Kirkendoll predicted a "lot of upset surfers" if Beach Patrol officers prevent them from entering the water.

"They are going to have a riot on their hands," he said.

Kirkendoll isn´t thrilled with the closure, either. He said since the swimming and surfing moratorium was put in place Thursday, his business has suffered.

"Yesterday all I made all day was $30," he said Friday. "That is just enough to break even."

The closure also was not good news for Flagler Avenue surf shops.

Aubrey Jarvis, assistant manager for Quiet Flight, said she anticipates a drop in business.

"Most of the people who come over from Orlando come to surf and swim," she said. "It will hurt."

But New Smyrna Beach hotel and condominium managers said they haven´t seen a drop in reservations because of the shark bites.

A group that could be out in force over the weekend, according to Williams, may be anglers.

In recent days, he said there have been a growing number of them along the shore, some of whom have been targeting sharks in violation of county ordinances. The county prohibits fishing for sharks within 600 feet of shore as well as baiting or chumming for them. He said officers have had to warn those individuals to pack up their rods or face citations.

While the inlet area is closed to water activities, Beach Patrol officers stressed that still leaves several miles of sand and water available for beach lovers.

However, they said, if sharks are spotted in those waters, they also will be closed at least for a short time to give the creatures time to leave.

Staff Writer Derek Catron contributed to this report.

[crashmister]

Budman; Thank you this will be a big help.

[Lord of the Rays]

sorry to re-awaken this thread,

in south australia the media is constantly questioning people having caught sharks. everytime a 6-10ft bronze whaler is reported there is an uproar in certain areas of the public also on a small political level the legalities are questioned. it is illegal to use a hook 12/0 or over on wire traces greater than 2.5mm in diameter, which makes it a bastard to target anything large.

in general, those who do shark successfully here, tend to keep their mouths shut and their locations and actions discreet. but everynow and then some attention seekers will leak their actions to the media, prompting relentless and uneducated discussions from the public with regional political figures trying to 'change the focus' from their own detriment, while they attack yet another issue they havent properly investigated.
because we do have great whites here and they are a maneater, it is common place thought that if you are using big equipment then you are likely fishing for them and thus likely chumming/fishing with a complete disregard for the public, even if those questioning you cant effectively justify their presumptions.

as a shark fisherman you need to protect yourself, your respectability as a citizen and your activity in general, so i think ultimately it comes back to us, to understand the perceptions of others, the results of our actions and how we may do what we do differently to preserve our activity for the future.

Rick

[crashmister]

Rick; I see you guy's have the same problem down under that we have here. The enviorenmental groups could not use valid sicence to get what they wanted as there was none. So they resorted to fear mongering and manipulation of both the facts and the politicians. In all my research all I could find was the # of people in the water is directly proportional to the # of attacks or bites as FF73 stated. While experts agree that swimmers should avoid fishermen, They mean regular fishermen not sharkers and this point is skewd in favor of the environmental arguement. In fact there is no data on the effects of beach Sharking with respect to swimming. The fact that anglers loose an ocasional fish to a Shark is not evidence of fishings impact on Shark attack. It's actually evidence of the close proximinity of Sharks to shore at any given time. That by the way is the ISAFs point of view. In Valousa/Daytona this year they have tied the all time record of bites 9 years after the bans went into effect. With the #s over the last 8 years it's pretty clear that the ban has had no effect on curbing Shark bites whatsoever.

In Valousa/Daytona, The Shark bite capitol of the planet surfers are the victims more than half the time. So should we outlaw surfing? Of course not. Should we educate and inform people of the risk? Absolutely! Considering the fact that there is a far greater risk of encountering a jelly fish or man of war than there is of ever encountering a Shark. And considering the sheer # of drownings (Panama city had more drownings in a 5 week period last year than the entire State of Florida had in S/A the same year) Sharking bans in general are a complete waste of time and money. As I told the DelRay city commission with 1 attack in 33 years (1976 was the last one) Your trying to fix a problem you don't have. To sum this entire argument up I found a stastic that really says it all. A Florda resident who swims in the ocean has a 5x greater chance of being killed from a coconut falling from a palm tree than from being bitten by a Shark. Finally considerind that Valousa/Daytona has never had a fatal attack or bite means they have had more drownings in 1 day than fatal Shark attacks ever!

[JSG2891]

I think that many of these shark "attacks" are exaggerated by idiots in the media. There is a difference between being ATTACKED by a shark or any other animal as opposed to being nipped on the foot due to a case of mistaken identity in murky water, which is exactly what most of these "attacks" are. Human beings are not on their menu, if someone gets bit it is usually a case of being mistaken for something else in lower visibility conditions, or out of curiosity. I can only think of a few actual attacks that I've ever heard of in all my years of being interested in sharks..situations where the shark actually comes back and begins to tear apart somebody, literally eating them alive. With or without shark fishermen, or any fishermen of any kind on the beach, the sharks will still be out there. Fishermen have nothing to do with bringing sharks to the beaches, its the mullet, ladyfish, jack, drum, mackerel or whatever other baitfish they're eating on that day. Some days they may be 200 yards out, a lot of days there will be big ones only 100 yards out, even only 50 yards out I've seen people hook into some nice sized sharks..personally I've seen sharks over 6-7 feet as close as 8 feet from the shoreline just cruising down the beach minding their own business. What a lot of tourists and other swimmers don't know is that pretty much any time they've been in 3 feet of water or deeper on either Florida coast is that they probably have little blacktips, sharpnose, and bonnetheads swimming all around them..and where there are smaller sharks there are definatly bigger sharks around too. Just think about all of the sharks there are out there, with all of those big species capable of being maneaters, and all of the swimmers that are in the water at all of the beaches every year then compare that to the amount of attacks reported..and by that I mean true attacks. So the odds of you being attacked are a number too large for me to write here to 1. Banning any kind of fishing from any beach is simply ridiculous and even the thought of it just goes to show you that politics is a joke. Sure, tourism is important to Florida's economy, but so is fishing..and many of these tourists are coming down here to fish!!

[fixed80]

how bout instead of banning shark fishing permanently which most cities would favor... at least give fishermen certain hrs to target these fish like during the night where swimmers/surfers are not around. or is that even a problem too.

[bolo]

how bout instead of banning shark fishing permanently which most cities would favor... at least give fishermen certain hrs to target these fish like during the night where swimmers/surfers are not around. or is that even a problem too.

They don't care about the fisherman. They don't want to lose tourist dollars.

[Ryan71]

If they are called snow birds why isn't there a season for them?

[GettinHammered]

The answer to this question is NO! Shorebound fishing will never be too big unless people lined up the beach from Miami to Maine. The sharks may or may not be there wether there is a bait paddled out or not. I've walked the beach and have seen a nice size tiger cruising around in the trough 15ft off of the beach... My team and I practically "hand fed" an 8 foot plus lemon... I have fished beaches where sharks were breaching up on the beach chasing bait before I got there, as I walked up to my spot, as I fished, and when I left. AND I have fished for hours and hours at various spots with fresh bloody bait and didn't get a nibble. Shorebound fisherman are just the scape goats and always will be. Sharks are practically harmless. I surfed for about 10 years and never had any species of shark act aggressive towards me and surfed some nice reefs somewhat heavily populated with sharks. Regardless of how you dress it up, humans are in their territory and they are only acting upon their instincts. When a person breaks into someone's house and the home owner shoots the bastard, (wether they die or not), no one in society says that the home owner is wrong for acting upon their instincts - protecting themselves, family, etc., they say that the robber got what he deserved.

If you get bit by a shark go play the lotto. You have a better chance of getting struck by lightining.

[madshark]

WhoDey; I could not agree more. I have been working on this for 3 days now and what I have found is simple math. The beaches with the largest attendance have the highest # of attacks.

So are you saying that beachgoers make good chum?

[crashmister]

Apparently!

[madshark]

When a person breaks into someone's house and the home owner shoots the bastard, (wether they die or not), no one in society says that the home owner is wrong for acting upon their instincts - protecting themselves, family, etc., they say that the robber got what he deserved.

There is a significant group of sheeple who would argue the homeowner was wrong for shooting the "poor, disenfranchised, victim, oppressed by the evil American system" who was robbing his house. In large part, these are the same sheeple trying to ban shark fishing from the beach.

Mark Duncan

[JesusFreak89]

I don't think they will ban it.. A lot of the people picking up on the sport now are the tourist these places live off of. If they ban they may make a lot of tourists mad. Shark attacks have ALWAYS happened. If they do ban it won't stay in affect very long once they see how man shark attacks there STILL is. Then all the fisherman will fight back and it will be a never ending thing if they do give in to a ban. I visit FL each year and now and join Army March 31. I come to go fishing off the beach and to be honest... I RARELY EVER see someone fishing let alone someone fishing with shark gear. I just don't think its getting THAT big yet. Also its kinda scary with new comers to shark fishing who may not have ever fished before. Now they catch a 6ft shark and don't know how to handle it? I feel its not big enough yet for a ban and I feel if a ban takes place they are only hurting themselves.

That's my .02. If they do a ban well... i wont be visiting FL anymore maybe say... TX shark fishing?