Expert-Guided Shark Fishing Trip in Gloucester

Blue Shark

Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) Fish Description

The Blue Shark, considered one of the most beautiful among the shark species, is torpedo-shaped (fusiform) which allows them to cut through the water at insane speeds. Its name comes from its body being a deep blue which slowly turns white as it reaches its underbelly. A Blue Shark’s body is counter-shaded, meaning both its top and backside are colored in a way to make sure predators don’t get it. Despite being part of a group of Apex Predators, Blue Sharks are often attacked by Killer Whales and can be bullied by dolphins.

Like all sharks, a Blue Shark has a single dorsal fin which is essential for its balance in the water. It has a pair of matching pectoral fins. Blue Sharks have a deeply forked tail fin with two anal fins at the bottom with a smaller fin on top. Near their heads, they have deep ridges that serve as their gills. They also have long snouts which they use to detect blood from vast distances. 
 

Blue Shark Diet

Blue Sharks are carnivorous but curiously prefer a more piscine diet. They love eating tuna from which they get their calcium from. Blue sharks also feast on crabs, lobsters, cuttlefish, and squid. At times, if there’s an unlucky seagull, it’ll eat that too. Their triangular teeth allow them to shred through their prey while their torpedo-shaped body is made to catch up with them.
 

Blue Shark Size

Blue Sharks can grow quite big. Male Blue Sharks can weigh 60 to 121 lbs whereas females can weigh from 205 lbs to 401 lbs. On average, a Blue Shark can grow between 7.2 ft to 10.8 ft. However, there were some cases where Blue Sharks can grow up to 12 ft.
 

Interesting Facts about the Blue Shark

• Sadly, the Blue Shark often gets a bad reputation for attacking humans because of its Great White cousin.
  • Over the years, there have been only reported 13 attacks in which 4 have been reported fatal.
• The Blue Shark, because of its curious nature, has made it susceptible to finning.
  • Finning is when anglers cut off the fins of the shark and throw the Blue Shark back into the sea, leaving them to drown to death.
    • Many organizations often tried to stop finning but to no avail. Some still illegally fish for shark's fin due to the high demand for shark’s fin in Chinese cuisine.
  • The Blue Shark is only one of the many species that get finned for Shark’s Fin Dumpling and Soup. Other species include Blacktip, Hammerhead, Porbeagle, Spinner, Mako, Sandbar, and the Bull.
• Blue Sharks are even attacked by their own cousins.
• Unlike other fish, Blue Sharks give birth to live young. They usually have 135 pups a litter, assuming they don’t cannibalize each other in the womb first.
• Blue Sharks are susceptible to parasites especially when they eat Opah or a Longnosed Lancefish.
• To tell the difference, female Blue Sharks often have a bite on their dorsal fin as a result of mating.
   

Blue Shark – Fishing Techniques: How to Fish for a Blue Shark

Blue Sharks are often caught via drift fishing. And just like movies, they use something called chum as bait. Chum is composed of different kinds of fish like mackerel, herring, squid, sardines, tuna, or any other small fish which is then mashed up until it looks like porridge. 

When setting up your line, don’t keep it too close to your ship. You don’t want a Blue Shark suddenly jumping on board! Blue Sharks especially in a frenzy and panic can still destroy things not by chomping but by going in for a body-slam using its weight. Some recommend keeping your line at least 20 feet away so that you can still lead the Blue Shark.

The matter is, a Blue Shark is still a shark. And like a shark, it’s still an apex predator. It isn’t dumb just to bite. But the presence of bloody chum (made from its favorite fish) will have it going nuts. Lead the Blue Shark carefully while keeping the line a good distance away from your boat. Once it snaps onto the bait, slowly reel it in. Make sure your line can withstand at least 200 lbs. If your line breaks, it’s either you caught a large one or you may be reeling in its much angrier cousin who won’t be pleased to find out that it’s got a hook in its jaw.
 

Blue Shark Habitat and Distribution

Like most sharks, Blue Sharks have a preference for warm to cooler waters. They usually swim around the deeper depths where they can find a feast of squid swimming around. Blue Sharks usually swim at around 1,150 ft and often migrate. Some people have sighted Blue Sharks in Norway and Chile. But most of the time, Blue Sharks can be found in places except Antarctica. These sharks have a preference for waters at room temperature – around 12 to 20 degrees Celsius (54-68 degrees Fahrenheit).

Great White Shark

Great White Shark (Carcharodon Carcharias) Description 

Great white sharks are the most notorious fish in the ocean. They were first brought into the limelight by the "Jaws" movie series, and admired by Discovery Channel Shark Week. They are easily identified by their white bellies, gray skin, bullet-shaped bodies, and rows of about 300 jagged, triangular teeth. The sharks have a skeleton entirely composed of cartilage and are equipped with leathery, tough, and scaleless skin. They are giant fish with a blunt torpedo body and a shrilly pointed conical snout, dorsal fins, and a strong crescent-shaped tail. They are incredible hunters with good eyesight, strong muscles, and a strong sense of smell. 

Habitat and Distribution 

Great white sharks are mostly found along the coasts of California, Hawaii, and along the Northeast Coast of the United States.  They can also be found in South Africa, Australia,  Brazil, the Azores, the Caribbean, East Africa, Northwest Africa, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Northern Australia, the Philippines, Mauritius, and Hawaii. 

They live in almost all offshore and coastal water with water temperatures that range from 54-75 degrees, with the highest concentrations in the United States, Japan, South Africa, Oceania, Chile, and the Mediterranean. 

Size 

They can grow to about 15 to 20 feet or more and weigh more than 5,000 pounds. Some time ago, divers near the island of Oahu in Hawaii made an uncommon discovery, taking close-up pictures of what is assumed to be the world record white shark in history. The fish was estimated to weighs about 2.5 tons. Great white sharks can live as long as humans, 70 years or more, longer than scientists previously believed. 

Interesting Facts 

There are more than 450 species of sharks in the oceans today. They are social creatures that travel in schools. They try to avoid a fight with each other as only one bite can permanently disable the fish. This species can detect a single drop of blood in 25 gallons (100 liters) of water and can even sense a little drop of blood up to three miles. They use an organ known as the olfactory bulb and their keen sense of smell to detect blood. 

Great white sharks can swim at speeds above 35 mph and can swim to depths of 3,900 feet. 

 And they have no recognized natural predators apart from the killer whale, which will attack the shark only on very rare occasions. 

Fishing Techniques - How to Catch a Great White Shark

Great White Shark fishing is illegal in the United States as they are a protected species. 

However, if you have a permit, catching a shark is one of the most thrilling kinds of fishing. It is only for the strong and the brave, and for anglers who are prepared for the biggest adrenaline flow of their lives. These species are found in almost any kind of saltwater location. Good places to find them are near reefs where there are smaller fish they feed on. 

When fishing this species, make sure you have a strong tackle. It is important you have a tough fishing line; no less than a 100 pounds test line plus a rod that won't break with big game fish. Have some chum with you to throw them into the water to attract them.  Mackerel would be the choice bait. 

Smooth Hammerhead

Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena) Fish Description

Also known as round-headed hammerhead, common hammerhead, and common smooth hammerhead, the Smooth Hammerhead is a member of the Sphyrnidae or hammerhead shark family. The name of this species was inspired by its remarkable hammer-shaped head absent an indentation in the center of the front margin (hence “smooth”). Its fins are highly prized as an ingredient in shark fin soup.

What makes the Smooth Hammerhead distinct from other members of the Sphyrnidae family is how its head is curved, and wide but short. Its nostrils are near the ends of its curved head. The Smooth Hammerhead, which is an active predator, has 25 to 30 tooth rows in the lower jaw, and 26 to 32 tooth rows in the upper jaw. Each of its teeth has serrated edges and is triangular in shape.

Diet and Size

Smooth Hammerheads feed on fellow sharks and rays. They are active predators, preying on invertebrates and bony fishes. They also like feasting on octopus, squid, hake, dolphins, and sea snakes, among others.

The Smooth Hammerhead is the second-largest member of the hammerhead sharks, ranking next to the great hammerhead shark. On average, it can measure up to 138 inches or 11.5feet long.

Interesting Facts About the Smooth Hammerhead 

• The laterally extended and flattened head of the Smooth Hammerhead (and its cousin hammerheads') is called a “cephalofoil”.
• Smooth Hammerheads form schools consisting of hundreds to thousands during their migration.
• Like other members of its family, the Smooth Hammerhead is viviparous, giving birth to around 20-40 baby sharks.
• Smooth Hammerheads have been reported to have attacked humans before; they are potentially dangerous.
• The Smooth Hammerhead uses its electroreceptors (ability to detect electric fields made by other fishes) to locate its prey more accurately.
• Every year, around 1.3 to 1.7 million fins are harvested for the shark fin trade from the Smooth Hammerhead.

Smooth Hammerhead — Fishing Techniques

Compared to other sharks, the Smooth Hammerhead is quite common; thus, it is prone to intentional fishing especially by commercial fishers. Sometimes, the Smooth Hammerhead is also captured as bycatch especially when anglers use purse-seines, bottom trawls, handlines, gillnets,  and longlines.

Habitat and Distribution

Smooth Hammerheads — unlike other hammerheads — prefer temperate zones with temperatures ranging from 45.5 °F to 81.5 °F. They are abundant, especially in higher latitudes. They can be found in the Atlantic, and in Northern Europe. Specifically, the Smooth Hammerheads are aplenty in the waters of Nova Scotia to the Virgin Islands, Brazil to Argentina, and from the British Isles to the Mediterranean Sea. This shark species is also sighted in the Indian Ocean, particularly in India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. It also occurs in southern Japan, Russia, New Zealand, and Australia.

This hammerhead shark likes inshore waters like estuaries and bays, but it is also found around oceanic islands and in the open ocean. Unlike the great and the scalloped hammerheads, Smooth Hammerheads thrive in waters closer to the surface (less than 66 feet). However, they can also be found in waters as deep as 660 feet. 

During the summer months, the Smooth Hammerheads move to the cooler poles, then return to the equator during winter.

Thresher Shark

Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) Fish Description

The Thresher Shark is a popular saltwater gamefish that is mainly found in the open oceans. It is blue-grey in color and it is known for its long tail that can be as long as its body. It is part of the mackerel family, large species of sharks that includes the Great White Shark. 

The thresher shark is a carnivorous fish that feeds on a variety of prey – from smaller fishes like mackerel, bluefish, herring, and needlefish to predatory fishes like the lancetfish. They even eat deep-dwelling fish like the lantern fish. They also feed on invertebrates such as squids and crustaceans like crabs. 

Interesting Facts About the Thresher Shark 

• They’re a sight to see with their long tails and are known to sometimes leap out of the water.
• Thresher sharks use their long long tails to whip to stun their prey and then eat them. The whip-like motion is so strong that it is believed to separate oxygen and hydrogen in the water. The estimated force of their attack is 50mph.
• They are mostly solitary fishes but they would sometimes congregate to prey on schools of fish to increase their hunting chances.

Thresher Shark Size and Speed

The thresher shark is a large apex predator and is prized for its fighting prowess, making it one of the best fish to catch as an angler. They burst at speeds of 30 mph and are estimated to get as big as 20 feet long and weigh 1120 lbs. The average size of this large fish is 16 feet and weighs 510 lbs.

Habitat and Distribution of the Common Thresher Shark

The common thresher shark thrives in the pelagic waters of continental shelves, around 40 - 50 miles away from shore with depths of shallow waters up to 2100 feet but sometimes inshore waters too. They prefer temperatures of 60-70°F.

They are highly migratory species and are scatted around the world. In North America, they migrate from north to south. They can be found in both the western Atlantic and the eastern Pacific oceans. Fishing spots are in the Gulf of California, New York, Vancouver Islands, Washington, Oregon, and as far as the Hawaiian Islands. The best time to catch them in California is during late spring to fall and late summer in Washington.

Fishing Strategies for the Common Thresher Shark

The thresher shark is a rare powerful fish that is sought after by anglers. There are different ways to catch the common thresher shark. The common ways are trolling or cast and reel. Through fish trolling, set the lure to sink between 25-50 feet (use a 16 oz. sinker to get to these depths). Look for bait balls where the shark might be hunting and slowly let your boat drift around 2-4 knots and wait for a bite. You can also fish from inshore via the cast and reel method with the same techniques.

Recommended equipment for this strong fish is a  heavy rod from 12-15 weight and is 7 ½ to 8 feet in length with 50 to 80 lb braid. Thresher sharks have small mouths and teeth despite being large fishes, so use strong 8/0 hooks with 8-10 feet leader of multiple braids to prevent the line from breaking. 

The usual baits for the common thresher sharks are mackerel or sardines. For lures, anglers have had success using marlin lures.

Tiger Shark

Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier) Description

The Tiger Shark is named for the dark bands or stripes that it has on the side of its body, resembling that of a tiger. Belonging to the same family as Bull Sharks, Lemon Sharks, and Blue Sharks known as Carcharhinidae, they are the family's largest species. The Tiger Shark's skin can range from blue to light green with a light yellow or white belly. They use their colors in a camouflage technique known as countershading. Blending in with the light background as prey looks up and being dark on top to blend in with the deep water's dark blue hues. 

Size 

Tiger sharks are commonly found reaching 11 to 14 feet in length and weights of 800-1400 pounds. Like most fish, the Tiger Shark is dimorphic, meaning the females grow much larger than the males reaching exceptional sizes around 16-17 feet in length and weighing up to 2000 pounds. 

Interesting Facts 

Tiger Sharks are a solitary and nomadic species.

They have small pits on their snout which hold electroreceptors. These receptors can detect electrical fields and impulses in the water like those made from prey animals, helping them seek food. 

They follow currents of warm water and stay close to the equator during the winter months. 

The tiger stripes that give the shark its name fade as they grow older.

Tiger Sharks are generally slow swimmers, using their camouflage to get close to prey, but they are capable of very fast bursts of speed when attacking prey and are one of the strongest swimming sharks in their family. 

Fishing Techniques - How to Catch a Tiger Shark

One of the most popular fishing methods for this game fish is by using live bait and chumming or by trolling.  Live bait is the predominant method to catch Tiger Sharks. Some of the best bait, live or cut, is mackerel, bluefish, or tuna filets. Rods should have a 100-pound test monofilament and hooks ranging from 6/0 to 10/0. Heavy tackle in all regards from reels, rods, line, and leaders is required. 

Habitat and Distribution

Tiger Sharks can be found in coastal waters and are found mainly in tropical to subtropical climates. They can be found around deeper waters and reefs but will move up into shallow waters to seek food. While rarely seen in shallow water, they have been spotted in water as shallow as ten feet, although the average depth of tiger sharks is usually around 1000 feet. 

The range for the Tiger Shark is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to Florida's coasts around to the Gulf of Mexico.  On the west coast, they are populated from central California to Mexico.