Now that's a lot of BULL

[Oleman]

This is an article I ran across this morning. I'm wondering if it was pen raised. :rolleyes: Anyway I though some of you might appreciate the read.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/04/news_pf/Southpinellas/Bull_shark_caught_off.shtml

[Ackman]

Actually, bull sharks get a whole lot bigger than that.

[Oleman]

Yes Ackman they do but that's a lot of fish to land from the beach.

[Ackman]

You're right, that's a very big fish to catch from the beach. With the chair set-up they were well prepared.

[10MMGary]

Don't doubt it at all, it is not typical but not all that unusual either actually. Most people don't realize that Tampa Bay is one of, if not the largest spawning grounds for bull sharks in the USA. I can take you shark fishing from one of dozens of local bridges and catch bull sharks almost at will. We had a resident of Pinellas county a few years or so back that dove off his dock on the intercoastal water way and basically landed in the jaws of a big bull shark feeding on a school of mullet in dark brackish water, he bled out real fast and died on his dock. This man and his family had been diving off that dock and swimming in those waters for years. You should see what a 12 foot hammer head(yes we have those as well) can do to a 190 pound tarpon in a matter of seconds:eek: .
By the way I know the dock with the fighting chair(and there are more than a few docks set up that way) and I am also familiar with the owner that caught the shark in the article he has no need to lie. If you know what to rig and how to rig it and have the strength and patience to endure the battle you can catch a big one rather easily from a dock mounted fighting chair bridge or even easier on a nice sandy shore with a few dozen tourist looking on in terror. Personally I find makos and blacktips are much more of a spectacular fight as they like to get aeriel and are much more likely to tail walk flip end over end and basically go balistic when hooked.
IIRC the one time state record for a jewfish/goliath grouper< the new BS politically correct name) was around 800 pounds and caught with rod and reel off one of the Tampa Bay area bridges, so yes really big fish can be caught and landed from places other than boats.

Yes Ackman they do but that's a lot of fish to land from the beach.

[ollie]

I am going to the tampa area in a few months, is there a place that i can get in touch with for fishin these big ones. Shure sounds fun. Ollie

[Markbo]

You should try swimming with them... that'll get your heart rate up a whole lot faster. ;)

[10MMGary]

I am going to the tampa area in a few months, is there a place that i can get in touch with for fishin these big ones. Shure sounds fun. Ollie

Ollie I am not exaggerating when I say they are all over the bay and then some. I have lived and fished here nearly 26 years and have seen them on the grass flats in gin clear water less than a foot deep and have even seen them in the river and creek mouths in tannin stained brackish water. They really aren't that much fun to fight on a rod and reel. Depending on the size of course it is akin to reeling in a a small car. The real game ones are the smaller black tip sharks in the 3-4 foot size. They give drag smokin runs and go aerial with amazing jumps and mid air twist and flips. Plus black tips are good to eat.

Email me before you get here and I will get you my number and or contact information. Most all of the municipal piers won't allow to to target them and will make you break them off once they or you realize that you have a shark on the line. They really don't want the snowbirds and tourist to see them as they think it would be bad for beach going business(gee imagine that). They are often targeted from the bridge catwalks, but are next to impossible to land from those elevated platforms According to what I have read the bull shark is responsible for more attacks and deaths than any other shark species, but for whatever reason they just don't get the attention or the headlines like the great white or tiger.

Now having shared all this Cap Quint macho man killer shark be afraid be very afraid type info, I have to say that even with swimming at the beach everyday for a year one is much more likely to get killed by lightning or a drunk driver than by a shark by far.

[Samson]

I read an artical today that said more people are killed each year in holes dug on the beach or by buring friends than sharks kill.

[Markbo]

More people are killed by bee stings than sharks.