| Author | Message | ||
| Gabby
New member Username: Gabby Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2002 |
On June 28th I was lucky enough to hook into to my first keeper Mako. We also released a Blue Shark about the same size. I was fishing the Fingers area off of O.C. MD. The fish was 67" fork lenght and weight 114 lbs. Not a big one but for the first keeper Mako, a nice (manageable) one. Plenty of meat that won't go to waste. The fish had a tag in it. We just got the info back from the tagging agency. The fish was tagged in Sept. of 2001 off of Montaug NY. Its weight was 35 lbs. That was 190 miles away. This is the first question, the tag report said it was a male. I don't know a lot about sharks but I thought males had long tubes hanging from there sexual area. The one we caught did not. It just had the vent area. Does anyone have info on this subject? The other question is, does anyone have any (home) ideas on how to properly prepare the jaws for mounting on a board for the wall? We were blessed with catching this beautiful creature. Bear with me on the pictures. I haven't done this too often.    | ||
| Rm2
Senior Member Username: Rm2 Post Number: 659 Registered: 2-2003 |
Don't have any answers for you just wanted to say congrad's on the nice catch! I caught my first mako this past week, although not a keeper, just a little guy. As far as the sexual orientation, some fish like seabass change from one to the other as they age. I don't know that much about sharks to say if they do that as well. | ||
| Noobie
New member Username: Noobie Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2003 |
As for the sex ID of sharks the long things you're referring to are called Claspers and they only tend to enlarge during spawning and once the fish has reached sexual maturity. By the looks of the size your shark was not a reproductive spawner. The case for your shark was more than likely a guess at the initial sex determination back in 2001 especially since determining the sex of a 35lb mako would be difficult and potentially dangerous. | ||
| Rm2
Senior Member Username: Rm2 Post Number: 661 Registered: 2-2003 |
Oooops, strike the word orientation and insert word identification on my post, Duh! Thanks for the info Noobie and welcome to CL. | ||
| Steve
Junior Member Username: Steve Post Number: 61 Registered: 4-2003 |
Gabby; Congratulations on the catch. Regarding jaw-mounting, there is a running ad in the Coastal Fisherman from a guy that apparently specializes in this. | ||
| Seanmcguire
New member Username: Seanmcguire Post Number: 30 Registered: 10-2002 |
Gabby, take Steve's advice and let a pro do it!!!! I tried mounting the jaws several times and it is very difficult. I boiled them and ended up with a sticky ball and some teeth. Being that this is your first shark, and I ruined mine, you will be better off taking the jaws to a pro...Sean | ||
| Brad
Senior Member Username: Brad Post Number: 379 Registered: 10-2002 |
Gabby, do indeed have the jaw's done by a Taxidermist. It doesn't cost that much, and will come out right, without the bleeding down the road that often comes from home grown formula's, along with teeth falling out, and the smell. Clasper's male, no clasper's female, your's is a female. Nice fish, but I hope you tail rope in the future, and secure the head by placing the rope around the outside of the gill's next time. Even a dead 100# Mako will bite, and I won't ask how you got that rope through it's jaws. | ||
| Gabby
New member Username: Gabby Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks for the advice about the taxidermist. I will look in Coastal Fisherman. As far as ropes. First it was shot with 12 gauge buckshot. It instantly stopped moving. I tail roped it and then stuck another rope through the gills and grabed the loop with a gaff. Then we streched it between a mid-ship cleat and the rear cleat until we decided to come in for the day. It is amazing how sharp the teeth are. They are like razors. I knicked one with my finger and it cut it. I didn't even know I was cut until there was a little blood. | ||
| Fishingsc3
Senior Member Username: Fishingsc3 Post Number: 418 Registered: 10-2002 |
brad just courious how does a dead mako bite? i`ve heard something about it before but it was a long time ago. i know that fish has one mean set of dentures. gabby nice pics. your right it wasnt a big one but i know i wouldnt want to keep something much bigger then that on a small boat without having some past experiance fishing for them. mark | ||
| Daddys_toy
Senior Member Username: Daddys_toy Post Number: 372 Registered: 10-2002 |
The guy in O.C. who mounts the shark jaws is Mark Sampson of the "Fishfinder". Last I heard, he held 6 MD state records for differant shark species. As for the biting while dead, you may stop the heart but I believe the brain can still register stimulus (contact) which can trigger the bite hours later. I've never seen this but I'd hate to test it and be firsthand proof. Oh, congrats on the fish! Cool pix. | ||
| Shamrock22
Intermediate Member Username: Shamrock22 Post Number: 166 Registered: 10-2002 |
GAB, NICE FISH...I DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY DEVELOPE CLASPERS..BUT I TAGGED AN APPROX. 30LB.MAKO ON THE SAME DAY YOU CAUGHT YOURS AND I WAS LUCKY TO GET A GOOD TAG IN IT LET ALONE WHAT LENGHT; WEIGHT;SEX; LITTLE SUCKER HAD THE HIDE OF A 200LBER. | ||
| Brad
Senior Member Username: Brad Post Number: 380 Registered: 10-2002 |
Mike probably has it right, I don't know. The same way unloaded guns kill I guess. I'm glad you shot it, tailed it, and kept your fingers out of it's mouth. Don't be offended, but you have no idea how many experienced fisherman stick their fingers in there to retrieve a $2 hook, or test the teeth for sharpness. Don't take any shark for granted, dead or alive, and when you board it, tie it's head to it's tail to minimize movement and store far away from the crew for the ride back. Mako's will not spoil as quick as most fish, and hanging for several hours overboard is a good way to let it bleed and die. Throw a blanket over it for the ride back, and wet it down, if it's too large for the fishbox. | ||
| Gabby
New member Username: Gabby Post Number: 26 Registered: 10-2002 |
That is just what we did. I tied the head to one cleat and the tail to the other cleat. I put as much as I could in a Tuna bag with ice and the remaining tail section I covered with a wet, white towel with ice for the ride in. It is some good eating. Thanks for all the advice....  | ||
| Noobie
New member Username: Noobie Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2003 |
Are we sure thats not Jimmy Hoffa under there? | ||
| Surfcaster
New member Username: Surfcaster Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sun Dry the Jaws and the teeth and jaw stay nice and hard, I've tryed boiling them but they fall apart, then mount them. when I lived in Fla. I had quite a few on the walls, from catching them on the beach at night. Joe | ||
| Kfish
Senior Member Username: Kfish Post Number: 222 Registered: 10-2002 |
Ok, so not that I'm planing on sharking any time soon but... How do you measure the shark to determine if it is large enough to take? Do you draw straws to see who holds the tape measure on the tail and who gets the jagged pointy end?  | ||
| Shamrock22
Intermediate Member Username: Shamrock22 Post Number: 170 Registered: 10-2002 |
GARY, FIRST OF ALL....WHERE YOU BEEN???AND HOW YOU BEEN???? AS FAR GETTING A MEASUREMENT...I PUT 54" MARKS WITH A GREASE PENCIL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOAT!!! | ||
| Kfish
Senior Member Username: Kfish Post Number: 223 Registered: 10-2002 |
Paul, Thanks for asking. I've been fine...busy, but fine. New shore house, new computer. And I did go fishing with Dick a couple weeks ago and haven't been the same since!  Frankly I haven't had much to report. The only place I can catch a fish is at A buoy B buoy or Chambers lake. | ||
| Dick
Senior Member Username: Dick Post Number: 1876 Registered: 5-2001 |
Chambers tomorrow night? Thursday. | ||
| Kfish
Senior Member Username: Kfish Post Number: 224 Registered: 10-2002 |
Looks good Dick. Hopefully no thunder storms. I'll email you tomorrow. | ||
| Dick
Senior Member Username: Dick Post Number: 1877 Registered: 5-2001 |
Storms makes it fun..  I think there may be a few of us out there. Possibly 6 altogether..  | ||
| Dckhd247
Senior Member Username: Dckhd247 Post Number: 311 Registered: 10-2002 |
Dick's gotta date??? How cute... | ||
| Kfish
Senior Member Username: Kfish Post Number: 225 Registered: 10-2002 |
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| Dms391
Senior Member Username: Dms391 Post Number: 396 Registered: 5-2001 |
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| Dick
Senior Member Username: Dick Post Number: 1878 Registered: 5-2001 |
Awwwwww Jeff's jealous, how sweet. Don't worry sweetfart, your still my offshore whore.  | ||
| Dckhd247
Senior Member Username: Dckhd247 Post Number: 312 Registered: 10-2002 |
Once again... Speechless |