Article by Capt. Mark Sampson
I’m really not big on paying much attention to the social media feed, but as I like to keep abreast of shark stuff any way I can, I do find myself clicking on shark related posts when they pop up. Seeing the posts and, even more so - reading the comments, often has my head spinning about how much some people really don’t know about the sharks they fish for and the rules they’re required to follow while doing so.
Unlike so many other fisheries where a novice can get started by simply buying a license, some tackle, a bag of bait, review a few rules and go out and do it - sharking requires special tackle and equipment as well as a lot of preparation and a thorough study and understanding of a suite of very complex regulations. Oh yea - it also requires that you know at least a little about how to properly identify somes of the different shark species.
So with all that in mind, please allow me to highlight a few regulations that every angler who targets sharks needs to know. And please keep in mind that this is not a complete list:
Circle hooks are required!
Every angler fishing for sharks (with bait) is required to use non-offset circle hooks. The good news here is that circle hooks are the most effective hook to use for sharks, so this requirement actually helps to ensure that anglers are fishing with the best chance for success. This regulation is to help ensure that hook sets in the jaw rather than deep in the esophagus or stomach which could lead to the shark’s eventual death.
Sharks must not be taken out of the water!
Unless a special permit has been issued to the boat that allows then to do so, other than dogfish, little shark, big shark, any shark that is going to be released must not be brought out of the water for any reason. When the shark is brought alongside a boat, pier, or beach, besides being tagged in the water and the leader cut or hook removed with a dehooking tool, sharks may not be roped, gaffed, or anything else besides maybe an in-water photo taken of them prior to release. This is to help enhance the chances of survival of sharks that are released. Still, there’s enough photos being posted of folks holding up sharks or sharks on the decks of boats to show that many fishermen are still unaware of the regulation.
Pelagics only until July 15!
Prior to July 15 the only big sharks that can be landed are makos, threshers, and blue sharks. Smooth and spiny dogfish and sharpnose may also be landed - but none other. So until the middle of July sharks such as blacktips, spinners, hammerheads, and tigers must be released. This regulation was put in place to protect large coastal sharks from being taken during their pupping seasons.
Hammerheads and tuna can’t mix!
So if you boat a tuna first you may not boat a hammerhead on the same trip, or, if you boat a hammerhead first you may not boat a tuna on the same trip. I know this seems like a whacky regulation but there is some reasoning behind it. Fisheries needed to make a reduction in the amount of hammerheads being taken by recreational anglers. The limit was already only one per day so the next step down would be zero. Instead of doing that they concluded that since a number of hammerheads are taken by tuna chunkers, most of whom would prefer to bring home tuna rather than a hammerhead, if they could eliminate this incidental catch, it would effectively reduce the take of hammerheads without impacting anglers who are specifically targeting sharks.
Anglers may not target prohibited sharks!
NMFS maintains a “Prohibited Species List” of sharks that may not be retained at any time and any size. Of the sharks typically taken off our coast there are more “no-take” species on the list than “take” species not on the list. A few of the sharks on the prohibited list that Delmarva anglers might encounter include the dusky, sandbar, longfin mako, sand tiger, and great white. It’s important for anglers to know that there is no catch-and-release provision in the shark regulations. This means that anglers may not “target” sharks that are on the prohibited list. If they accidentally hook prohibited sharks while they are trying to catch legal sharks that’s OK as long as they properly release them. However, pitching a bait to a shark that you see and know is on the list (such as a white shark), even though you intend to release it - is not allowed.
Don't sit on a shark!
Yea - I know, that sounds kind of stupid, but navigate you're way through enough social media photos and you will find plenty of stupid people doing stupid things with sharks and that includes "sitting" on them for photos prior to release. If hauling them out of the water wasn't bad enough (and not illegal) sitting on a shark that's out of the water increases the chances for internal injuries that could kill the animal. Apparently DNR takes such stunts serious enough that the ridiculous practice is now addressed in the new regulations.
Check your shark!
Maryland has a catch-card system for keeping track of all sharks brought back to the dock. It doesn't matter how large or small, EVERY shark brought in must be registered BEFORE it's taken off the boat or before the boat is pulled out of the water. All local marinas have the cards which when filled out are exchanged for a plastic tag that is affixed to the shark so it can be removed from the boat.
So that's just a taste of the regulations shark anglers must adhere to if they are going to stay in compliance and out of trouble. There's a lot more, including different size and creel limits for different types of sharks, special restrictions for sharking from the beach, and of course the complete list of prohibited species. Anyone contemplating going shark fishing should visit the Maryland or Delaware Natural Resources and the NOAA/NMFS HMS websites, or find out from someone who really knows what they're talking about - NOT from some of the ding-dong postings on social media! §
