Neville Wright writes:
G'day guys. I just recently purchased a 6.7m boat and am really keen to get out and give the sharks (mako) etc a go. Have asked heaps of people and get different ways to go about catching them. Was wondering your views and also the big question... what to do when you get it, i.e. killing it then how to clean and fillet it. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Neville Wright.
(30 December 2001)

Jon Child replies
Neville I would suggest that you should go down to Western Port Bay. Talk to a few different charter boat skippers or deckies. You are bound to gather enough info on baits, times, depths, tides, GPS points or marks, etc., to get you started. Also join a club, it's safer to fish in numbers and generally more successful. I joined Sandringham Anglers and have not looked back. See ya, Jon Child.
(21 March 2002)

Ricky Amer replies:
Tip No 1 - I am assuming you have never gone after makos before. Never go after them alone, it is too full on and you will need a hand in more ways than one. You will need the boat running after hook up to stay away from the shark and probably prop blast it when it attacks the boat (yes it will probably attack the boat or you by flying threw the air). These are the fastest fish in the ocean or any water for that matter and can reach speeds of up to 110kph - that's faster than a dolphin. Your rod and line may be pointing due south and the mako that you have hooked jumps due east - this is due to the speed of the fish and the drag of the line in the water, your line may be peeling off straight down but the shark is coming straight up - due to the same effect - and when you think you have won the fight and can relax a bit, that's when you loose it because you were only about one tenth of the way there.
      These are very big, fast and dangerous fish with big teeth. Anglers have been killed by them through them jumping into and onto boats, crushing cabins, etc., oh yes they are capable of jumping over 20 feet out of the water. Are you getting a little scared yet?
      Most anglers that hook a big one for there first either cut the line or give the rod to someone else as they were not expecting a fish to frighten them like this. You can study various ways to catch them - chumming, rigs, bait, etc., but you won't have to worry about landing techniques for quite some time yet as you WON'T be landing one for a while. By now I hope you are very scared because if you think "I got a new boat, yahoo, let's get some makos", I would give the makos a 50/50 chance of getting you!
      I fish the Port Fairy and Warrnambool area and we have hooked several makos but we have never landed one yet - I am told though that landing them is more fun than catching them and more dangerous.
      OK, Tip No 2. How to put yourself in this dangerous predicament - make a chum, that is mince up fish blood, guts and stuff, tuna, salmon (some ingredients are illegal though, have a look at the Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide) and when it is just slush pour it into an open drum and freeze it (I think 10 litres is the max permitted by law). Tie some chicken wire over the open end of the drum and add something so the drum floats, tie a rope to the drum and your boat - about 20 feet will do. You want the frozen chum to stay in the drum with only one end open as it will melt a lot slower than if you take it out of the drum. Now just drift.
      You can fish for snapper, whiting, etc., while you are waiting if you like. It may take 5 minutes, it may take 2 hours, but eventually sharks will turn up following the slick that you are leaving from your chum. Now if you spot a mako have a rod with a leader, big hook and big bait ready and just throw it in front of the shark and it will grab it. Then hang on and watch that line get peeled off your reel (I think some baits are illegal just, use your imagination). I'm gunna stop there as I think I've got you into enough trouble already.
- Tip No 3. be careful
- Tip No 4. be very careful
- Tip No 5. be very very careful
- Tip No 6. best of luck
Please don't do this near swimmers, etc., OK.
(25 October 2002)

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