Foreword by Andy LoCascio

We originally planned to hook up with Captain John Pirie to take advantage of their unique topwater tuna bite.  As luck would have it, the bite was late in developing this season.  With all our arrangements already in place, we headed north anyway to try to find a show.   John suggested we take a run to Jeffreys Ledge (about 20 miles NE of Cape Ann, MA and 35 miles out of Manchester, MA) and give the shark fishery a try.  We had a great run out punctuated by numerous whale sightings and even a couple of giant tuna. After we started our drift and got the baits in, we passed the time by jigging a few 30lb class cod.  We lost interest in the cod as soon as we saw that first fin in the slick.  The bite was on and the sharks proved to be some of the toughest opponents we struggled with all season.  John Pirie’s in-depth knowledge of the fishery and shark behavior along the very reliable shark bite ensures that anyone who does this trip will have a memorable day on the water.

Wild Blue Sharks in Massachusetts Bay by Captain John Pirie 

All eyes are focused on the slick trailing off the stern of the boat.  20 minutes into the drift the first fish glides into view.  Despite all of the preparations, pandemonium ensues.  The shark has ignored the baits suspended below the balloons.  The first pitch bait hits the water and is rejected summarily as the 7¹ Blue Shark snubs our offering.  On the third pass, the bait is retrieved slowly in front of the shark that suddenly accelerates and takes the mackerel strip.  He turns away and the angler strip sets the hook twice.  Feeling resistance and the sting of metal the fish departs in a shower of water.  The fish remains on the surface for much of the fight.  After 20 minutes of give and take the tired fish is leadered, tagged and the hook is removed.  Free to go the shark melts away into the depths.  Such scenes are commonplace in the waters of New England during the months of August and September.  The best fishing occurs in August and September but, weather permitting, October can be red hot.  July in Massachusetts Bay waters features mostly small female Blue Sharks in the 3-5 foot range.  As the waters warm, the larger males and females push in from the east.   

What to expect

The shark fishery, while only a pale reflection of the glory days of yesteryear, offers anglers a chance to catch 10-25 fish a day using a variety of different tackle.  While the majority of fish are blue sharks, makos, porbeagles and threshers are seen regularly.  One of the primary reasons for the strong blue shark fishery is that they have not been previously targeted as a commercially viable species.  However, resources dwindle and previously overlooked species become sought after by commercial interests.  In the meantime, anglers can enjoy the opportunity to pit their skills and tackle against a truly worth opponent.  Blue sharks will test every knot, line, drag and rod you use.  Gear will break, fish will be lost, but the sharks keep coming.  A good day in mid August would include leadering over 20 fish.  Such days are quite common.  Anglers often go home not because the charter is over but because they are exhausted.  It is not uncommon for us to leave a drift with 4-6 fish still working the slick. 

Hit the spot

Perhaps the most important aspect of the fishery is picking the spot and setting the drift Look for an area where there are a bunch of contour lines stacked together indicating a significant change in depth. (Wildcat Knoll 32 miles due east of Boston is a good example)  When you get to the area, look for water temperature shifts and baitfish or other "action" (tuna, dolphins, etc.).   

The Right Drift

Once you have found the perfect spot, calculate the drift by shutting down and letting the boat drift.  For most boats, wind is the dominant factor in determining your direction of drift.  Once you have determined which direction your boat will drift, head "updrift" 180 degrees opposite the expected drift until you are two to three miles away from the area you want to fish.  Put your chum bucket in the water, turn on the I.V. and "power chum" (run with the engines on at about 6-8 knots for about a mile in the same direction as your drift will take you).  Once you have power chummed for about a mile to a mile and a half, turn off the motors and drift.  You should drift at around a knot to a knot and a half.  Any faster is not good.  Deploy a sea anchor on really windy days to slow your drift.  Using this method you have essentially jump-started your slick and in a short time it is over a mile long.  Also, you should reach your "destination" after about two hours of drifting.  You don't want to start over the optimum spot, you want to drift across it when you have a two mile slick trailing behind you. Have faith in your selection.  Breaking a slick is ALMOST always a bad idea.   

Be patient

Stick with it and if the season is right and you have built a good slick, they will come.  Don't get nervous and move.  If after FOUR hours you haven't seen a single fish then you might want to reconsider your choice of location.  Last year, we had some clients on board who were tired of fighting nothing but huge blue sharks in the 10-12 foot range,  I offered to move to a spot where I was confidant I could find some smaller fish.  We set up our second slick after moving about 7 miles.  A 9 foot blue shark showed up.  He was acting a little skittish but seemed interested in our baits.  Suddenly he vanished to be replaced by a 700 lb 10 foot female Mako who was a nasty creature in a particularly foul mood.  Her head was all bitten up from breeding encounters with aggressive males.  We yanked the small baits out of the water as she sauntered up to the transom.   

Chum for success

As far as chumming is concerned there are basically use three types.  A frozen bucket of fresh ground herring in a milk crate is the primary system.   Tie the milk crate so that the bottom of the crate is just barely under water.  That way the rocking of the boat will suck the chum out of the bottom of the bucket and you will only thaw a small bit at a time.  Refined herring oil is an important ingredient in a slick.  Think about using a drip bag to dispense the oil.  This stuff is incredible.  Get old I.V. bags from hospitals or supply houses (they are not hazardous bio -med waste) and fill them with oil.  Set the flow valve to the correct rate for the days drift.  Finally, we cut small chunks of mackerel to help keep sharks interested once they are in sight. 

Get them to eat

Casting for blue sharks often requires minimal effort on the part of the angler.  Sharks will often eat the bait close to the boat.  There are times when ³hot² fish will actively pursue retrieved baits right to the boat.  Such fish are easy to hook.  Well fed, more complacent fish are much harder to hook.  Sometimes these fish must be repeatedly fed with chunks of mackerel before they will accept a hook-bait.  Once there are a number of sharks around the boat, competition will often create a feeding frenzy wherein sharks will eat any bait thrown into the maelstrom. 

The hook set

Most of the time, anglers will witness the shark eat the bait.  Once the shark turns it¹s head at right angles to the angler, the hook should be set with one or two strip strikes.  Since the hooks are razor sharp and sharks mouths fairly soft, setting the hook is not a difficult prospect.  In fact most hooks are kept seated by the steady pressure that exists during the fight.  Don¹t treat the shark like a tarpon and try to rip it¹s lips off. 

Keep the pressure on

Once the fish is hooked anglers should attempt to put maximum pressure on the fish immediately.  If you have taken care to preset your drags with a hand scale you should not have to make many adjustments during the fight.  If you give up more than 200 yards you should either start your motor and chase the fish, or back off the drag due to the line drag increase caused by having so much line in the water.  One of the added benefits of using braided lines is that the small diameter (compared to Dacron or mono) greatly reduces line drag in the water.  Use low rod angles and side pressure to shorten any fight.  Once the fish is near the boat, care should be taken.  If the fish is tired, one can often successfully tag and remove the hook from a fish. Barbless hooks and careful leadering improve the odds of this operation greatly.  A quiet blue shark can often be held by the leader.  Green fish are almost always broken off prior to hook removal and often before tagging.  Don't be in a rush to bring your fish to boat side.  Tired fish are far easier to handle! 

Break out your best

All equipment must be of the highest quality.  High quality reels with smooth drags are a pleasure to fish with.  Drags must be heat resistant since runs are long and drag pressures are high. Shimano¹s new Torium series are a good case in point.  Using braided lines and the high speed retrieve of these new reels, anglers can stay on top of their fish easily during the fight.   During the early season, one can catch small female blues on 12-15 lb rods.  However, once the larger 6-10 foot fish show up 30-50lb rods become the norm.  Extended fore grips are a must to reduce arm fatigue.  20 minute battles are not uncommon and good rod design will become evident during such a fight. 

Keep it simple

Leader systems are fairly basic.  8-10ft of wire, usually 49-strand stainless wire doubled through the hook eye on one end and crimped twice will suffice.  Create a ½ inch loop on the other end.  Coffee colored single strand in sizes 9-11 is also effective.  A simple haywire twist at both ends completes the bite protection.  Use hooks that are 10/0 non-stainless so it will rust out if the hook cannot be removed.  They should be hand sharpened to a triangulated razor-sharp point.  Barbs should be crushed down for easier hook removal. A 130lb snap swivel (or larger) attached to the main line will allow you to quickly and easily attach rigged baits.  

Great place for the braid

I have become a huge fan of the use of gel-spun polyethylene or braided lines.  While this material is often two to three times the cost of Dacron, it is the economically wise choice.  I have one shark reel on my boat which has had the same line on for six seasons.  Dacron needs to be replaced at least once a season.  Gel-spun polyethylene backing is far more UV resistant, resists rot and mildew and generally lasts far longer than Dacron or mono.  In addition, gel-spun polyethylene backing has a far smaller diameter allowing anglers to use greater pound strengths and increased yardage on their spools.  This smaller diameter contributes to a reduction in line drag as the backing cuts through the water.  This material does have some drawbacks.  One must wind the material on very tight.  If a fish is broken off well into the spool, care must be taken to wind the material on tightly for fear of the line cutting into itself on the next fish.  One must also take care to avoid line cuts since the material will easily slice one¹s finger.   

Let ‘em go free

Given the depleted status and poor management of our shark fishery, all sport fishermen should endeavor to release the majority of sharks.  Blue sharks are basically uneatable.  Fisheries biologists report that makos should not be harvested until they have reached sexual maturity which will often not occur before they reach a weight of 250 lbs.  Tagging programs such as the National Marine Fisheries Service¹s Apex Predator Program provides scientists with valuable information regarding migrations and growth patterns of these sharks.  Tags can be obtained by contacting the NMFS Apex Predator Study in Narrangansett Rhode Island.