Shark Jaws.....

[Freeballin]

got an OK mako this past weekend and wanted to try an process the jaws on my own..... was told to scrape as much meat and skin off as possible then prop it open in the yard for a few weeks and let the bugs do the work.....

was wondering if anyone here has a few tips as far as getting this done... was told not to boil them as the teeth would fall out

ANY HELP or suggestions would be appreciated.... thanx

[joeksr]

Not an expert but It's all about scrapin the meat off.
Did a set once. Lot of work. Came out yellow and distorted.
Carefull, Mako teeth are sharp.
Problem seems to be if you dont know where to stop scrapin you loosen everything.
If you do get the meat off a good soaking in peroxide and water will whiten and loosen some more meat. Scrape some more.
Once you quit soaking, and scraping, be sure to brace the jaws in the shape you want them to be. Drying will distort em.
If they distort another soaking might let you re align em.

Good luck.Let us know how it comes out.

[capnpiney]

I understand that some of the guys that make european deer mounts use some kind of beetles or bugs that eat the flesh off ....perhaps u can locate someone in your area...

nice catch/good luck!

[T380Fisher]

I did a set of mako jaws once... they turned out a little yellow. I did what you said...scraped off most of the meat, let them sit in the yard (under a milk crate so animals did not drag them away) You need to tie them open or once they dry, they will not be open.

Mine turned out nice, no lost teeth, but the the "gum" sections are yellow. So hints to fix this would be nice.

[dman25]

I did a set of mako jaws once... they turned out a little yellow. I did what you said...scraped off most of the meat, let them sit in the yard (under a milk crate so animals did not drag them away) You need to tie them open or once they dry, they will not be open.

Mine turned out nice, no lost teeth, but the the "gum" sections are yellow. So hints to fix this would be nice.

Industrial Peroxide. The stuff you "bleach" hair with. Go to a beauty supply store.

[dman25]

I understand that some of the guys that make european deer mounts use some kind of beetles or bugs that eat the flesh off ....perhaps u can locate someone in your area...

nice catch/good luck!

Shark Jaws are not made of bone. If you let the beetles at them there will be nothing left but teeth. This is why you can;t soak them in chemicals for very long.

[Cardinal Joe]

I did a few Jaws in my day , find a friend with a Bullhead minnows pen place it in the pen for 3 days - Bam - all the meat is gone , i left one set in for a week and all that was left were the teeth ! so you need to monitor the process , then dilute a mix of one part beach and 5 parts water ,soak for a few hours as needed and use an old tooth brush to clean the jaws ! Cardinal Joe

[Captain Rich Adler]

Keep the jaws in the freezer until you have all the meat scraped off. Then soak them in peroxide to get the residual tissue off. To keep the jaws from twisting when you dry them, get a piece of plastic eggcrate reflector (stuff you hang beneath a flourescent light), lay the jaws on the eggcrate and secure them with plastic wire ties every couple of inches. The wire ties have to be close, every inch or two, or the jaws will twist. Dry them outside, a little stinky when drying

[JOE_DIRT]

I've never done one before, but I would think that if you hang a set from a rope off the dock for a couple days the critters would take care of the cleaning for you. Then all you would have to do is go to the beauty shop like someone said and get the bleach stuff.

[Capt_John]

I've done a few sets and all came out good. I learned from a friend who has done a ton of them. his is they way I learned

1. Cut the jaws out being extremely carful no to cut off any of the joints.

2. Heavily salt the jaws with Kosher salt and let them sit for a several hours in a cooler. this toughens up the remaining meat and makes it easier to cut off.

3. After the meat is removed, place a couple sticks or something like it in the jaws to prop them open. Then add another one across the back of the jaws to prevent twisting.

4. Peroxide the jaws heavily and let them sit where you can't smell thm and you're good to go.