Heli: Your Thoughts on Mako's

[Bud Man]

Heli,
You are a wealth of information. Whats your opinion on the Mako. We have seen a good run of 100 to under 150 in the mid Atlantic the last couple of seasons and a few monsters in the Gulf and off New England.

Are they in as much trouble as Bluefin as we are being led to believe?

Shark finning is being blamed as a factor for their demise are they anymore sought after for their fins than other sharks?

Thanks for your insight.

[Heli Sports]

Whats your opinion on the Mako.

Are they in as much trouble as Bluefin as we are being led to believe?

Shark finning is being blamed as a factor for their demise are they anymore sought after for their fins than other sharks?

My initial thought, THIS MORNING, about the man in the blue suit, is fear!

I am genuinely afraid that Lubchenco, unable to get the ABT quota reductions she is seeking in Paris, is going bargain with our beloved sport-shark! I really hope we have a Mako season in 2011.

I honestly don't know much about the state of North Atlantic Mako stocks. I'm not sure anyone really does either. The 2008 and 2009 seasons were the best Mako fishing in my area that I can remember. And I have been shark fishing since the late 1970's. Good shark fishermen were scoring 100-200 lb Makos just about every trip.

This past season however, was quite poor south of Long Island. Aside from a few very nice quality fish early in the season, Makos and Threshers were scarce down here this summer, and particularly this Fall. Luckily we had excellent tuna fishing in 40 fathoms for much of the season, which made up for the lack of sharks and probably also contributed to less effort directed at that species.

I doubt finning is the cause for any depletion to Mako stocks. Mako fins are worth very little compared to other species. I think well trimmed wet Mako fins are worth about $5-6 bucks a pound. Compared to the Requiem/Brown shark species fins that go for about $35+ per pound or Hammerheads which are worth even more!

[striper swiper]

Watch swords life on the line. The charts they show where they are concentrating their efforts. Predictable results follow doesn't take genius to figure out why the reduced numbers.

[Heli Sports]

Watch swords life on the line. The charts they show where they are concentrating their efforts. Predictable results follow doesn't take genius to figure out why the reduced numbers.

Wow!

It's that easy?

Just watching a TV show?

What a great way to collect fisheries data! Too bad Jane Lubchenko doesn't watch television...

[Bud Man]

My initial thought, THIS MORNING, about the man in the blue suit, is fear!

I am genuinely afraid that Lubchenco, unable to get the ABT quota reductions she is seeking in Paris, is going bargain with our beloved sport-shark! I really hope we have a Mako season in 2011.

I honestly don't know much about the state of North Atlantic Mako stocks. I'm not sure anyone really does either. The 2008 and 2009 seasons were the best Mako fishing in my area that I can remember. And I have been shark fishing since the late 1970's. Good shark fishermen were scoring 100-200 lb Makos just about every trip.

This past season however, was quite poor south of Long Island. Aside from a few very nice quality fish early in the season, Makos and Threshers were scarce down here this summer, and particularly this Fall. Luckily we had excellent tuna fishing in 40 fathoms for much of the season, which made up for the lack of sharks and probably also contributed to less effort directed at that species.

I doubt finning is the cause for any depletion to Mako stocks. Mako fins are worth very little compared to other species. I think well trimmed wet Mako fins are worth about $5-6 bucks a pound. Compared to the Requiem/Brown shark species fins that go for about $35+ per pound or Hammerheads which are worth even more!

Thank you for the insight, I have read a few reports that link finning to the reduction in mako's. I had believed as you pointed out that mako fins are not as prized as other species for fins.

One thing we did see this year was more of a presence of makos in the canyons this year. Also during our shark season the tuna showed up and we had more warmer water with tigers and such, so i think our makos moved through pretty quick.

I appreciate your insight