Farallon Shark Dart ??

[AfterDark]

I can't answer that question, but I can say that hanging a stringer full of fish from a float often gets them eaten by sea lions in this area. Not a good solution since sea lions are whitey's favorite lunch.

Absolutely, different tactics for different areas. We don't have many in-shore sharks in NE and even fewer potentially dangerous ones. I think if whitey had a choice between fish, sea loins, or you, no offense, but you'd most likely be last choice. Whites can tell with one bite if there is enough fat to make it worth eating. That's why people get bit and let go of, too much lean meat. Stay lean:shark:

 

[Akimbo]

… I think if whitey had a choice between fish, sea loins, or you, no offense, but you'd most likely be last choice. Whites can tell with one bite if there is enough fat to make it worth eating. …

True. But if the shark eats the sea lion, who is eating your stringer full of fish, you come home without dinner and unsavory mess in your wetsuit.

 

[manni-yunk]

Absolutely, different tactics for different areas. We don't have many in-shore sharks in NE and even fewer potentially dangerous ones. Stay lean:shark:

ABSOLUTELY untrue.


Most shark fishermen run right over them on their way out.


Bulls are caught off the beach.

GW are ALL OVER the NE and are frequently found in inshore nets and at least once a year caught and killed by someone inshore shark fishing that thought it was a Mako (subsequent fines are almost always issued)

Makos dont usually come into water shallower then 12 fathoms.

Tigers are everywhere and anywhere. Mostly offshore but will follow eddy's inshore then "hang out" for months.

Threshers spend most of their time inshore and only travel offshore as they head far south.

Brown (reef) sharks are ALL OVER the inshore reefs.

Sand tigers are all over the inshore wrecks in certain areas and commonly seen and caught in bays.

Blue Sharks are mostly offshore in the NE (20 fathoms and up)

 

[AfterDark]

ABSOLUTELY untrue.


Most shark fishermen run right over them on their way out.


Bulls are caught off the beach.

GW are ALL OVER the NE and are frequently found in inshore nets and at least once a year caught and killed by someone inshore shark fishing that thought it was a Mako (subsequent fines are almost always issued)

Makos dont usually come into water shallower then 12 fathoms.

Tigers are everywhere and anywhere. Mostly offshore but will follow eddy's inshore then "hang out" for months.

Threshers spend most of their time inshore and only travel offshore as they head far south.

Brown (reef) sharks are ALL OVER the inshore reefs.

Sand tigers are all over the inshore wrecks in certain areas and commonly seen and caught in bays.

Blue Sharks are mostly offshore in the NE (20 fathoms and up)

That has not been my experience here in New England (NE). I don't know of anyone that has caught a dangerous shark from shore around here. When I refer to in shore I mean a few hundred yards from shore mostly in the Narragansett Bay.
I talk to a lot of divers here, shark encounters are very rare. To the best of my knowledge only one shark attack has been recorded in New England waters. Even this year with the GW’s hanging out off Cape Cod I haven’t heard of any encounters.
I’ve been diving since these sharkdarts, bangsticks, etc… were new and sold in LDS everywhere. The fact that I never felt the need to buy one or know of or dived with anyone that owns ones speaks to the level of perceived shark threat here.

I also remember a device that used 12GA shotgun shells. Was that the bangstick?

I imagine a 3”mag 12ga #1 buckshot would dispatch a shark pretty quick. A SS pipe with a firing pin mechanism would make a dandy “shark zip gun”.

 

[manni-yunk]

That has not been my experience here in New England (NE). I don't know of anyone that has caught a dangerous shark from shore around here. When I refer to in shore I mean a few hundred yards from shore mostly in the Narragansett Bay.
I talk to a lot of divers here, shark encounters are very rare. To the best of my knowledge only one shark attack has been recorded in New England waters. Even this year with the GW’s hanging out off Cape Cod I haven’t heard of any encounters.
I’ve been diving since these sharkdarts, bangsticks, etc… were new and sold in LDS everywhere. The fact that I never felt the need to buy one or know of or dived with anyone that owns ones speaks to the level of perceived shark threat here.

I also remember a device that used 12GA shotgun shells. Was that the bangstick?

I imagine a 3”mag 12ga #1 buckshot would dispatch a shark pretty quick. A SS pipe with a firing pin mechanism would make a dandy “shark zip gun”.

Well I cant speak intelligently about a couple hundred yards off the beach and mostly in narraganset bay. BTW - saying the NE doesnt have dangerous sharks - THEN narrowing it down to "a few hundreds yards from shore mostly in Narraganset bay" are two totally different things. What I can tell you is the stripers and bluefish are like Candy for sharks - many, many sharks follow the striper, bluefish migrations up and down the coast.

Bunker, spot, Mackeral - all candy.

I havent had a shark encounter while diving either (in NJ that is - I did in NC) and I dont think many people do. I just want to be prepared just in case.

 

[AfterDark]

Well I cant speak intelligently about a couple hundred yards off the beach and mostly in narraganset bay. BTW - saying the NE doesnt have dangerous sharks - THEN narrowing it down to "a few hundreds yards from shore mostly in Narraganset bay" are two totally different things. What I can tell you is the stripers and bluefish are like Candy for sharks - many, many sharks follow the striper, bluefish migrations up and down the coast.

Bunker, spot, Mackeral - all candy.

I havent had a shark encounter while diving either (in NJ that is - I did in NC) and I dont think many people do. I just want to be prepared just in case.

I didn't intend to mislead you. I was just throwing my perspective from personal experience out there, and doing a lousy job. One of the wonderful things about being a diver in New England / RI the ocean state, is there are spots were just a 100+ yards from shore you can have 100FSW under you. We have spots where the proximity to shore, rocks, current and depth make spearfishing too easy.....almost.
Togs, stripers, sea bass...... gather to feed. The vis is the down side, I think the fish can feel ya coming before you see them and can shoot.

I never give sharks much thought because I never see them.
Heck,back in 1975 I went night diving the same day I saw JAWS .:cool2:

I know they are off shore, there's a pretty good shark fishing business running out of Point Judith to prove it. I don't have the money to spend on charters diving or fishing so I rarely get out there. I dive from the shore and enjoy it. As I said I'm not against anything that makes someone feel safer.
I have CCW permit and carry at least one gun most times. Land sharks are more of an immediate menace IMO. Being prepared is never a bad thing.

 

[porgyhunter]

I have to agree with AfterDark. Shark protection is way down the list of safety items carried. I spear alot and carry the fish/lobster. I've seen 1 large sand tiger, found out later they are rather common in that area [Plymouth,Mass,] Shallow too. I am more concerned with the noise they make in the bag rather than the blood and try to ''quiet'' them before bagging them. I use the old justifacation ''Out of sight Out of mind'' Easy in New England Viz

 

[AfterDark]

I have to agree with AfterDark. Shark protection is way down the list of safety items carried. I spear alot and carry the fish/lobster. I've seen 1 large sand tiger, found out later they are rather common in that area [Plymouth,Mass,] Shallow too. I am more concerned with the noise they make in the bag rather than the blood and try to ''quiet'' them before bagging them. I use the old justifacation ''Out of sight Out of mind'' Easy in New England Viz

A quick way to quiet them down is to remove their gills. Right now I'm watching Monster Quest about.......GWs off Cape Cape.

I get a kick out of these researchers. They say "sharks don't eat people, we're not on their menu". Yet none of these geniuses get out of the boat to tag them. What are they afraid of?

 

[Doc Harry]

ALL of my diving, and those that dive my boat, in NJ, is spearfishing and lobster hunting. Not many pretty coral reefs to look at

Well, then, get a good buddy to watch out for each other's six o'clock, get some shark darts, and happy hunting!

 

[Johnoly]

.... I am more concerned with the noise they make in the bag rather than the blood ......

Excellent advice for newer spearo's to learn from.

If I shoot a larger fish, it get's lifted to the surface. But I'm not going to have my captain chase down a mutton/trigger/Go/hog on a lift bag when I can just as easily stuff it in my lobster bag and deal with it. I've dragged green blood oozing fish around and never had a shark take any interest. But if that thing is wiggling, you might have well as put out the "Free Hot Donuts" sign at Krispy Creme as the Weight Watcher's bus slips by.

Brain it, stuff it, and keep looking.