Shooting cobia off Bull Sharks

[inetmug]

After watching the guy shoot cobes off bull sharks it looks too easy.

I always heard that the bulls were bad news. Is that not correct?

 

[Scubakevdm]

That's pushing it.
Down here you'd land 1 out of ??????????????

And you'd be real lucky to not go for a ride lineshafting

I think thy're using a float line as well, and drop the gun as soon as the shot's off.

 

[Richesb]

From real life experince (diving/spearfishing) 3 - 4 times a week I can tell you that shooting fish around Bullsharks is gambling. Here in the Keys they are called "the taxman". They follow you and when they feel like it will grab a fish (regardless of size). Proof being the h&L guys lose Tarpon in excess of 100lbs. to Bulls at the bridge daily May & June.
We do hunt when they are around, keeping very aware of them. Always knowing you may have to swim on your back, lay on the bottom, swim real close to a wreck to keep them out in front or shoot in self defense. As i've previoulsy said alot of us here freeshaft so going for a ride or losing a gun is out of the equation.

 

[Scubakevdm]

From real life experince (diving/spearfishing) 3 - 4 times a week I can tell you that shooting fish around Bullsharks is gambling. Here in the Keys they are called "the taxman". They follow you and when they feel like it will grab a fish (regardless of size). Proof being the h&L guys lose Tarpon in excess of 100lbs. to Bulls at the bridge daily May & June.
We do hunt when they are around, keeping very aware of them. Always knowing you may have to swim on your back, lay on the bottom, swim real close to a wreck to keep them out in front or shoot in self defense. As i've previoulsy said alot of us here freeshaft so going for a ride or losing a gun is out of the equation.

Got it. We have the same thing up here, sharks that make a living off of spearos. I'm not sure if they even hunt on their own anymore. I was just pointing out that the fishermen in the video looked like they were using float lines to take going for a ride or loosing a gun out of the equation.

 

[Skeeter1097]

I see but I don't think it is for me, Yet!

 

[inetmug]

Howdy, what bridges in the keys? I fished tarpon the two by fiesta key (channels 2/5?)?

I hear that the team that was shooting the cobes also wear a shark suit. Not sure if true though. I am new to diving/hunting so I have a lot of things (i.e. stare them in eye, punch the nose, etc.).

 

[james croft]

The bulls leave them alone because the spearo wears a porcupine suit?

 

[fl-diver]

I have seen all of the Shark Tales videos and read lots of their discussions. Definitely no "shark suits" for these guys, just really good shooting and buddy work. I haven't gotten a Cobia this year because I choose not to shoot them off the sharks but that is the most common place to find them. I did see a big one swimming with a stingray a couple weeks ago and missed a point blank shot.
What you see in some of the videos are the guys sending fish and sometimes all of their gear if tangled up on a liftbag. This allows the people in the boat to pick up the fish and get them out of the water ASAP. Sharks in the Palm Beach/Jupiter area have been very aggressive this year. These guys also dive quite deep. Doing deco stops with dead fish and Bull sharks can't be fun.

 

[ONESPEED]

Got it. We have the same thing up here, sharks that make a living off of spearos.

Really?

 

[Scubakevdm]

Really?

Kinda makes you want a float line, huh.