GETTING A HANDLE ON THE SHARK PROBLEM

REEF fishermen are becoming highly agitated and frustrated by the plagues of sharks that are continually stealing hooked fish along the entire Far North Queensland Coast.

Shark numbers are out of control not only on the reef but also inshore in the estuaries and even pushing up into the upper freshwater reaches of our rivers.

Those who push the sharks-are-in-decline message simply don’t have any local on-location experience that we as anglers see every day.

One of my good customers recently reported having a jungle perch eaten by a bull shark way up in the fresh of the Russell River and large sharks schooled on the sand banks.

I have listened intensely to those who make a living from reef fishing and techniques that may assist in minimising fish loss to sharks.

One theory that seems to consistently be mentioned is that pumping and winding in an erratic manner to retrieve the fish as fast as possible increase the chances of being sharked as the hooked fish sends out more vibrations and distress which the sharks hone in on.

Many believe a steady and consistent retrieve will return a better result. Many reef anglers have gone to using electric reels to beat the sharks. Electric reels have become very popular and those using them have reported better return rates.

Definitely, something to consider next time the sharks move in and see if it makes a difference to your catch rates using the steady and consistent retrieve method.

Let me know your results.