need some help here. we want to go shark fishing and i want to know if it is legal or illegal to shoot a shark to bring it on the boat. or what isthe best way to land a good size shark?

thanks

shoot it? as in w/ a gun? Not a good idea. When target shooting off water ive seen bullets skip all the way across a lake. If you read on a box of ammunition it says never shoot at water, plus i dont think that it is legal. Anyways, there is no reason to shoot a shark. If you want to keep it you can use a gaff. Gaff it to calm it down and then you can bring it on board once it is dead. You can also use a rope and tail rope them. Let the big ones go though

I agree with stork. Doubt it is legal and its really not a good idea due to the ricoche issue. Like he says just gaff it ONLY if it is a shark you are going to keep. If not get as close as you safely can and cut your leader. This is the most safe for you and the shark. The hook will rust out in a few days. and any shark over about 5 feet....dont even try to get it in the boat. Thats a thrashin whippin waiting to happen. A 3 foot shark can produce about 8 or 10 really thick shark steaks and feed quiet a few fishermen.

gaff it, rope the tail, and use a metal bat across the gills...you'll see brown stuff pour out followed by blood. lay it across their head too, it'll crush their brains and upper gill regions (helps kill it quicker)

I bet if you asked the shark, he'd tell you he'd rather be shot!

thanks for the advice, I've bought one of those bats from academy and have plenty of rope. we probably will still carry a small .22 handgun just in case. I would never shoot one unless i could not get the shark on board by the first two methods.

thanks again.

a Bang Stick would be a much better idea than a hand gun or rifle but it is still dangerous.

I would suggest you contact your local TPWD office and ask to speak to a game warden.
I got the chance to talk with one and I happened to have a little sheet of paper I had scribbled notes on for such an occasion for a while. One question involved a dispute I had with a buddy concerned a big gar we caught late one night on the Trinity river on a throwline. This thing seemed to want to kill us and I had my buddy from another boat board mine and finally end the fight with his .45 . I didn't want to do it but we were going to get hurt and young crazy guys aren't that good at letting one go....sorry....it just ain't gonna happen.
Back to the GM.... the legality of this action was discussed with the GM and he quickly informed me that it is unlawful to kill any fish, gamefish or not, in "The waters of the State of Texas" with a firearm. Oops, I was wrong.
I would bet that the same applies to coastal Texas waters as well....isn't to the 9 mile mark?
Take a camera with you so if you get the wild hair to cut it free you will be able to do so without being called a liar. If you just have to keep i bring a big....good gaff and the ball bat!

If your in international waters and you have a big one you want to keep I highly recommend a firearm bigger than the 22. If the fish is worn out and your sure of your shot and you choose your ammunition right you shouldn't have trouble with ricochet. It's been awhile so I'd check to make sure there isn't some oddball international treaty.

A simple sharp knife to the brain usually works well also. However, I would definitely steer away from any type of fire power. That's just asking for trouble, especially when conditions are alreay favorable for an accidental shooting in the chaos of landing a larger size shark. They're bigger than you for a reason..

Tight lines

poc-ed,
If you are competent it is o.k. to trust yourself. If your going after the giant stuff that records are made of, you aren't going to want to lean over with a knife or a bat. Don't allow chaos on your boat or someone can accidentally get stabbed, fall over, get clubbed in the head on a backswing or whatever. Maintaining calm allows the adrenaline to be used for fighting the fish and thinking. Tail roping is great but you still need to get it in the boat dead. Leave it in the water and your trophy will disappear.
For the small to moderately big stuff knives and clubs are preferable but match your weapon to the job.

probably so lol...if he is going to be shot, use more than a 22...sharks tend to be thick and relatively tough-skinned.

above quote originally posted by Fishit...can't figure out how to make this quote thingy do that yet

talked with a guide friend in POC and he said he always shoots the bigger ones (4-5 ft and larger)then bleeds them out over the side for 10 min. or so. otherwise he also suggested just hitting them with a bat. well as i said, we are going to give it a try come fathers day weekend. i hope we dont have any problems, and we'll try to keep the adrenaline in check. i figure trying to keep one or two and cpr the rest. i will let you all know what happens then.
thanks.

About richochetes and water. I imagine one wouldn't have to worry about a richochete with a well placed head shot HOWEVER...

Once some some friend s and I were shooting at and an stuff in a pond. All sorts of calibers was present. .45., .40, .22, .223, ak stuff
prolly even more. The point is this. One of the rounds did richochete!!! Right back at us missing the top of our heads by only a few feet.
The round hit the water, did a complete 180 and came zinging back at us.
Never again.