Please read. fisheries law question.....
 

Its been a bit since I have posted.....I have a question I am shure someone here could answer. We are a Northeast bowhunting production company and have a show on the pursuit network as well. I was thinking of some things to film this summer and I fish a ton in the off season so last night I got to thinking about filming an episode bowfishing sharks. I do know it is illegal to spearfish for bass in Mass. Would Bowfishing Shark be legal? I have looked for information but cant find any. It's now stuck in my head and I want to take one shark if legal with the bow. Thank you in advance.

I have only one question?

Why?

Yup.

Maybe the question should be "Why Not"

You would likely be looking at something in federal laws for that

Why not use a rifle?
Why not use a pistol?
Why not use a crossbow?
Why not use a sword?
Why not use a dagger?
Why not use a hammer?
Why not use fork?

Why ask striper fishermen about killing a big dumb fish with a deer hunting weapon?:confused:

obviously not a catch and release episode.

How about the scuba tank and a bullet like in Jaws? That would be an episode I'd be sure to watch.

Its never been done before. :)

Let me clarify.
Spearfishing is fine. get in the water with the shark and go after it with a spear that connects you to the shark... not my cup of tea, but more 'sporting' than shooting a shark with an arrow from a boat.

NOT TRUE!!!
if you Google "bowhunting sharks" you will find a ton of stuff. Apparently it is done all over the world.

I am not casting judgement one way or the other. To each his own.

In other states Bowfishing is huge. Saltwater Bowfishing for rays and such is a giant sport. Keep in mind I catch and release hundreds of stripers each year. It was an idea for a show because I have never seen it done and have tons of friends that fish shark tourneys . I figured someone here might be able to answer the question about if it was legal or not. As for WHY.....I like to shoot things with sharp sticks. It's not about killing something it's about finding something that has never been done and making it happen. My idea was to rig a bowfishing setup with heavier line and a tuna ball. I dont think a mid size shark will take it down before it expires.

Ask around in Hawaii, I Remember seeing some snorkel swimmers that went after Marlin or swordfish and tuna with a spear gun

recreational fishing for shark = rod and reel,handline only

"It's not about killing something....
 

... it's about finding something that has never been done and making it happen. "

Will the dead fish wind up in a dumpster after being photographed, or do you plan to eat it?

I dont hunt things I dont eat. 33 deer, 10 turkeys, 4 hogs, and 3 tuna have fed my friends and I well. I hunted 86 days last year. I dont buy meat. Most of my veggies are from our garden as well. I keep at most one bass a year to eat as sushi. It was just an Idea....The more things we can run sharp sticks through the better. Its fun. Hell I even have venison hot dogs in my fridge and salami and summer sausage and steak and......

You know, I think I need a vacation from the board or need to get out fishing or something. I cannot believe this poor bastard puts up a post and gets his balls busted because he wants to do something the rest of us have not done.

Lighten the F%$#$@ up will ya!! the guy just asked a question. No need to to drag him through the mud with "dumpster fish talk" etc.

He was simply looking for information and whether you all think it ethical is academic.

How do you figure? Other than the shark not being able to eat you because your on a boat what is the difference? I guess everyones idea of sporting is a little different. I say go for it.

The honest truth is I asked here because I have been reading and posting on this board for as long as I can remember. (I had an old screen name back in the day I dont even remember it anymore). I fish everything from Thames winter bass to every inch of the back beaches I even tried for stripers through the ice on the cape in a spot I catch them right after ice out (MONSTER HOLDOVERS) some in the 20lb range. I have been lucky enough to win the MV rod and gun striped bass fly fishing derby a few years back as well. I love the outdoors and respect it. I was simply looking into another adventure to add. My question was placed here because I have faith in the collective knowledge this site holds. I'm pretty thick skined anyhow I completely understand that some people are not into hunting and respect the views they have as well.

Amen Brother......:smash:

Good luck and make sure to let us know if you follow through with it.

Gotta be thick-skinned in here. The hormones are high with signs of spring in the air and mating season about to begin.

Let me know when those hormone levels subside and that mating urge is OVER! That is when I'll put out an invite for a boat trip.

First of all, I'm not trying to jump all over this guy, but do i agree with it? no.

Here are my issues.
1. 99% it will be a blue shark, so dead and not eaten.

2. We're not talking about darting it w/ a 4" harpoon dart, you are talking about shooting with presumably a broad head attached to a poly ball, and then chasing it around then hand lining it to the boat. What are the odds of the arrow ripping out of a fairly soft animal like a shark? I'd wager pretty good, so you essentially will be doing some long range releases on a potentially mortally wounded fish. This isn't the woods where you can track the dead, once the arrow falls out the shark is out of your control. For the record, I have participated in the OB and Snug Tournaments, and have seen darts rip out of sharks more than once. get them in the wrong spot and it isn't like sticking a tuna... I don't agree with killing any species for trophy not to be eaten, and don't partake anymore

I have ZERO (0) problem with eating things hunted or caught legally. ZERO. However I don't see the sport in this. You will chum them to the boat, shoot them with a pointy stick tied to a ball and then waiting for it to die then handline it to the boat. I equate that to driving down the road, shooting a cow and then chasing it around until it dies.

Now, get in the water, with a spear gun and stalk and fight the shark in it's element, I might not agree, but you would at least be leveling the playing field a bit.

kill a mako or a thresher, they're the only ones IMO that taste good.

blues would be easy but not edible

dogfish taste good but need to be a good 3 feet long before there's enough meat to make it worth it.

gut and ice em right away (while they're still flippin)

send pics!!

Hell I would even try to bowfish Squid if legal.. They are delicious and spedy little targets. People said we were nus to try to hunt turkeys in Mass. with the bow but its fun. I love all of it Shellfishing, crabbing, spring blues at oregon......Anything that gets someone outdoors is ok by me.

fishing heads have barbed heads so they won't pull out

On a relatively soft shark with the drag of a line and poly ball?

Please consider dogfish.

penetration is pretty good

i've seen them go completely through a 200 lb gar

they have scales like a tarpon (armor)

if u stuck em in a good spot i think the head would hold

don't know about the chafing though.....

My thoughts exactly.
 

[QUOTE=RIROCKHOUND;750328]First of all, I'm not trying to jump all over this guy, but do i agree with it? no.

Here are my issues.
1. 99% it will be a blue shark, so dead and not eaten."

IE - DUMPSTER FISH AFTER A PHOTO. THE CHANCES OF AN EDIBLE SHARK BEING TAKEN THIS WAY ARE MIGHTY SLIM, BUT THE BRAINLESS BLUEDOG...

2. "We're not talking about darting it w/ a 4" harpoon dart, you are talking about shooting with presumably a broad head attached to a poly ball, and then chasing it around then hand lining it to the boat. What are the odds of the arrow ripping out of a fairly soft animal like a shark? ... I don't agree with killing any species for trophy not to be eaten, and don't partake anymore. "

YES

"I have ZERO (0) problem with eating things hunted or caught legally. ZERO. However I don't see the sport in this. You will chum them to the boat, shoot them with a pointy stick tied to a ball and then waiting for it to die then handline it to the boat."

YES


While a novel adventure, perhaps not the most sporting or in the best interest of the image recreational fishing wants to portray. PETA would use it as an example of wanton destruction of wildlife.

How about sneaking the boat up on a school of blues and letting an arrow fly instead?