Spencer sixgill

An Atlantic First... Land-Based Sharking

Story by Spencer Wonder

The coast of the #volcanicislands of the #atlanticocean are incredibly steep, which provided us with access to waters up to 1000 feet within just a few hundred yards of shore, which, given the current, sharp line angles, and rocky #coast, provided its own unique challenges from a #lbsf perspective.

The Broadnose Sixgill (Hexanchus griseus) is a fish we see quite regularly in the Pacific ocean but usually just juvenile fish. Well, that all changed in the #canaryislands in #northafrica when this #giantfish decided to pickup our #abyssal bait on the #terrafirmatackle #sharkfishing rig in nearly 1000’ of water, the deepest anyone has ever successfully deployed a bait in in #landbased #sharkfishing history!

We knew on the hook set that this would be a special animal, the heft and small run made on the heavy tackle indicated as much, but it wasn’t until we had the fish in the shallows that the magnitude would be apparent.

At over 13’ total length, this #broadnosesixgill shark is not only the largest specimen of its kind ever taken #landbased, it is also the 7th species of shark for #tft to break 13’ in length, the first #abyssal #sixgillshark taken from shore in the #atlanticocean, on the deepest bait ever deployed in this sport, and on an island that had never been #lbsf style fished before us! Quite the milestone not only for #tft, but for #landbasedsharkfishing as a whole!

These monumental experiences are owed entirely to our support network of #customers and partners, including @tightlinebraid who provides us with the line we can trust in these beyond challenging conditions!

#sixgill #hexanchus #catchandrelease #sportfishing #shark #catchandreleasefishing #seafishing #biggamefishing #landbased #landbasedgamefishing #surffishing #beachfishing #beachcasting #surfcasting #prehistoricsoul 
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Local Striped Marlin

Jigstrike sinking

The Jig Strike 

Hey Everyone. Been getting a lot of calls and messages already, so I wanted to post this.

At 1035 this morning, while motoring along out at Cortez Bank, we collided with something floating under the surface. The collision caused the portside of the bow to break away, and caused the Jig Strike to quickly take on water. I had enough time to grab the radio and put out a mayday call to the partner boats in the area, while the passengers were mustered to the stern and the crew passed out life jackets. I made the call to launch the liferaft, and in less than 5 minutes from the initial collision, I made the call to abandon ship. Only after making sure everyone was off the boat, and doing a last look around, I was last off the ship. Thankfully there were a number of boats in the area and we were picked up by the Legend, and brought back home.

I can't say what we hit, as I never saw it. The only thing I was concerned with after the accident was that we got everyone off and kept everyone safe.
After 15 years or so of working on the Jig Strike, never did I believe something like this would happen, but like life in general, we can never really predict what tomorrow will bring. All we can do now is keep moving forward and hope tomorrow is a better day.

Tight lines everyone.
Capt. Patrick, fv Jig Strike
Rasta

Rasta's July Surf Shark Session

With the new website starting from scratch, what better way to showcase one of our members than with a July surf shark session.  Click the link to direct you to Josh's surf adventure looking for Soupfin Shark.  The Learn More button will direct you to our forum where there are thousands of reports from surf perch to Sevengill Sharks.

7/6 Surf Shark Sesh (prehistoricsoulforum.com)
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