"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
There is an interesting and thought provoking article in the NY Times
today which attributes shark fishing as a cause for depletion in the
scallop population.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/sc...hp&oref=slogin

It's hard to say how accurate the science is that went into the study
but it did get me thinking about whether shark fishing is common
enough to create a problem.

I know we have at least one or two people here who do some shark
fishing, presumably catch and release. Just how common is shark
fishing however, and do most folks release them alive or not?

In my area (MA) it's very common during the summer. I know half a dozen
charter boat captains/operators and a good portion of their charters are for
sharks. The rest of the common charters are split among bluefish, stripers
and tuna. That's in one marina. I am sure the same is true in all the
others.

Then, there is at least two major shark tournaments up here every season.
The largest draws professional crews on boats from as far away as Florida.
They are a video documented catch and release for blue sharks, but Threshers
and Makos, if they are of a minimum weight, are brought in. I did a couple
of shark tournaments several years ago and will never do it again.

Eisboch