Shark fishing

**Beach Girl** · 08-19-2005, 09:17 PM

I am here in SoWal. We come here every year. We are at the Dunes of Seagrove. Love it! But...There is this guy fishing just off of our beach for shark! He is catching 4 to 5 ft. sharks. Since we have been here he has cought six sharks. Right off of our beach. He catches small sting ray's and uses them as bait. Does this stir up bigger sharks? I mean these 4 and 5 foot sharks scare me. There are little kids swimming on this beach, my s son is 19 years old, but a five foot shark could certainly cause damage to his legs or arms! Is this typical? Shark fishing off of these beaches? Let me know.

Seaside gal. Love it here!!

**kurt** · 08-19-2005, 11:45 PM

That is not cool with people in the water, especially during the day - it used to go on a lot in the evenings and at night. They may not know that it is now illegal to shark fish from shore in SoWal.

**SlowMovin** · 08-20-2005, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by kurt

They may not know that it is now illegal to shark fish from shore in SoWal.

I didn't know that. Not that I do any shark fishing anyway, but I had never heard it was illegal. How exactly do they define shark fishing versus regular fishing? I do a lot of surf fishing, often with fairly heavy equipment just in case I scare up a cobia or a king cruising close in, but I don't target sharks. From a legal perspective (just so I don't get in trouble) what constitutes "shark fishing"?

**Smiling JOe** · 08-20-2005, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by SlowMovin

I didn't know that. Not that I do any shark fishing anyway, but I had never heard it was illegal. How exactly do they define shark fishing versus regular fishing? I do a lot of surf fishing, often with fairly heavy equipment just in case I scare up a cobia or a king cruising close in, but I don't target sharks. From a legal perspective (just so I don't get in trouble) what constitutes "shark fishing"?

Walton County Code of Ordinances
Sec. 22-54. Regulation of use and conduct on the beach and water bodies.
(c) Fishing. It shall be unlawful for any person:

(1) To fish in the Gulf of Mexico after having been warned by any law enforcement officer that the health and safety of bathers is being endangered; or

(2) While on the beach or within 2500 feet from shore to intentionally fish for sharks or to fish by those methods commonly know as "chumming" or "bloodbaiting." Nothing in this section shall be construed to create a duty on the part of any County employee to prevent fishing or to warn of the presence of sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.

**Beach Girl** · 08-20-2005, 09:19 AM

Hey Beachgal....What are you doing posting under my name?

I would hope I don't have a 19 year old son...I'm only 26. :)

Actually, I am glad no one is fishing for shark where we are staying. (close to One Seagrove) It makes me nervous when they are fishing for anything right next to me!

**SlowMovin** · 08-20-2005, 09:32 AM

Thanks for the info, Smiling JOe. Given what you posted above, unless the guy is actually chumming or has been warned by LEO, it sounds like he's not breaking the law...although, there is a gray area with regard to the part which says it is illegal "to intentionally fish for sharks". The fisherman could simply argue that he is not "intentionally" fishing for sharks, since the same techniques could also catch other fish. Cobia, for instance, will eat live rays, come in close to shore and can get up to 4-feet or so (I saw a huge one no more than 30-feet offshore behind Seagrove Dunes one day...just cruising along, east to west like they do, and scaring the #$% out of everyone in the water who--of course--assumed it was Jaws coming to get them).

**kurt** · 08-20-2005, 10:54 AM

You're correct - it is open to interpretation. Plus there is no enforcement unless someone were to complain.

**Ocean Lover** · 08-21-2005, 10:45 PM

We spent Tues-Fri there last week and didn't see anyone fishing for shark. We saw several rays and jelly fish in the water though. I loved it b/c it was so clear you could see what was around. I'm not one to venture too far past the shore anyway. It was pretty calm so the kids didn't boogie board either which was fine with me.

**saj300** · 08-23-2005, 07:38 PM

We were in sandestin last week and noticed several people surf fishing in the middle of the day, next to ours (and other) kids swimming. If this makes you uncomfortable (as it does I me), I suggest politely asking them to move on down the beach. They usually comply.

Also, last year we were at the public park across from Gulf Trace, and there was a guy who, without any warning, caught a shark and pulled it up onto the beach, right past screaming kids and parents. Needless to say, the parents let him have it, but he didn't seem to care. While I didn't see the aftermath, I heard that these parents notified the local authorities, but that no action was taken.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-23-2005, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by saj300

We were in sandestin last week and noticed several people surf fishing in the middle of the day, next to ours (and other) kids swimming. If this makes you uncomfortable (as it does I me), I suggest politely asking them to move on down the beach. They usually comply.

Also, last year we were at the public park across from Gulf Trace, and there was a guy who, without any warning, caught a shark and pulled it up onto the beach, right past screaming kids and parents. Needless to say, the parents let him have it, but he didn't seem to care. While I didn't see the aftermath, I heard that these parents notified the local authorities, but that no action was taken.

When I surf fish, I always get away from swimmers or potential swimmers, ie- beach potatoes (spin off from couch potatoes). I have had swimmers come right to the area where I was fishing to take a dip.

**FoX** · 08-23-2005, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by saj300

We were in sandestin last week and noticed several people surf fishing in the middle of the day, next to ours (and other) kids swimming. If this makes you uncomfortable (as it does I me), I suggest politely asking them to move on down the beach.

I hope that if the people are already there fishing that you move away from them.