Sharking in Cape May N.J: Our family often enjoys summer vacations at the beach in Cape May. We have been there numerous times. The boys and elders have tried fishing the surf without...

FishfulThinking Loc: Venetia, Pa. 25 miles S. Of Pgh.

Our family often enjoys summer vacations at the beach in Cape May. We have been there numerous times. The boys and elders have tried fishing the surf without much success. We investigated and found a charter boat that would take me, my sil, my son and four grandkids (two boys and two girls) shark fishing. We didn’t have to go very far, only about 1-2 miles off the beach. We anchored and he put out two rather stout rods with cut bait. We were there about 1/2 hour with no action. I whispered to my son that I didn’t know why he didn’t put out more rods. Shortly thereafter the captain runs to a rod and jerks it with gusto. We had one on! Oldest grandson took the first fish. The stout rod was bent over a lot. The gs is strong but couldn’t budge the critter. He stood there for about 10 minutes just holding the bent rod. Eventually he gained a little line. Little by little he was able to raise the shark. None of us knew what to expect as far as size on these sharks. We had caught 18”-24” sharks from the surf but none were as difficult to bring in as the one the gs had on the pole now. Eventually the shark surfaced. By God he was 7’ long! We were in shock. The captain grabbed the line, removed the weight that looked like a cannonball and pulled the shark close and removed the hook. Off he swam. What a thrill! The kids were just besides themselves. High fives and all. Oops, the captain runs to the other rod, sets the hook and hands off to the youngest gs. This gs was only 14 and we all wondered how he was going to handle his shark. Again steady pressure for 10 minutes and he started to gain line. Eventually the captain again pulled the shark in and removed the hook. More high fives! We were having fun. Next up was my oldest gd. She was 17 and pretty strong so we weren’t worried about her. Same actions. The captain sets the hooks and gives her the rod. She feels the weight and turns and looks around at everyone like what am I going to do now? She also landed her shark. Again 6-8 feet long and 150-200 pounds of shark. Now was the youngest gd. She was only 12 at the time. Another hit and the captain handed her the rod. She was scared at first but determined to catch a shark. It took her a bit longer but she brought him in. Again the captain released him. I was thrilled. I hoped all the kids could catch one and they all did! Awesome. My son took the next one and my sil got one after that. My turn next. I got hooked up but could not budge the fish. Four months prior to the vacation I had shoulder replacement surgery. I had very little strength. I tried turning the handle without success. The captain saw my struggles and came over to make an adjustment to the reel that made it much easier to turn the handle. With that help I was able to land my fish also. It would have been embarrassing if I had been unable to land my shark when the kids all did it. The captain saved me and increased his tip at the same time. The kids landed three more sharks before we called it a day. The captain headed back to shore with a bunch of happy campers. All this on a four hour charter! It can’t get any better than that. Whenever we mention going to Cape May again, guess what the kids ask! The best money I have ever spent.

I have film of the events but am unable to turn it into pictures to attach. Damn iPad. I will keep trying.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

FishfulThinking wrote:

Our family often enjoys summer vacations at the beach in Cape May. We have been there numerous times. The boys and elders have tried fishing the surf without much success. We investigated and found a charter boat that would take me, my sil, my son and four grandkids (two boys and two girls) shark fishing. We didn’t have to go very far, only about 1-2 miles off the beach. We anchored and he put out two rather stout rods with cut bait. We were there about 1/2 hour with no action. I whispered to my son that I didn’t know why he didn’t put out more rods. Shortly thereafter the captain runs to a rod and jerks it with gusto. We had one on! Oldest grandson took the first fish. The stout rod was bent over a lot. The gs is strong but couldn’t budge the critter. He stood there for about 10 minutes just holding the bent rod. Eventually he gained a little line. Little by little he was able to raise the shark. None of us knew what to expect as far as size on these sharks. We had caught 18”-24” sharks from the surf but none were as difficult to bring in as the one the gs had on the pole now. Eventually the shark surfaced. By God he was 7’ long! We were in shock. The captain grabbed the line, removed the weight that looked like a cannonball and pulled the shark close and removed the hook. Off he swam. What a thrill! The kids were just besides themselves. High fives and all. Oops, the captain runs to the other rod, sets the hook and hands off to the youngest gs. This gs was only 14 and we all wondered how he was going to handle his shark. Again steady pressure for 10 minutes and he started to gain line. Eventually the captain again pulled the shark in and removed the hook. More high fives! We were having fun. Next up was my oldest gd. She was 17 and pretty strong so we weren’t worried about her. Same actions. The captain sets the hooks and gives her the rod. She feels the weight and turns and looks around at everyone like what am I going to do now? She also landed her shark. Again 6-8 feet long and 150-200 pounds of shark. Now was the youngest gd. She was only 12 at the time. Another hit and the captain handed her the rod. She was scared at first but determined to catch a shark. It took her a bit longer but she brought him in. Again the captain released him. I was thrilled. I hoped all the kids could catch one and they all did! Awesome. My son took the next one and my sil got one after that. My turn next. I got hooked up but could not budge the fish. Four months prior to the vacation I had shoulder replacement surgery. I had very little strength. I tried turning the handle without success. The captain saw my struggles and came over to make an adjustment to the reel that made it much easier to turn the handle. With that help I was able to land my fish also. It would have been embarrassing if I had been unable to land my shark when the kids all did it. The captain saved me and increased his tip at the same time. The kids landed three more sharks before we called it a day. The captain headed back to shore with a bunch of happy campers. All this on a four hour charter! It can’t get any better than that. Whenever we mention going to Cape May again, guess what the kids ask! The best money I have ever spent.

I have film of the events but am unable to turn it into pictures to attach. Damn iPad. I will keep trying.

Our family often enjoys summer vacations at the be... (show quote)

What a wonderful story and great memories for all. Congrats FT. Good job.

Jeremy Loc: America

You might be able to take a picture of a screen with the video on it. That's awesome Fish...

When family goes to coast I always take someone on a charter. A month ago we did Rockfish and crab. Worth every penny.

FinFisherman Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl

Jeremy wrote:

You might be able to take a picture of a screen with the video on it. That's awesome Fish...

When family goes to coast I always take someone on a charter. A month ago we did Rockfish and crab. Worth every penny.

Nephew Jermey we're related I'll be coming with your 4 cousins next month - 👌 OK

Cubsfan Loc: Destin Florida

Fish, good story . I worked on the docks at the lobster house .Shoveling ice and packing fish . Each time a commercial fishing vessel would come in I would ask if they needed crew ? It took a while but I did get a 1/4 share on a Scalloper out of Wannacheese NC . Great memories .

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

FishfulThinking wrote:

Our family often enjoys summer vacations at the beach in Cape May. We have been there numerous times. The boys and elders have tried fishing the surf without much success. We investigated and found a charter boat that would take me, my sil, my son and four grandkids (two boys and two girls) shark fishing. We didn’t have to go very far, only about 1-2 miles off the beach. We anchored and he put out two rather stout rods with cut bait. We were there about 1/2 hour with no action. I whispered to my son that I didn’t know why he didn’t put out more rods. Shortly thereafter the captain runs to a rod and jerks it with gusto. We had one on! Oldest grandson took the first fish. The stout rod was bent over a lot. The gs is strong but couldn’t budge the critter. He stood there for about 10 minutes just holding the bent rod. Eventually he gained a little line. Little by little he was able to raise the shark. None of us knew what to expect as far as size on these sharks. We had caught 18”-24” sharks from the surf but none were as difficult to bring in as the one the gs had on the pole now. Eventually the shark surfaced. By God he was 7’ long! We were in shock. The captain grabbed the line, removed the weight that looked like a cannonball and pulled the shark close and removed the hook. Off he swam. What a thrill! The kids were just besides themselves. High fives and all. Oops, the captain runs to the other rod, sets the hook and hands off to the youngest gs. This gs was only 14 and we all wondered how he was going to handle his shark. Again steady pressure for 10 minutes and he started to gain line. Eventually the captain again pulled the shark in and removed the hook. More high fives! We were having fun. Next up was my oldest gd. She was 17 and pretty strong so we weren’t worried about her. Same actions. The captain sets the hooks and gives her the rod. She feels the weight and turns and looks around at everyone like what am I going to do now? She also landed her shark. Again 6-8 feet long and 150-200 pounds of shark. Now was the youngest gd. She was only 12 at the time. Another hit and the captain handed her the rod. She was scared at first but determined to catch a shark. It took her a bit longer but she brought him in. Again the captain released him. I was thrilled. I hoped all the kids could catch one and they all did! Awesome. My son took the next one and my sil got one after that. My turn next. I got hooked up but could not budge the fish. Four months prior to the vacation I had shoulder replacement surgery. I had very little strength. I tried turning the handle without success. The captain saw my struggles and came over to make an adjustment to the reel that made it much easier to turn the handle. With that help I was able to land my fish also. It would have been embarrassing if I had been unable to land my shark when the kids all did it. The captain saved me and increased his tip at the same time. The kids landed three more sharks before we called it a day. The captain headed back to shore with a bunch of happy campers. All this on a four hour charter! It can’t get any better than that. Whenever we mention going to Cape May again, guess what the kids ask! The best money I have ever spent.

I have film of the events but am unable to turn it into pictures to attach. Damn iPad. I will keep trying.

Our family often enjoys summer vacations at the be... (show quote)

Great story FT, what a great day and memory for all. Keep working on those pics as we would love to see them.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Great story. Memories for ever. Pause your video and snap a picture with your phone

Yankeeblue Loc: Manchester CT (near Hartford)

Great fun Ft, everyone caught. What can be better than that. My guess is they were all blue sharks. Lot of fight and fun to catch.
Not good for dinner table

FishfulThinking Loc: Venetia, Pa. 25 miles S. Of Pgh.

Yankeeblue wrote:

Great fun Ft, everyone caught. What can be better than that. My guess is they were all blue sharks. Lot of fight and fun to catch.
Not good for dinner table

I forgot to add the captain said they were tiger sand sharks. Not man eaters.

FishfulThinking Loc: Venetia, Pa. 25 miles S. Of Pgh.

FishfulThinking wrote:

I forgot to add the captain said they were tiger sand sharks. Not man eaters.

I think I got the pictures!

FishfulThinking Loc: Venetia, Pa. 25 miles S. Of Pgh.

Gordon wrote:

Great story. Memories for ever. Pause your video and snap a picture with your phone

Thanks for the hint Gordon. Had to dance thru some hoops but got’er done.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

FishfulThinking wrote:

I think I got the pictures!

Very cool, thanks for sharing!
Great memories for all.

FishfulThinking Loc: Venetia, Pa. 25 miles S. Of Pgh.

Cubsfan wrote:

Fish, good story . I worked on the docks at the lobster house .Shoveling ice and packing fish . Each time a commercial fishing vessel would come in I would ask if they needed crew ? It took a while but I did get a 1/4 share on a Scalloper out of Wannacheese NC . Great memories .

Ate there a couple times but was not impressed. Wannacheese, NC is where Wicked Tuna is filmed, isn't it? Is getting past the breakers there as miserable as it looks? That is a great fishery.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

FishfulThinking wrote:

I think I got the pictures!

Good job FT, Great story and action shots to boot, beautiful!

FishfulThinking Loc: Venetia, Pa. 25 miles S. Of Pgh.

Thanks Fred. A great day was had by all. Can't wait to do it again. The captain was really good with the kids. Only problem: no beer!