Record Thresher Shark -- North Carolina
North Carolina Fishing
Feb 21, 2023 16:43:56 #
From Outdoor Life (for full article visit https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/giant-thresher-shark-north-carolina/ )
A group of anglers were chasing tuna off the North Carolina coast when they unexpectedly hooked a giant thresher shark in just 60 feet of water on Jan. 10. Steven Viltoft of Southport, North Carolina, was on the rod at the time. He was able to boat the shark, which weighed 589 pounds and 1 ounce, making it the biggest thresher shark ever recorded in the state.
The giant thresher shark was certified as a new North Carolina state record on Feb. 9, obliterating the previous record—a 185-pound thresher caught in 2005—by more than 400 pounds.
Viltoft’s group was fishing with Oak Island Charters aboard Capt. Wally Trayah’s 30-foot Contender. The 45-year-old charter captain tells Outdoor Life that he typically releases large sharks because they pose a risk to clients. However, he explains that since the thresher shark did not survive the fight and was dead when Viltoft reeled it in, they decided to haul it aboard and weigh it on certified scales at a private dock. Threshers have a reputation as excellent table fare, and Trayah says none of its delicious meat went to waste.
According to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Viltoft and crew caught the shark near the Knuckle Buoy, which is located near a large shoal area southeast of Cape Lookout. Viltoft was using a custom tuna rod and an 80W Shimano Tiagra Reel spooled with 130-pound line and rigged with a mullet bait. The shark’s overall length was 164.75 inches, measured from the tip of its head to the end of its prominent tail.
A group of anglers were chasing tuna off the North Carolina coast when they unexpectedly hooked a giant thresher shark in just 60 feet of water on Jan. 10. Steven Viltoft of Southport, North Carolina, was on the rod at the time. He was able to boat the shark, which weighed 589 pounds and 1 ounce, making it the biggest thresher shark ever recorded in the state.
The giant thresher shark was certified as a new North Carolina state record on Feb. 9, obliterating the previous record—a 185-pound thresher caught in 2005—by more than 400 pounds.
Viltoft’s group was fishing with Oak Island Charters aboard Capt. Wally Trayah’s 30-foot Contender. The 45-year-old charter captain tells Outdoor Life that he typically releases large sharks because they pose a risk to clients. However, he explains that since the thresher shark did not survive the fight and was dead when Viltoft reeled it in, they decided to haul it aboard and weigh it on certified scales at a private dock. Threshers have a reputation as excellent table fare, and Trayah says none of its delicious meat went to waste.
According to the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, Viltoft and crew caught the shark near the Knuckle Buoy, which is located near a large shoal area southeast of Cape Lookout. Viltoft was using a custom tuna rod and an 80W Shimano Tiagra Reel spooled with 130-pound line and rigged with a mullet bait. The shark’s overall length was 164.75 inches, measured from the tip of its head to the end of its prominent tail.
Feb 21, 2023 18:02:25 #
Papa D wrote:
From Outdoor Life (for full article visit https://... (show quote)
fishing for tuna you wouldn't be using a steel leader. wonder what they had for a leader?
Feb 21, 2023 19:38:47 #
Cal Bob
Loc: Clovis, California
ripogenu wrote:
fishing for tuna you wouldn't be using a steel leader. wonder what they had for a leader?
I don’t know about Atlantic Threshers, but here in California I believe they just use heavy mono, like 130#, long enough so the tail can’t break the line.
Feb 22, 2023 00:38:01 #
Feb 25, 2023 13:49:53 #
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