Mako Shark Advice

[dbay]

I wanted to write in and ask the members. I fished Mako out of Hunington Beach back in the early 90's. We would always go out towards Avalon bank but not always all the way there. We would pretty much hit deep water and warm water. ( 15 miles out) Put out the chum bucket and we always got a Mako and plenty of Blue shark. I would tag and release and had fun bringing people out.

I am now in Marina Del Ray and have no idea where to fish for Mako. Are they here in the area? I have heard I just need to go out 5 miles and start fishing. That seems too close. Any advice? Someone else said go till I find Mackerals and that is all i need to know.

I have out of town guest and would appriciate any help.

Thanks DBAY

[dodoman]

Originally Posted by dbay

I wanted to write in and ask the members. I fished Mako out of Hunington Beach back in the early 90's. We would always go out towards Avalon bank but not always all the way there. We would pretty much hit deep water and warm water. ( 15 miles out) Put out the chum bucket and we always got a Mako and plenty of Blue shark. I would tag and release and had fun bringing people out.

I am now in Marina Del Ray and have no idea where to fish for Mako. Are they here in the area? I have heard I just need to go out 5 miles and start fishing. That seems too close. Any advice? Someone else said go till I find Mackerals and that is all i need to know.

I have out of town guest and would appriciate any help.

Thanks DBAY

the makos are present , along with the threshers.
makos, are not a hot topic to many anglers, do to there depletion.
word of an advise, RELEASE THE PUPS.
anything under 90 lber are young ons.

the italian gardens on the front side , back the boat till you hit 300 to 500 ft.
hungton flats , follow the mack school and chum at night with cuda bellys.
or hit the la hoya canyon.

14 mile bank, no word yet........BUT WHO KNOWS, it can all change in a day.

[DEFIANCE]

Looks to me like there is currently a decent temp and color break running near the 270 or offshore Point Dume which is in your neck of the woods, but then again, what do I know. This changes daily of course and it's something you need to watch. You could always just hand your wallet to the fuel dock attendant and fill er up to head down to La Jolla Canyon or the Huntington flats or the 14 mile bank, all of which are nowhere near MDR. By the way, there is a line drawn straight to the West of Palos Verdes Peninsula, and no pelagics cross it on thier way heading up the coast, or so I read on a daily basis.

I think I stumbled into a couple smiling toothy citters just to the West and offshore of Point Dume this weekend, so they must have been lost or depleted in thier numbers to the point where I just lucked into finding them. One was about 50 lbs or so and a cute little fella that we just watched swim by as he was smiling and snorting the chum. The other I never actually saw. But I did see a huge spot of blood 20 yards off my transom where a small seal was 10 seconds prior to seeing the blood.

[dbay]

Originally Posted by dodoman

the makos are present , along with the threshers.
makos, are not a hot topic to many anglers, do to there depletion.
word of an advise, RELEASE THE PUPS.
anything under 90 lber are young ons.

the italian gardens on the front side , back the boat till you hit 300 to 500 ft.
hungton flats , follow the mack school and chum at night with cuda bellys.
or hit the la hoya canyon.

14 mile bank, no word yet........BUT WHO KNOWS, it can all change in a day.

No question about it. All will be released. No exceptions from this boat. About a year or maybe two ago, on cable TV there was a shark tournament east coast vs. west coast fisherman. I can swear that many of the big sharks were caught of Santa Monica. The show had 2 episodes one filmed here and one filmed off the east coast. I need to find a copy of that production. It was a great show. Too bad they killed so many Sharks. The sizes where 200-500 lbs something we don't usually see in S Ca. Or I have not seen.

DBAY

[dodoman]

yep, they had the tourney and a 750 was caught also out here.
i believe it was east of catalina near s.m.

[marineslayer]

Come on chris,I know you don't want to give up are "secret spot" but i would think you could just drive straight out towards the 17 out of MDR about 5-15 miles,look for some life and set-up. Chad on the BOOYA fishs out in the shipping lanes there. You could get lucky anywhere out there. You should "really release the fish over 300# cause their the breeders.

[DEFIANCE]

The reality is that few Makos are killed in tournaments. Minimum lengths and weighed fish keep boats from taking the in between fish after the first few have been weighed. Video and the internet make it seem as if they are all killed. It's just sensationalism. There really is nothing wrong with taking what you need for the table, and I make sure to stick a couple each year. Just let the rest go. As for 200-500+ lb fish, they are there. Most of them are released unintentionally as fewer than 1/2 of 1 percent of the boats out there even have the gear to deal with them safely or effectively. As for the secret spot, it changes day to day and hour to hour. Find the life in the blue water, there will be a Mako close by. OR, find the lanes the baitfish are travelling in offshore. This is usually a significant and well defined temp break of 2 or more degrees within a distance of a mile or so, or a color break. Often you'll find both at the same time. There will be a Mako in the vicinity.

[dbay]

thanks there was a lot of good advice given. I will post up my results. Looks like Sunday is my best bet to get out fishing.

DBAY