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It's an accepted fact that not everyone chooses to release the sharks they catch. And in some cases, even with the best of intentions to do so, a fish may still not be a viable candidate for healthy reintroduction. However, it's welcome news the practice of catch and release fishing has become increasingly popular the world over, and that's certainly no exception in the sport of Land-Based Shark Fishing. While it is not a prerequisite for record submission or qualification by the ILSFA, it remains a strongly encouraged and important choice, making it the focus of this segment.

But first things first. As we're all aware, there is no shortage of debate and a surplus of controversy over fisheries and wildlife management issues so let's take a moment to address these very spirited topics, as the relate to our efforts. It has always been my position, and that of The Association that, “There are laws on the books for recreational and commercial fisheries. And while we'll reserve our opinions here, regarding some management policies, we do set an example by adhering to existing laws. In doing so, we also respect all anglers' legal decisions to keep or release their quarry."

With that said, we'll take this opportunity to illustrate, for those interested, the necessary steps that might be taken to properly document a catch if the intent is to submit for a potential species ILSFA world record. At the end of this segment, we'll go one step further by providing a link to a recent report detailing an actual catch and release that is scheduled for record submission. If certified, it will be the first ever world record for a released shark. The Association's Lead Committee will make this an open process in an effort to educate and inform its members, and the interested general public about the record submission process, as well as the important role that the ILSFA, and recreational anglers at large play in shark research and global resource management.
Over the years, my brother Brooks and I have developed our own effective procedure for landing and securing sharks on the beach, just long enough to spend a few fleeting moments of quality time with these animals while gathering data before their release. Not surprisingly, it translated well as a proper documentary practice for record submissions. An important aspect of this dual purpose interaction is the opportunity to attach tracking tags to all the sharks we release. The tag numbers, and all other information gathered is forwarded to Narragansett, Rhode Island where it is used for important scientific research in the NOAA Fisheries' Apex Predators Program.
The Paxton Brothers: Brooks (left) & Sean with a sandbar shark
prior to release

I need to make a point here that none of this is expected of anglers interested in or already involved in Land-Based Shark Fishing, and it's not a requirement of membership in the ILSFA. As a matter of fact, we have some members that don't even fish, but are supportive of The Association's efforts, overall. We've just chosen to take these opportunistic steps in an effort to increase our biological understanding of sharks, and to obtain information helpful in rational resource management efforts.
A tag dart loaded for application (top), instructions for recaptured tags (middle) and a single tag (bottom)
There will be fellow anglers reading this that have been here many times before, and will agree It takes a lot of experience to handle sharks in a safe and calm manner -- if there really is such a thing. For all of us, a shared rule of thumb is, “When in doubt, don’t handle them at all.” There are unruly factors of timing, environmental conditions and an animal's behavior that collide during an interaction experience. All these factors are different every single time with every single shark, regardless of size or species. Therefore, we can't recommend anyone attempt any of this, but do intend for the information to be helpful to those interested in the details of this process.
The author with female bull sharks tagged and released near the Port of Boca Grande, FL

For our purposes, we borrowed the elements of safety, teamwork, planning and timing from auto racing for a documenting and release procedure we refer to as The Pit Stop. However, unlike in racing, where it's over in seconds, this takes place in a matter of minutes. But a lot happens in that span of time, and it's in any given blink of an eye where things can go wrong. This is why the key elements mentioned are so important and why rehearsing and practicing the procedure with your partner or team is imperative. When we started, and even now when we're implementing new techniques, we might be found on the living room floor with a 7' body pillow standing in as our next catch while we do dry runs. Not all sharks are over 500 pounds and 10 feet in length, but every one should be respected as if it is because each encounter builds a base of experience, which we all know is the best teacher.
Of course, none of this would be possible without specific equipment. Just like tackle, there are countless ways to skin the cat, but certain tools are must-haves for us. It all starts with the consideration of circle hooks, which makes releasing sharks a solid option. Like most, we've used J hooks over the years, and with certain rigging techniques, have only harvested a few fish, due to swallowed hooks. On the other side, we've had instances with circle hooks where they did their job embedding in the corner of the mouth, but some fish were just not physically viable for release. If you're doing this a lot, it's going to happen, intentionally or otherwise. Just be prepared to make every attempt at putting harvested fish to the highest and best use as food and / or for scientific contributions. So a transition to full-time use of circle hooks can be made, we're currently making adjustment in our style of fishing with the consultation and help of master anglers and friends like Frank Mundus.
A Mustad J hook (left) and circle hook (right)

I've recently consolidated the list of remaining tools into a wearable item dubbed 'The Practical Tactical Release Vest.' pictured below. This innovation has greatly reduced dry time on sharks while also increasing safety. Everything we need to do our job is readily available. Bolt cutters and the heavy 30' tail rope are the only exceptions, but they're close by in a dry bag on our production cart with other essentials like the first-aid kit. Here's a list of items attached to or carried in the vest, in order of their application.

- Leader Gloves
- Hook Removal Tools: Rapala grabber, channel locks, needle nose pliers, axe handle
- Razor Knife
- Loaded Tag Dart
- Extra tags and rubber bands for tag dart
- 20' Fiberglass Measuring Tape
- Diver's Dry Board pre marked for: tag #, lengths, girth, sex, condition, time, etc.
- Dive Knife
Everything we need when we need it
After a successful hookup and fight, and with the fish coming to the beach we prepare for the landing. After I leader the fish and coordinate careful timing with the angler and the surf, we slide the fish into the pit. Attempts are made to keep it just high and dry enough where there is still enough buoyancy to help support it’s weight, but not so much that it can still make moves on you. A shark's skeleton is made of cartilage not bone so this is especially important in larger, heavier sharks to avoid putting weight on their internal organs for extended periods of time. In addition to this consideration, bringing fish to the beach as quickly as possible, and the brief pit stop are critical if we're going to release fish without the need for resuscitation. This is a process that requires wading with and holding a shark while it regains the strength and orientation needed to swim on its own. We’ve done this on occasion with larger species, but avoid it whenever possible for all the obvious reasons.
The next step is to apply a tail rope. Here, Brooks does so while I manage the leader and keep pressure on the fish from the business end.

With a calm team, the fish relaxes quicker. During this time, the hookset is assessed to determine if the hardware can be removed quickly using the tools mentioned previously. If not, the leader and hook are cut out as far as possible. This is where the bolt cutters come in handy. In this case, we also took advantage of the opportunity to cross-train team member Tom Trojanowski (middle).

It is extremely important that one person direct traffic during the entire process. That person should also be the one with a complete understanding of all aspects of the pit stop. There is obvious excitement about what we're doing as it happens, but there is also a collective calm, which allows us to safely take on the experience in the moment. Let's face it, there is nothing more distracting or dangerous than 2 or more people excitedly yelling over each other about what to do next. It's the most reliable recipe for disaster in most any situation.

Next, a small incision is made and a National Marine Fisheries Service tag is applied next to the dorsal fin before taking fork of the tail, total and girth measurements. The fork and girth measurements are used to calculate a reliable estimated weight; also a key record submission requirement.
Tag #308105 placed at liberty. In this case, dedicated to our friend, and founding father of shark fishing, Frank Mundus. Coincidentally, he was instrumental in helping this very same tagging program get started in the 1960's.
Total length: 7' 1"
Fork length: 5' 8"

A photo of another fish on another day used to illustrate the girth measurement taken on the widest part of the body. On larger specimens, we accomplish this by rolling the animal slightly to one side to get the tape under, then again, just enough on the other side to grab the tape. A fish's condition and demeanor dictate how this is carried out, and on some occasions, whether or not the measurement is taken at all.
There is a lot going on at the same time so noting measurements as they're taken helps keep things accurate. In this case we had -- species: sandbar, sex: female, total length: 7' 1", fork length: 5' 8", girth: 3' 3", condition: excellent, estimated formula weight: 130 pounds.
The entire procedure is over quickly, and when it goes well with a fish in this condition, we can document with additional pictures helpful in positively identifying some species.
Another important requirement in record submissions is proof of the date of catch. A good idea is to grab a newspaper on the way to the fishing grounds and include it in a photograph with the catch. This isn't required, but can be helpful in substantiating a record submission if other factors are less clear. The paper needs to be handy, though, so unnecessary duration isn't added to the dry time.

It's not just a shark's teeth, but its tail that can also be extremely dangerous. They are hard and heavy and can be used defensively with great force when you least expect it. Keeping that in mind, our next step is to very carefully, but quickly remove the tail rope. Then, the shark is immediately dragged, tail first, into just enough water for it to motor away. Like every other step in the process, this is not the time to let your guard down. In some cases, sharks will charge back in the direction of the beach. If so, we allow it to calm down enough to, once again, maneuver it to deep enough water where it eagerly heads for home. It's imperative we never put ourselves between an animal and open water during a release.

The sequence below is an example of a bull shark in need of pre-release resuscitation. After a little less than 10 minutes of assistance, this tagged animal was successfully released in good condition. There's no doubt this is a risky proposition requiring total concentration. It is, however, a special and rare opportunity that I'm thankful for every time.

I recently corresponded with Robert Hueter Ph D, head of the world’s largest shark research center at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida about his thoughts and findings regarding shark populations worldwide. We also discussed the ILSFA's mission, catch & release fishing and the recreational angler's contributions to research. He had this to say.

“Coastal sharks have been depleted by 75% or more in many areas around the world, and even fisheries management has not been able to reverse declines in some areas. Some sharks are even being looked at now for listing as endangered species. Overfishing of sharks, either in directed fisheries or as bycatch, is the largest source of the problem. Catch-and-release is THE conservation alternative in today's world of declining populations of marine species, including sharks.”

“Recreational anglers contribute greatly to the advancement of scientific research on sport fishes by providing logbook data, returning recaptured tags, and tagging released fishes. Tagging helps us understand the migratory patterns of fish species, and there are many more recreational anglers on the water than scientists, so anglers' information is vital in making these tagging programs successful.”

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
EXTREME CAUTION AND CARE SHOULD BE EXERCISED AT ALL TIMES
during any activity involved with this and any other sport. The safety of the angler and all others is of the utmost importance and should take precedence over any attempt to handle a fish for the purposes of gathering data. In addition, if an angler intends to release a catch, proper care and handling should also be exercised to avoid any injury to a fish. The ILSFA, it’s officers, committee members, general members, and / or assigns assume no responsibility for risk of injury or death that might occur as a result of attempting to capture, handle, and / or release any fish, anywhere, under any circumstances.