Sharks in the Long Island Sound

[BoatGuy]

I was looking at John Skinners book (fishing the edge) and was amazed at the big sharks in caught in the Long Island Sound (see page 150).

While walking the pup at Port Jefferson, I saw some guys prepping to go out on the Stony Brook Sea Wolf. I asked if they caught anything interesting, he answered “Yes”. When I asked for examples of what he considered interesting, he said two Great White sharks.

I can’t imagine there are enough to target. Plus, I never heard of anyone catching a shark. I can’t imagine there are a lot of them.

 

[Roccus7]

I was looking at John Skinners book (fishing the edge) and was amazed at the big sharks in caught in the Long Island Sound (see page 150).

While walking the pup at Port Jefferson, I saw some guys prepping to go out on the Stony Brook Sea Wolf. I asked if they caught anything interesting, he answered “Yes”. When I asked for examples of what he considered interesting, he said two Great White sharks.

I can’t imagine there are enough to target. Plus, I never heard of anyone catching a shark. I can’t imagine there are a lot of them.

More sharks than you know, but GWS seems a bit far fetched to me. Could be a case of mistaken identity. Porbeagles are often mistaken for their cousins, the Great White and Mako. Up here so many people couldn't tell the difference when fishing out of Boothbay Harbor, locals call Porbeagles "Boothbay Makos". On another website a MA Six Pack Captain proudly posted a picture of the Mako they caught, that was clearly a Porbeagle. It's such an easy ID, if there's a white patch at the base of the trailing edge of the dorsal fin, and the shark is gray in color, it's a Porbeagle. If you're still not sure, and can do it safely, look in the mouth and if the teeth have small "baby teeth" on either side of the real tooth, it's a porbeagle.

That being said like GWS, most of the Sound Sharks are protected species so they can't be retained. No matter there, no word on decent eating sharks being regularly caught, so quickly take your photos and release them...

Besides larger Smooth Hound Sharks, what we like to call "Sand Sharks", and Spiny Dogfish, there are lots of sharks in the Sound.

Sand Tiger Sharks reproduce in the Sound, and are probably the most frequently caught by accident shark in LIS

JS has a spot that he can successfully target sharks off the beach, but this is a true "local knowledge" event.

 

[BoatGuy]

Very educational. Thanks!!!

 

[captmike28]

Although I am not sure how many large sharks are prowling around the LI Sound, I have a story to tell that is related.

Four years ago, I was running a Striped Bass trip aboard the Orient Star in early July, and we were fishing 3-way bucktails in the Race. Fishing was pretty good with a few Bass being caught on each pass. On one drift I see a customer in the Bow working a nice fish when suddenly his rod doubles over to the rail. He is obviously struggling with something much larger than a Striper.

Chris Buckley, who was working deck for me that day, heads to the bow with a gaff. Within a few minutes we see a huge Thresher come alongside the boat, estimated about 5' long not counting its massive tail, probably a good 200+ pounds. Chris makes a valiant try at gaffing the shark but misses and soon the angler is winding his line into the boat with just the head of the Bass still on his hook!

While we were about 8 miles east of Orient this is still technically the LI Sound. Where there is an ample food supply you are bound to find fish of many sizes and species.

 

[Hunter704]

That’s two great story’s, guess you never know. If there’s a way for them to come in and there’s a food supply you never know what’s lurking around down there.

 

[Matts]

Don't know what chopped up this 4-5lb bluefish, but check out the wide arc on the bite marks, the spread of the tooth marks, and the abrasion on the blue's cheek.

This was west of Oyster Bay

 

[Old Mud]

View attachment 76078

Don't know what chopped up this 4-5lb bluefish, but check out the wide arc on the bite marks, the spread of the tooth marks, and the abrasion on the blue's cheek.

This was west of Oyster Bay

You don't want to know lest you go wading fishing. "Not with three barrels he wont !!"

 

[BennyV]

They’re around. Sand Tigers, Browns, etc. heard a lot of stories over the last few years. Water is cleaner then ever in the Sound.

 

[BoatGuy]

Do we have seals in the LI Sound?

 

[Matts]

Do we have seals in the LI Sound?

we get a few in the late fall.

 

[AllHands]

Do we have seals in the LI Sound?

Reminds me of an encounter I had at Caumsett State Park about 30 years ago in late September. I was wading in the water about waist high catching schoolies stripers when I had something slam into me. All I could think of in that instant was a shark just banged into me to see what was for dinner! Almost instantly a seal head pops up about 10 feet away and looks at me trying to figure out what it just hit. Needless to say, I got out to regroup. With a seal in the area I figured there wouldn’t be any fish hanging around anyway.

 

[captmike28]

Do we have seals in the LI Sound?

Absolutely! At times they can become a real problem.

Last year while fishing for Bass in the Gut and sorting through the Blues I had a big Bluefish on the line. Just as I was about the grab the line and get my dehooker to release him a huge Seal grabbed the blue and would not let go. I was literally nose to nose with a very large several hundred-pound animal who probably though I was going to steal his lunch!! Cut the line as quickly as possible. No way I could win a tug of war with that beast and if I got him really angry, he could have easily bit off my hand or dragged me overboard.

I heard that a couple of charters Tog fishing off Fishers I. last fall also had Seals grab their Blackfsh on the way to the boat.

Can never be too careful with those things either!

 

[BoatGuy]

Can the seals be one of the many reason for the sharks?

 

[OVERBORED]

Can the seals be one of the many reason for the sharks?

If Monomoy pt. In Mass. is any indication.....where there's seals, sharks won't be too far behind.!

 

[Roccus7]

Absolutely! At times they can become a real problem.

Last year while fishing for Bass in the Gut and sorting through the Blues I had a big Bluefish on the line. Just as I was about the grab the line and get my dehooker to release him a huge Seal grabbed the blue and would not let go. I was literally nose to nose with a very large several hundred-pound animal who probably though I was going to steal his lunch!! Cut the line as quickly as possible. No way I could win a tug of war with that beast and if I got him really angry, he could have easily bit off my hand or dragged me overboard.

I heard that a couple of charters Tog fishing off Fishers I. last fall also had Seals grab their Blackfsh on the way to the boat.

Can never be too careful with those things either!

Crap, seal encounters are a way of life up here. I'll play tug of war with them so I get my lures back.

So far I'm batting 1000 on that, but I know that streak will end...

 

[captmike28]

Crap, seal encounters are a way of life up here. I'll play tug of war with them so I get my lures back.

So far I'm batting 1000 on that, but I know that streak will end...

Man, you are one brave dude, Roccus!

I just hope that if your batting average ever sinks it doesn't cost you more than a lure!!!