BigBendFishing.Net

When you intend to keep and eat them.

9mm works good

It's legal to shoot them with a pistol but not a bangstick?

don't know about it being legal
you just ask how to do it

Both methods should be legal to dispatch a shark. Just make sure the shark u dispatch is legal to be harvested. I would also leave alcohol at the dock. Boating a large shark can be a very dangerous situation. Add booze and a bangstick to that and it could be disastrous! Not preaching, just food for thought. Good luck, and be safe!

Best to gut them as soon as possible otherwise their meat gets tainted by their own digestive juices.

Illegal to use firearms or bangsticks.

From the current FWC Saltwater Regs, Page 18, Recreational Gear:

"Explosives, etc.
Use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals or the discharge of firearms to kill or harvest marine life is prohibited in state waters."

silverking wrote:Illegal to use firearms or bangsticks.

From the current FWC Saltwater Regs, Page 18, Recreational Gear:

"Explosives, etc.
Use of powerheads, explosives, chemicals or the discharge of firearms to kill or harvest marine life is prohibited in state waters."

That's what I thought, no firearms or bang sticks. I have wondered this also, hard to wear one out enough to get on the boat safely. So far the large ones have broken me off before I could figure out how to get it in the boat.

I'm pretty sure they would not be happy to cooperate once you raked the gills either. Maybe not try to catch a big shark in the yak.

turtlecat wrote: I would also leave alcohol at the dock. Boating a large shark can be a very dangerous situation. Add booze and a bangstick to that and it could be disastrous! Not preaching, just food for thought. Good luck, and be safe!

WHY DID YOU PUT THE ALCOHOL IN THIS POST
do you think I am a drunk or a BOOZER the way you put it in there you think we are
there is NO alcohol on my boats

Blue spinner wrote:

turtlecat wrote: I would also leave alcohol at the dock. Boating a large shark can be a very dangerous situation. Add booze and a bangstick to that and it could be disastrous! Not preaching, just food for thought. Good luck, and be safe!

WHY DID YOU PUT THE ALCOHOL IN THIS POST
do you think I am a drunk or a BOOZER the way you put it in there you think we are
there is NO alcohol on my boats

Whoa bud! First of all how did my post get taken personal by you! I had no clue that it was illegal to use a pistol or a bangstick on marine life in state waters. My post was more an FYI to people, anyone that heeds my warning that think landing a huge shark is extremely dangerous. It might behoove anyone taking on that endeavor to be fairly clear minded. Sorry if you took it personal! GHEEZ!!

I think turtlecat is just saying that if anyone does have a gun onboard and chooses to use it on a shark, the law may not be so lenient if you also have a bucket of empty beer cans onboard. I don't think he was calling anyone a drunk.

From FWC this morning:

"Good day Eugene,


You cannot use a bang stick or a pistol to harvest sharks in Florida state waters. They can be harvested by hook and line only.


Thanks,

Justin Wallheiser

850-617-9623 "

What if it is armed and looks at me funny, can I shoot it in self defense?

I've never shot a shark but... FWC feedback seems a bit off target, pun intended... subject header wasn't about harvesting but subduing... I assume the original poster was asking about safely bringing aboard sharks harvested by hook and line. Lucky to have a coffin box in my boat so the rare times I keep a legal one I just gaff it and swing it straight into the box. So if looking for safest legal answer guess gaff will be your best bet.