Gone Fishin'

The weigh-in drew the attention of young and old. Photos by Ralph Stewart

Monster shark tournament was more bark than bite

By Nelson Sigelman - July 27, 2006

The 20th annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament was a bit of a disappointment. The lousy weather affected the catch, and legions of nude models protesting the wearing of fur never showed up.

What does wearing fur have to do with shark fishing? About as much as the Oak Buffs tournament has to do with the real threats facing shark populations. But given the national attention brought to bear on Oak Bluffs by the campaign of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to end the popular shark tournament, I thought the models would provide a nice distraction.

The tournament looked as if it was shaping up to be a real circus until the weather put a damper on the activities of both the Humane Society and the fishermen. The swells and wind generated by a tropical storm that passed over Nantucket made for less than perfect fishing conditions, and the plane that was going to tow a Humane Society banner protesting the tournament did not leave the ground.

The crew of "Whatever It Takes" hoist their fourth-place thresher shark.

Greg Skomal, state Division of Marine Fisheries biologist, reports that 26 fish were brought to the dock. Greg assured me that the impact on shark numbers was negligible.

For John Grandy, HSUS vice president, the number of sharks taken was beside the point. In his view, the contest is an inhumane way to treat these magnificent animals.

I do not agree with Mr. Grandy, but I respect his apparently heartfelt distress. I just think it should be directed in a more productive fashion. The past week's controversy has spawned a number of ideas.

On Saturday evening, my wife and I walked along the Oak Bluffs Harbor boardwalk. Fishing boats sported an array of reels. One boat backed up to the bulkhead had ten rods and reels on display. I estimated their total worth at $15,000.

Norma, an astute observer of male failings and weaknesses, said it was "fishing bling," a display similar to the ostentatious jewelry worn by rap stars, pro athletes, and aging movie producers.

Andrea Cimeno and Sharon Young, representatives of the Humane Society of the United States, handed out literature at a table set up near the post office.

The tournament attracted hundreds of boats, and the overflow spilled into Vineyard Haven and Edgartown Harbors.

That night fishermen were socializing and enjoying themselves, obviously heedless of the stir caused by the Humane Society campaign. Greg told me that the fishermen he talked to were focused on fishing.

I walked into the very large tent set up opposite the weigh station area next to Our Market. The dinner and awards ceremony was just breaking up.

My first thought after wandering through the seated fishermen was that shark fishermen are really beefy. Maybe fishing on rolling swells naturally attracts people with gravitational mass. I had the idea that in addition to weighing sharks, the tournament should also weigh the fishermen. Think how much fun that would be.

Miranda Eby watches marine scientists dissect a shark.

Let's say a boat brings in a mako. The fish is hoisted up on the scale. Sure the crowd loves it. But next, the captain, followed by each member of the crew, is hoisted up. Now, that would be revealing. There could be a prize for greatest fisherman/shark ratio.

The tournament is fun for those who participate in it and those who come to watch the spectacle of big sharks. It is also big business.

The fishermen spend on dockage, gas, restaurants, hotels and gifts. Steven James, president of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club, sponsors of the event, told me he had 268 boats register for the tournament.

I asked him for a rough estimate of some of the ways the tournament contributed to the local economy. He quickly ticked off 20 police details, launches, taxis, 1,300 lobsters, 500 pounds of shrimp and his own considerable bar and restaurant tab at Nancy's.

So I had another idea. If the Humane Society wants to be successful in persuading the Oak Bluffs selectmen to kick the tournament out of town after 20 years, it should come up with an alternative event. And I think I have it: I propose The Oak Bluffs Monster Moth Tournament.

Hundreds of people crowded the harbor to watch the sharks weighed in Friday.

No question, a moth weigh-in would lack the drama associated with a tiger shark's grin, but it might help reduce the Island's caterpillar infestation. Why, there is no reason it could not be catch and release. It could open up a new world of eco-tournaments (should I register that word?).

I am not a shark fisherman. I am not a fan of the tournament. It is not my style. But the truth is that as recreational fishing tournaments go, the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament is run very well, has rules in place to limit the number of sharks killed, and does not violate fishing regulations.

Although the HSUS is focused on the shark tournament, I suspect that they are really just against the killing of fish. If they are truly concerned about sharks, I think the organization is alienating the very people they need to win over to its side.

I thought about that, after seeing a news story about conservationists teaming up with hunters to protect a wilderness area. HSUS should work with fishermen, not try to prevent them from enjoying a sport in exchange for negligible benefits to the resource.

If every fishing tournament ended tomorrow, I suspect the effect on fish stocks would be slight. So where is the gain beyond those who imposed their will on others enjoying a sense of moral smugness?

On the other hand, if countries that now exercise no restraint started imposing stricter regulatory control over commercial fleets, or began to enforce a ban against the practice of finning, in which just the shark's fin is cut off, the effect would be great.

But, where is the campaign targeting the real causes of overfishing? If HSUS decided to team up with recreational fishermen, the combination could be extremely effective. Of course, that would require the folks who direct policy to say something like, "Well, Mr. 250-pound shark fisherman, I find your enjoyment of killing sharks personally revolting and your yellow shorts hanging below your butt nauseating, but we should work together so that we can save sharks from commercial slaughter, which will mean more sharks, because if we don't there will be none left for you to catch" - or something like that.

Years ago it was the sportsmen of America who ended the practice of market hunting of ducks. Hunters were responsible for the recovery of deer, wild turkey, and other species. Fishermen were responsible for the recovery of striped bass. When it comes to protecting our natural resources, the HSUS has a long way to go to equal that record.

Monster Shark tourney results

1. Captain Scott MacGregor of Easton, Conn., on board "Clan MacGregor" with a 482-pound thresher shark; 2. Captain Steve Good of Falmouth on board "Good Grief" with a 420-pound thresher; 3. Captain Bruce Turner of Rowayton, N.Y., on board "Tashima" with a 408-pound thresher; 4. Captain Mark Kuzia of Holbrook on board "What ever it takes" with a 388-pound thresher.

Coop's awards bonito trophy

Coop's handed out the shop's Roberto Germani trophy for the first bonito caught and released, to Griffin Torres, 10, of Palm Beach, Fla. Coop said Griffin caught his fish last week off the Hooter. In the meantime, the crew at Coop's is still waiting for the first really good run of fish closer to shore.