03/18/2026
Phenomenal job by Spencer Wonder of Angling Alliance & Firma Tackle to represent all of us who care for keeping this resource available.
Now, I will say this -
1) shark fishing during the daytime on crowded beaches is a terrible look for the sport. You should not be actively fishing for sharks when there are people around. While nothing bad has happened, it is never a good idea to mix the sport with the public.
2) if a species is federally protected, or listed as protected by the state, you need to follow the rules. If they say keep them in the water, or at least the gills submerged - do it. Do not stop and take a glory picture, do not delay any part of the hook removal, and do everything to show that you care for the animal and release it quickly. Especially animals like the hammerhead.
3) just because you purchase a fishing drone, doesn’t mean that you are an experienced shark angler. Shark angling used to require a kayak, and some kind of balls to do. It was risky, but you assumed that risk and therefore took the sport more seriously. This new age of drone fisherman is skipping this step and think it’s just fun and games, and to be honest the drone fishing companies like Xpece Fishing Drone Owners, Swellpro, and AUTEL Drone should be doing a much better job at educating users of this AND trying to defend this sport than just showing videos/pictures of giant sharks and doing everything to make a quick dollar from this hype.
4) our sport is facing severe backlash because of social media. The public doesn’t care for things they see off-shore (out of sight, out of mind), and we are the new target for environmentalists. It is an unfair spotlight, but there is also truth to people mishandling sharks and bringing this upon themselves.
In closing: we either raise the bar, or this sport will end itself by the actions of a minority of very public bad apples. Don’t be one of those. Protect the love for these animals and the sport by doing the right thing.
A) barbless in-line carbon steel circle hooks
b) heavy duty gear
c) a catch and release plan
d) always try to have a partner
e) use a tripod and grab video stills to not delay anything [focus on the fish, not media]
f) leave the beach better than you found it!!!
