The Monster Shark Tournament is one of this country’s most well known and controversial offshore tournaments. For the last 27 years, the event was hosted on Martha’s Vineyard by Steven James and the Boston Big Game Fishing Club. Each year, big sharks hit the scales in Oak Bluffs and drew an incredible influx of fishermen, protestors, and party goers. As a result of the controversy surrounding the “kill” shark tournament and the rowdy crowds it brought to the town, the tournament decided to move to Newport for 2014.
The combination of a new location and the tragic death of Steve James this past winter created uncertainty going into this year. Thankfully, Steve’s family and friends did a wonderful job, stepping up to the plate to revamp the tournament in Newport and continue the tradition of fishing for sharks in the waters south of the Vineyard.
This year, On The Water TV producer Matt Rissell was able to participate in the tournament aboard the TOKATOMIST out of South Dartmouth, MA with the Howd family. Captain Tom Howd and his son Tommy captain the boat and were able to finish in 4th place in the 2013 Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament and 5th place in 2011.
Leaving from South Dartmouth at 3AM, the crew steamed 70-plus miles from port to a promising temperature break south of Nantucket. It wasn’t long before they found life and the water they were looking for. Twenty minutes after chumming and setting out the spread, they had their first hook up of the day. The fish came right up to the boat without a struggle, giving the crew and the shark each a chance to get a good look at each other. Excitedly looking into the water, they recognized the fish as a 200-plus pound mako and realized that it could be their one chance to make the weigh in. The mako woke up after seeing the boat, dug down and made a serious run.
After gaffing and tail roping the mako, the crew had a weighable fish tied off to the transom and headed in to hit the scales. With only one fish weighed in on the prior day, everyone was hopeful that this fish would place them in the top 5.
Once back at the dock, the mako was hoisted off the boat and weighed. It was a very nice fish, but finished just 3 pounds shy of qualifying, which would have put them in 3rd place. 1st place went to Magellan for the second year in a row, managing to weigh in two nice porbeagles each day.
All participants were happy to see Steve’s family and friends continue the tradition of the Monster Shark Tournament and look forward to 2015.
I am a new subscriber,wondering if i will make august issue.dont want to buy in store, great mag!thanks
What a disgusting tradition and show of human ignorence. Please stop killing living things for the “who has the biggest weiner award”.