2012 Episode Synopsis
by Charlie Wray

Episode 221: Porbeagle Sharks and Spinner Pike

Today, the Mercury Marine Destination takes me out East to the Bay of Fundy for Sharks in New Brunswick.  Then later in the show, more wonderful Pike fishing in Saskatchewan with a custom made spinner that is designed for shallow water fishing.  First in the show, time for another long run in the dependable RAM truck.  I am so glad this RAM has room to spare, because when I bring my own equipment, room disappears fast, especially when you need to pick up the cameraman at the airport.  I can still hear his remarks when I picked him up.  Wow, does this ever have a lot of room back here!! Yes, no tight leg room with the Mega cab, this is designed for comfort and room for the back seat passengers as well. Even when I only left him the smaller side (I still had 2/3 of the back seat folded down for my equipment), he still had room to spare.
This Shark fishery in the Bay of Fundy operated by Emmerson Simpson and Sharks Unlimited 506-851-5168 is a little different than some of the other East Coast Shark charters. Sharks Unlimited targets the mighty Porbeagle Shark. While many have never heard of the Porbeagle, it is obviously a close relative of the Mako and Great White Shark. Thick and powerful, this Shark is not a skinny Shark, but a powerhouse that needs to be experienced if given the chance. Book early, as this charter runs out of room fast. Expect an hour to a two hour fight with these stubborn monsters, even with heavy tackle.  I bring my dependable Okuma Makaira Big Game equipment with 50W II reels loaded with 130 lb test Tuf-Line XP being perfect.  I remember a couple of years back, I was almost spooled with a smaller 50 size reel, and if it wasn’t for the quick actions of Capt. Eric Lockhart, I would have never seen the 550 – 600 lb monster at boat side.  The fun doesn’t stop at boat side either, Shark Unlimited is working with a research team that needs to tag and take samples from these fish, so a custom cradle is lowered in, and then the fish is led into the cradle.  It doesn’t always go as planned, that large 550 – 600 lb night time monster went crazy and broke off.  We were lucky this trip to get a beautiful 350 lb Porbeagle into the cradle and up into the boat, but the fun started when this active fellow decided to wiggle out of the cradle! Talk about excitement!!!

This is Big Game fishing, some days are spent waiting, and others are multi fish days. Whenever you are fishing for Big Game - apex predators, remember to bring your patience. I like to pass my time adding to the chum slick.  This year I was smart enough to bring my Viking cut resistant gloves, I would rather cut bait than my fingers! Wire leaders, big Mustad hooks, Seaguar Fluorocarbon Big Game Leaders used as a shock leader, fighting belts and heavy tackle (don’t worry, everything is supplied) I just like to bring my own. When you first see these girthy Sharks, you will be amazed!

 

Then, later in the show, I am back up to Lindbergh’s Reindeer Lake Lodge (843)-552-2838 www.fishreindeerlake.com  It might look like I spent a load of time up here this season, but it was only the standard week long trip, it is just that fishing was so good, that I managed to film a pile of great fish.  This is truly a Pike fishing dream with 100+ Pike a day, many of them quality fish, especially with the right lure choices.  Pike love spinners, but how do you get a big spinner, that is still light enough in weight to work slowly in shallow water? Well, I have made spinners and tinkered with lures all my life, so once I looked at a few components, it came together very fast.  First, I grabbed a big Toman blade (from Worden’s Tackle Co.) that I knew gave great vibrations, but then what.  Well, I have used foam bodies before to give bulk and a larger profile, but then another idea.  The Spin-N-Glo’s that I love and have used so often for Lake Trout and Walleye.  This is not only adding the foam I want for added buoyancy, but the mylar wings on the Spin-N-Glo will actually have the Spin-N-Glo spinning independently from the blade.  Good gosh did this ever work great!!! The blade spinning one way, the Spin-N-Glo spinning the other on the shaft of the spinner, with the mylar wings also looking like little fish fins.  This nailed more big fish than I could have shown in 3 shows.
Conditions change this far north in minutes, and I have had my fair share of very expensive rain suits leaking at the worst possible times. I started using the Viking brand rainwear a couple of years ago, and they have been 100% waterproof, tough and reliable in the most soaking rains. One of the best things about Viking, they look like fashionable coats and jackets, yet are also your reliable rainwear, no need for an extra bulky bag specifically for your rain suit. I also usually wear the Viking bibs all day anyway, even when it is not raining.  They are great for a wind block on long trips down the lake, and keep all the fish slime off my pants. I am already set if it starts to rain without missing a cast, and not wasting time trying to put on a separate rain suit.
You don’t need a lot of equipment on a trip like this, but make sure it is reliable. You will give your equipment the workout of its lifetime on up to and over 100 Pike a day, and some true giants. The Okuma low profile reels like the Serrano and Citrix are ideal (a few great new Okuma models will also be available by the time you read this as well). Braided line, like 30 lb test Tuf-Line XP for rock hard hook sets that are needed to penetrate the tooth filled, boney mouth of the largest Pike, and rods like the Okuma C3 models, that can really muscle the fish, without being heavy and uncomfortable to fish with all day long. If you have ever thought of a trip like this, big Pike in every bay, shore lunches, great meals at the end of the day and a warm comfortable cabin, this is about as good as it gets.

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